While digital family-based interventions show promise for preventing youth risk behaviors, including violence victimization and perpetration, low engagement can negatively impact the effectiveness and benefits of these programs at the population level. We investigated factors associated with family engagement with a digital dating violence (DV) prevention program developed for youth who have been exposed to intimate partner violence and their mothers. Hypothesized engagement predictors included population and family attributes as well as two program delivery factors—action planning and text message reminders—that were intended to promote program completion. Mothers were asked to complete the self-guided web-based program, entitled eMoms and Teens for Safe Dates (eMTSD), together with their adolescent over a 6-week period (n = 101 dyads). Using a factorial design, participants were randomly assigned to four groups with distinct program delivery features. Population and family attributes were measured at baseline. Two outcome measures assessed program engagement: level of program completion and mother- and adolescent-reported subjective experiences with program modules. Ordinal regression models did not provide evidence that tested program delivery factors were associated with program completion levels. Adolescent mental health and mothers’ perceived program relevance were positively linked to program completion, while adolescent exposure to caregiver violence was negatively associated with program completion. Maternal mental health, adolescent exposure to DV victimization, and family financial stress were associated with more positive subjective experiences with program content. Findings suggest family-based programs should consider how to optimize content and delivery to maximize personal relevance and address mental health challenges among potential participants.
Reyes et al. (Thu,) studied this question.