From the Guidelines
Promoting healthy relationships and decreasing intimate partner violence (IPV) patterns requires a multifaceted approach that includes education, skill-building, and community-based interventions, with the most effective strategies being those that are evidence-based and tailored to the specific needs of the individuals involved. To achieve this, several strategies can be employed, including:
- Establishing open communication and active listening skills, as these are foundational to healthy relationships and can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts 1
- Setting and respecting boundaries, which is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and preventing abusive patterns 1
- Developing conflict resolution skills that focus on the issue rather than attacking the person, using "I" statements to express feelings without blaming 1
- Recognizing warning signs of abuse, such as controlling behaviors, isolation tactics, extreme jealousy, and any form of physical aggression, and seeking help immediately if these patterns are noticed 1
- Building emotional intelligence by recognizing and managing one's own emotions, which can help prevent reactive behaviors that can damage relationships 1
- Regular check-ins with partners about relationship satisfaction and addressing issues early to prevent resentment from building 1
- Seeking professional help through therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy or specialized abuse intervention programs, for individuals struggling with abusive tendencies 1
- Implementing evidence-based programs, such as the Safe Dates program and the building-level intervention of Shifting Boundaries, which have shown effectiveness in preventing relationship violence and promoting healthy relationships 1 It is essential to note that while these strategies can be effective, they should be tailored to the specific needs of the individuals involved, and community-based interventions should be evidence-based and rigorously evaluated to ensure their effectiveness 1. Additionally, healthcare providers play a critical role in promoting healthy relationships and preventing IPV, and they should be knowledgeable about services available in the community that can address these issues and provide initial psychological support 1. Overall, promoting healthy relationships and decreasing IPV patterns requires a comprehensive approach that involves education, skill-building, and community-based interventions, with a focus on evidence-based strategies and tailored support for individuals involved.
From the Research
Strategies to Promote Healthy Relationships
To promote healthy relationships and decrease intimate partner violence (IPV) patterns, several strategies can be employed:
- Brief internet-based passive psychoeducation interventions, such as the Free From Abuse program, can be useful in promoting healthy relationships among young adults 2
- Socio-educational interventions that consider the elements of a conceptual framework for understanding the determinants of interpersonal relational models can be effective in promoting healthy and equitable relationships 3
- Conjoint couple therapy with a woman survivor of intimate partner violence can help bring change in a couple's relationship and the cessation of violence in the relationship, provided both couples are motivated by the therapy to preserve the marital relationship 4
- Relationship skills training programs, such as the Skills for Healthy Adult Relationships (SHARe) program, can help college students improve their interpersonal skills and develop healthy, non-abusive relationships 5
Assessment and Intervention
When assessing and intervening in cases of domestic violence, it is essential to:
- Follow published guidelines for DV screening, including universal screening using separate interviews and questionnaires 6
- Consider the victim's safety as a factor in treatment modality selection 6
- Avoid using conjoint therapy with couples for whom such therapy is contraindicated because of relationship violence 6
Key Areas of Intervention
Six areas of intervention have been identified to promote healthy and equitable relationships:
- Educative policies
- School governance
- Physical and symbolic space
- School curriculum
- School-community relations
- Socio-educative interventions 3