Development of a program to prevent sexual violence among teens in Japan: education using DVD video teaching materials and web-based learning.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop an education system using DVD video-based teaching materials or web-based learning to reduce sexual violence among teens in Japan. METHODS: During the first stage, June 2018 to March 2019, an education program using DVD video teaching materials was carried out at three high schools and four universities with research consent from the director of the facility. From 1337 high school students and first- and second-year university students, subjects in their teen years were targeted for analysis. A survey was conducted at baseline and after the DVD video teaching. During the second stage, November 2019 to March 2020, web-based learning using improved video teaching materials was developed and carried out. From the adolescents who participated in the web-based learning, subjects in their teen years were targeted for analysis. A survey was conducted at baseline and after the web-based learning. RESULTS: In the first stage, 876 students consented to and participated in the education using DVD video teaching materials and baseline and after surveys (collection rate 65.5%). Among these, the number of respondents in their teens both baseline and after education was 705 persons (valid response rate 80.4%). In the second stage, the number of respondents in their teens both baseline and after education was 250 respondents in their teens who received web-based learning using the improved video teaching materials (valid response rate 87.1%). The improvement effect of the two programs was observed in attitudes that lead to physical violence, attitudes that lead to mental violence, attitudes that promote healthy conflict resolution, and dangerous attitudes that lead to sexual violence from persons in the community or through the Internet. The web-based learning program achieved an improvement of preventive attitudes toward sexual violence. CONCLUSIONS: The education program using DVD video teaching materials or web-based learning may help prevent sexual violence among teens in Japan.

Factors associated with recognition of the signs of dating violence by Japanese junior high school students.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated factors associated with the ability of Japanese junior high school students to recognize the signs of dating violence. METHODS: During a period of 20 months (from June 2011 to January 2013), a survey was distributed to 3340 students aged 13-15 years in the second and third grades at 18 junior high schools in a Japanese prefecture. The survey examined gender, recognition of the signs of dating violence, knowledge of dating violence, self-esteem, attitudes toward sexual activity, attitudes toward an equal dating relationship, and relationships with school teachers. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of the ability of boys and girls respondents to recognize the signs of physical and psychological dating violence. Binary multiple logistic regression analysis was also performed to identify predictors of the ability of boys and girls respondents to recognize the sign of sexual dating violence. The Ethics Committee of Saga University Medical School approved the study protocol. RESULTS: A total of 3050 (91.3%) students participated in this study (1547 boys and 1503 girls). Gender differences were noted with regard to the scores for some of the variables measured. The results indicated that boys who had more knowledge of dating violence, who focused on an equal dating relationship, and had a positive relationship with their teachers showed a greater ability to recognize the signs of dating violence. In addition, boys with a conservative attitude toward sexual activity showed a greater ability to recognize the signs of physical and sexual violence. Furthermore, girls with more knowledge of dating violence had a conservative attitude toward sexual activity, and girls who focused on an equal dating relationship showed greater ability to recognize the signs of dating violence. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that education programs to prevent dating violence should promote understanding about dating violence with consideration of gender differences and should foster better relations between students and teachers, as well as promoting the establishment of an equal dating relationship between boys and girls.

HIV prevention through extended education encompassing students, parents, and teachers in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: We developed an extended HIV prevention program for students, parents, and school teachers, and then evaluated its effectiveness. METHODS: The participants were 490 students, aged 13-14 years, attending four public junior high schools in Saga Prefecture, Japan. They were divided into two groups: control and intervention. All the students received group education by health professionals. In the control group, students received only two group education sessions given by health professionals. In the intervention group, there were three intervention components: parent education, teacher education, and student individual counseling by health professionals. Before and 3 months after the intervention, participants underwent evaluation of their frequency of communication about AIDS with parents or teachers, their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and attitudes to sexual intercourse, self-esteem, and high-risk behavior. RESULTS: A total of 135 students (80 boys and 55 girls) from the intervention group and 236 students (115 boys and 121 girls) from the control group participated in the evaluation 3 months after intervention. Adolescents in the intervention group showed more positive changes than those in the control group from baseline to follow-up. Intervention had a significant impact on the frequency of communication about AIDS with teachers (p = 0.027) and HIV/AIDS knowledge among females (p = 0.023), and intervention also had a significant impact on refusal of sexual activity by males (p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that effective prevention of HIV might be achieved by an expanded education program for students and teachers such as that described, and individual counseling that takes into consideration the sexual differences of Japanese adolescents.

Factors associated with gender differences in parent-adolescent relationships that delay first intercourse in Japan.

BACKGROUND: To determine the factors associated with gender differences in parent-adolescent relationships that delay first intercourse in Japan. METHODS: Japanese high school students aged 15-18 years (female = 632 and male = 636) completed a questionnaire that evaluated the relationship with their parents. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the parent-adolescent relationship (including the quality of parent-adolescent communication, the frequency of parent-adolescent sexual communication, parental disapproval of the adolescent's sexual behavior, parental monitoring, parental psychological control/autonomy, and satisfaction with the parent-adolescent relationship) and the adolescent's sexual behavior. We explored student gender differences in each of the relationship patterns: mother-female student, mother-male student, father-female student, and father-male student. RESULTS: Parental monitoring was statistically associated with delay of first intercourse in female students. While the same influences were present for male students, they also were influenced by parental disapproval of the adolescent's sexual behavior. Furthermore, more parental communication about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was related to delaying an adolescent's first intercourse except for the relationship of father-female student. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that gender differences in parent-adolescent relationships delay first intercourse in Japan.