# Expect Respect Middle School:  Preventing Serious and Lethal Violence Among Youth with Prior Violence Exposure

> **NIH ALLCDC R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $349,985

## Abstract

This cluster-randomized school-based study will examine the effectiveness of a teen dating violence (TDV) and
sexual violence (SV) prevention program for preventing serious violence perpetration among middle school
students who have been exposed to violence. “Expect Respect” (ER) gender-specific support groups are for
youth with history of exposure to violence including witnessing domestic violence, loss of loved one to
homicide, TDV, and SV victimization, who are thus at elevated risk for TDV/SV and other violence perpetration.
ER is a theory- and research-informed program intended to alter norms condoning violence and rigid gender
expectations that foster violence perpetration, promote bystander intervention (i.e., give youth skills to interrupt
disrespectful and abusive behaviors they witness among peers), and reduce TDV/SV perpetration.
Implemented by trained facilitators, the 24-session curriculum focuses on gender equity and respect,
recognizing abuse and impact on self and others, regulating emotions, skills for healthy relationships, and
becoming active proponents for safe and healthy relationships. The study focuses on middle school students
because the prevalence of witnessing and experiencing harmful behaviors is already high in middle school as
are gender inequitable attitudes, suggesting that efforts to support vulnerable students and to shift attitudes
and social norms condoning violence are urgently needed during this developmental period. In a recent
controlled evaluation conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both boys and girls
demonstrated significant reductions in reactive and proactive aggression compared to control participants.
Given reduction in aggression for both genders, we propose to study this violence prevention program, created
to target TDV/SV, for its effectiveness in preventing violence perpetration more broadly including weapon
carrying and physical fighting. While the goal is to prevent perpetration of serious violence, we also anticipate
reductions in precursors of such violence including sexual harassment, homophobic teasing, and reactive and
proactive aggression towards peers. Control schools will provide student support services as usual. Via a 2-
arm cluster-randomized trial in 36 middle schools (baseline N =1080), we will evaluate the effectiveness of this
support group-based prevention program for vulnerable students on serious violence perpetration (primary
outcome), weapon carrying (secondary), positive bystander behaviors (secondary), and suicidality
(exploratory) (Aim 1). One year after baseline, we will assess these same outcomes compared to control
students (Aim 2). We will explore whether demographics, pre-intervention risk and protective factors (e.g.,
history of violence, school connectedness), and implementer characteristics may interact with the intervention
to predict changes in outcomes of interest (Aim 3). This study is significant because we have too few evidenc...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10003100
- **Project number:** 5R01CE002981-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Miller
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $349,985
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10003100

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10003100, Expect Respect Middle School:  Preventing Serious and Lethal Violence Among Youth with Prior Violence Exposure (5R01CE002981-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10003100. Licensed CC0.

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