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The 2008-2011 "Safe in Romantic Relationships" Project

Aims of the project

The aim of the Safe in Romantic Relationships Project was to explore the potential of skills-based empowerment as an approach to preventing abusive dynamics in young people’s current and future relationships. Part of achieving this aim was the development and piloting of a skills-based empowerment program for adolescent girls. The pilot program was called “Safe at Heart” and was based on principles of personal responsibility, positive self-agency, and harm-minimisation. The dyadic slippery slope model of chronic partner abuse provided the program’s theoretical foundations. Safe at Heart aimed to equip participants with the motivation and skills to maintain healthy self-determination within their relationships. Skills for recognising and responding assertively to early warning signs of four “slippery slope” dynamics (Silence, Overdependence, Anger, and Power imbalance) were focal.

Outcomes of the Safe at Heart trial

Ten secondary schools across Victoria participated in the 2009 trial of the Safe at Heart program. The program was trialled with 13 groups of girls aged 13 to 17.

The evaluation showed that the program’s objectives were achieved. A skills-based empowerment approach to relationships education with girls can be considered a promising approach to partner abuse prevention. Further research is warranted to test whether this approach is also effective in universal (i.e., regular classroom) settings with boys and girls.

A universal version of the program called “Navigating Relating” is currently under development. A small pilot study has been conducted with Year 9 classes and has been positively received by male and female students.

Who is conducting the project?

PhD Candidate Kylie Murphy (B.Ed.Secondary; B.App.Science-Honours) is conducting this project supervised by Associate Professor David Smith.

Publications associated with the project

  • Murphy, K. & Smith, D. (2007). Adolescent girls' exposure and responses to warning signs of abuse in intimate relationships. Proceedings of the 2007 Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology of Relationships Conference, 87-93. Melbourne: APS.
  • Murphy, K. (2009-a). Safe in Romantic Relationships project: Stage One survey results. Report disseminated through VicHealth’s Partners in Prevention network. Melbourne: RMIT University.
  • Murphy, K. (2009-b). Safe at Heart: An Empowerment Approach to Relationship Abuse Prevention. In: Hazelwood, Z. J. (Ed.). Connecting Research and Practice in Relationships: Conference Proceedings. Melbourne, Victoria: Australian Psychological Society, 28-34. ISBN: 9780909881450. Availability: http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=203435761811048;res=IELHEA
  • Murphy, K. & Smith, D. (2010-a). Adolescent girls' responses to warning signs of abuse in romantic relationships: Implications for youth-targeted relationship abuse prevention. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25(4), 626-647.
  • Murphy, K. & Smith, D. (2010-b). Before they’re victims: Rethinking youth-targeted relationship abuse prevention. Australian Psychologist, 45(1), 38-49.
  • Murphy, K. (2011). Navigating healthy relationships: A skills-based empowerment approach to relationships education. Proceedings of the 27th ACHPER International Conference. Adelaide, South Australia: ACHPER, 282-292. Availability: http://www.achper.org.au/__files/f/27497/27th%20ACHPER%20International%20Conference%20Proceedings.pdf
  • Murphy, K. (in press-a). Partner abuse prevention education: An integrated approach to program development and evaluation. Sex Education.
  • Murphy, K. (in press-b). Skilling adolescent girls to resist abusive relationship dynamics: A pilot program evaluation. Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist.
  • Murphy, K. (in press-c). Girls at risk of chronic partner abuse: Assertive tendency, warning signs, risk sensitivity, and self-confidence. Journal of Relationships Research.
  • Murphy, K., Smith, D., & Xenos, S. (in press-d). Tendency to Resist or End Abusive Dynamics (TREAD): A promising change-target for partner abuse prevention with adolescents. Journal of Family Violence.

Conference presentations associated with the project

  • Murphy, K. & Smith, D. (2007). Adolescent girls' exposure and responses to warning signs of abuse in intimate relationships. Paper presented at the 2007 Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology of Relationships Conference, ACU, Melbourne.
  • Murphy, K. (2008). Developing a Victimisation Prevention Program for Young Women in Romantic Relationships: Project Rationale and Preliminary Findings. Paper presented at the 2008 Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology of Relationships Conference, ACU, Melbourne.
  • Murphy, K. (2009). Safe at Heart: An empowerment approach to relationship abuse prevention. Workshop conducted at the 2009 Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology of Relationships Conference, QUT, Brisbane.
  • Murphy, K. (2009). Respectful relationships education: Advancing best practice in the prevention of violence against women. Paper presented at National Conference of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), Melbourne.
  • Murphy, K. (2010). Efficacy of skills-training for increasing adolescent girls’ propensity to resist abusive couple dynamics. Paper presented at International Congress of Applied Psychology, Melbourne.
  • Murphy, K. (2010). Adolescent girls’ real-time responses to partner abuse prevention training: Risk-sensitivity, perceived self-agency, and victim-blaming. Paper presented at International Congress of Applied Psychology, Melbourne.
  • Murphy, K. (2010). Maximising the effectiveness of respectful relationships education with adolescents. Invited paper presented at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health Adolescent Health Conference, Shepparton.
  • Murphy, K. (2010). Objectives in partner abuse prevention education: Which really matter? Paper presented at the 2010 Australian Psychological Society’s Psychology of Relationships Conference, QUT, Brisbane.
  • Murphy, K. (2011). Navigating healthy relationships: A skills-based empowerment approach to relationships education. Workshop conducted at the 27th ACHPER International Conference, Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, South Australia.
  • Murphy, K. (2011). Use of the TREAD scale with young people at risk of abuse in romantic relationships. Paper to be presented at the 46th Australian Psychological Society’s Annual Conference, National Convention Centre, Canberra.

Further information

Email Kylie at safe-relationships@rmit.edu.au