Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Mexican American Adolescents’ Perceptions Of Dating Violence Programs: Recommendations For Effective Program Design And Implementation, Lela Rankin Williams, Heidi Adams Rueda, Bianca N. Altamirano

Social Work Faculty Publications

Although promising dating violence programs have emerged, little is known about their effectiveness for Mexican American youth, a vulnerable and understudied population. The purpose of this study was: (1) to offer culturally-grounded recommendations towards the development of effective Teen Dating Violence (TDV) programs and/or the modification of existing programs, and (2) to identify potential barriers to Mexican American youth’s participation in TDV programs. Using the perspectives of Mexican American youth (15 to 17 years old) and a phenomenological study design, focus groups (N = 14) were conducted that were homogeneous by gender and level of acculturation (low/bicultural/high). Youth provided …