ViolenceCRTNCT02909673
School Based Program to Prevent Teen Dating Violence
A study testing Fourth R in people with Violence, run by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
This study is a school-based trial of the 7th grade version of Fourth R, a promising teen dating violence prevention program, with 24 ethnically diverse middle schools in one of the nation's largest school districts to determine the impact of the program by comparing students in intervention schools with those in… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 11 to 15 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Violence
- What is being tested?
- Fourth R
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 3,028 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 18 Jan 2018to 7 Dec 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 11 to 15 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Attending 7th grade health class in Houston area middle schools
Who cannot join
- n/a
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Houston Independent School District
Houston, Texas, 77092
Fort Bend Independent School District
Sugar Land, Texas, 77479
About this study
Official title: Cluster Randomized Trial of School Based Program to Prevent Teen Dating Violence
This study is a school-based trial of the 7th grade version of Fourth R, a promising teen dating violence prevention program, with 24 ethnically diverse middle schools in one of the nation's largest school districts to determine the impact of the program by comparing students in intervention schools with those in control schools.
Read the detailed description
The prevalence of teen dating violence (TDV), as well as the adverse mental, physical, and relationship health outcomes associated with it, underscores the need for effective TDV prevention programs, of which there are few.
The study will evaluate a new 7th-grade version of Fourth R, which has been rewritten to be developmentally appropriate and correspond to national health standards for this younger age. The 7th-grade version of Fourth R is innovative because it emphasizes socio-emotional learning, includes lessons on mental health, and addresses technology and cyber TDV. These additional components will strengthen the core social-emotional competencies of youth, competencies that are critical for the creation of healthy relationships and avoidance of unhealthy ones. A TDV prevention program aimed at promoting healthy relationships at this developmentally important age holds tremendous promise.
The primary aim is to determine whether Fourth R reduces students' TDV, as indexed by less perpetration and victimization of physical, sexual, and psychological TDV, relative to students in control schools.
The secondary aims are to determine whether Fourth R, relative to control, 1) improves students' [relationship quality], emotional well-being, and increases their acquisition and use of healthy relationship skills, as indexed by improved problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills; 2) ameliorates the modifiable cognitive and behavioral correlates associated with the perpetration and victimization of TDV, as indexed by fewer attitudes justifying dating violence, decreased substance use, risky sexual behavior, fighting, and bullying, increased school connectedness, improved academic performance, and decreased psychological symptoms; and [3) improves school climate as indexed by student, teacher, and staff reports of school environment as it relates to healthy relationships and TDV; and by reductions in school disciplinary actions related to violence, substance use, and academic failure]. Prespecified differences by gender and ethnicity will be examined, as well as the acquisition and utilization of various program components.
- Conditions
- Violence
- Being tested
- Fourth R
- Keywords
- adolescent behavior, intimate partner violence, youth risk behavior, violence prevention, teen dating violence
- Medical subject headings
- Adolescent Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Fourth RBehavioural
Fourth R integrates the promotion of healthy relationship skills and prevention of teen dating violence into existing school curricula so that students receive regular course credit in health. Fourth R is grounded in social cognitive theory in which youth learn to formulate and choose behavior strategies, which translate into knowledge and practice in decision-making, non-aggressive conflict resolution skills, and self-efficacy..
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth R | Experimental | Fourth R: 27 lesson curriculum addressing youth risk and health promoting behaviors Receives: Behavioral: Fourth R |
| Control | No intervention | Control: Treatment as usual (standard health class curriculum) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Participants With Perpetration of Physical Teen Dating Violence (TDV)
Determine whether Fourth R reduces students' TDV, as indexed by less perpetration of physical TDV, relative to students in control schools.
Measured: 1 year
Secondary outcomes (3)
Number of Participants Reporting Alcohol/Marijuana Use
Provides the number of participants reporting alcohol/marijuana use.
Measured: 1 year
Number of Participants Reporting Physical Fights
Provides the number of participants reporting physical fights.
Measured: 1 year
Bully Perpetration
Bully perpetration was measured on a scale from 1 to 5, where higher on the scale indicates increased perpetration.
Measured: 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Sep 2016 (estimated)
- Study start18 Jan 2018
- Primary completion3 Oct 2021
- Study completion7 Dec 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for ViolenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 3,028 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jeffrey Temple, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
- Investigators
- Jeff R Temple, PhD, Principal investigator, UTMB
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02909673
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HSC-MS-24-0045
- Other IDs
- R01HD083445
- Acronym
- CRT
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Sep 2016
- Last updated
- 18 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Temple JR, Baumler E, Wood L, Thiel M, Peskin M, Torres E. A Dating Violence Prevention Program for Middle School Youth: A Cluster Randomized Trial. Pediatrics. 2021 Nov;148(5):e2021052880. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-052880. Epub 2021 Oct 6.
PubMed 34615696Guillot-Wright S, Wood L, PettyJohn ME, Thiel M, Ybarra M, Baumler E, Temple JR. Engagement with a Text Message Booster to Extend a School-Based Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program. Prev Sci. 2026 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s11121-026-01965-5. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42631882
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Cluster Randomized Trial of School Based Program to Prevent Teen Dating Violence
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02909673
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CRT / HSC-MS-24-0045
- Conditions
- Violence
- Keywords
- adolescent behavior, intimate partner violence, youth risk behavior, violence prevention, teen dating violence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 3,028 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Texas Health Science Center, HoustonUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
- Study start
- 18 Jan 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 3 Oct 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 7 Dec 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Sep 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 22 Dec 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is a school-based trial of the 7th grade version of Fourth R, a promising teen dating violence prevention program, with 24 ethnically diverse middle schools in one of the nation's largest school districts to determine the impact of the program by comparing students in intervention schools with those in control schools.
Detailed description
The prevalence of teen dating violence (TDV), as well as the adverse mental, physical, and relationship health outcomes associated with it, underscores the need for effective TDV prevention programs, of which there are few.
The study will evaluate a new 7th-grade version of Fourth R, which has been rewritten to be developmentally appropriate and correspond to national health standards for this younger age. The 7th-grade version of Fourth R is innovative because it emphasizes socio-emotional learning, includes lessons on mental health, and addresses technology and cyber TDV. These additional components will strengthen the core social-emotional competencies of youth, competencies that are critical for the creation of healthy relationships and avoidance of unhealthy ones. A TDV prevention program aimed at promoting healthy relationships at this developmentally important age holds tremendous promise.
The primary aim is to determine whether Fourth R reduces students' TDV, as indexed by less perpetration and victimization of physical, sexual, and psychological TDV, relative to students in control schools.
The secondary aims are to determine whether Fourth R, relative to control, 1) improves students' [relationship quality], emotional well-being, and increases their acquisition and use of healthy relationship skills, as indexed by improved problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution skills; 2) ameliorates the modifiable cognitive and behavioral correlates associated with the perpetration and victimization of TDV, as indexed by fewer attitudes justifying dating violence, decreased substance use, risky sexual behavior, fighting, and bullying, increased school connectedness, improved academic performance, and decreased psychological symptoms; and [3) improves school climate as indexed by student, teacher, and staff reports of school environment as it relates to healthy relationships and TDV; and by reductions in school disciplinary actions related to violence, substance use, and academic failure]. Prespecified differences by gender and ethnicity will be examined, as well as the acquisition and utilization of various program components.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth R | Experimental | Behavioral: Fourth RFourth R: 27 lesson curriculum addressing youth risk and health promoting behaviors |
| Control | No intervention | –Control: Treatment as usual (standard health class curriculum) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 11 to 15 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Attending 7th grade health class in Houston area middle schools
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- n/a
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth RFourth R integrates the promotion of healthy relationship skills and prevention of teen dating violence into existing school curricula so that students receive regular course credit in health. Fourth R is grounded in social cognitive theory in which youth learn to formulate and choose behavior strategies, which translate into knowledge and practice in decision-making, non-aggressive conflict resolution skills, and self-efficacy.. | Behavioural | Fourth R |
Primary outcome
Number of Participants With Perpetration of Physical Teen Dating Violence (TDV)
Time frame: 1 year
Determine whether Fourth R reduces students' TDV, as indexed by less perpetration of physical TDV, relative to students in control schools.
3 secondary outcomes
Number of Participants Reporting Alcohol/Marijuana Use
Time frame: 1 year
Number of Participants Reporting Physical Fights
Time frame: 1 year
Bully Perpetration
Time frame: 1 year
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Aug 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Results publication: PubMed 34615696Temple JR, Baumler E, Wood L, Thiel M, Peskin M, Torres E. A Dating Violence Prevention Program for Middle School Youth: A Cluster Randomized Trial. Pediatrics. 2021 Nov;148(5):e2021052880. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-052880. Epub 2021 Oct 6.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42631882Guillot-Wright S, Wood L, PettyJohn ME, Thiel M, Ybarra M, Baumler E, Temple JR. Engagement with a Text Message Booster to Extend a School-Based Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program. Prev Sci. 2026 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s11121-026-01965-5. Online ahead of print.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Jeff R Temple, PhD principal investigator
UTMB
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Fourth R in people with Violence, run by The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Dec 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Participants With Perpetration of Physical Teen Dating Violence (TDV) (time frame: 1 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02909673, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Aug 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 29 Oct 2026.