Effects of Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Programming on Social Support, Coparenting, and Parenting Among Teen Parents: A Pilot Study

Understanding mechanisms and secondary outcomes of intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention programs for teen parents can help to improve relationships. This study used data from a randomized pilot trial of the Safe Dates for Teen Mothers IPV prevention program compared to the original Safe Dates program with 32 teen mothers recruited from four community-based sites. We examined effect sizes of cross-sectional associations between IPV, social support, coparenting, and parenting, and of differences between the adapted program and the original on social support, coparenting, and parenting over 6 months. Effect sizes of associations were medium on average. Effect sizes on social support, coparenting, and parenting favored the adapted program over the original program and were medium to large. IPV prevention programs adapted for teen parents have the potential to support positive dynamics in their social relationships. These preliminary estimates can inform the design of larger research and intervention studies.