Clinical Research Directory

SER Familia: A Family-Based Intervention Addressing Syndemic Conditions Among Latino Immigrant Families

This study aims to prevent syndemic health conditions by decreasing acculturative stress and promoting resilience via SER Familia (Salud, Estrés y Resilencia en Familias/ Health, Stress, and Resilience in Families), a family-based intervention. SER Familia is a six-session intervention co-developed and delivered by community health workers (CHWs) that uses strategies to reduce acculturative stress, promote resilience, improve parent-child and family level health, while simultaneously helping families maintain strong social networks and better navigate community resources to address social determinants of health (SDOH). More specifically, investigators aim to: 1) Examine the efficacy of SER Familia to prevent or reduce the syndemic comprised of substance abuse, IPV, HIV risk, depression, and anxiety among Parents and Youth; and 2) Identify how individual, family, and community mechanisms of change related to acculturative stress and resilience mediates the effect of SER Familia.

Project STRONGER: Stepped Care for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Engagement and Recovery

Using a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation approach, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a novel stepped care model ("PCT+2HOPE") versus treatment as usual (TAU) on increasing retention in community-based medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment among women who have experienced intimate partner violence (W-IPV). PCT+2HOPE includes Present-Centered Therapy (PCT+) with stepped care as indicated by moderate, severe, or extreme PTSD-related impairment in psychosocial functioning to Helping to Overcome PTSD through Empowerment (HOPE), two evidence-based behavioral interventions adapted for women with opioid use disorder (OUD). We will examine the effectiveness of PCT+2HOPE vs. TAU on the primary outcome (i.e., retention in MOUD treatment) and secondary outcomes related to trauma (i.e., PTSD-related impairment in psychosocial functioning and depression), substance use (i.e. OUD symptom severity, extra-medical opioid use \[i.e., use of prescription opioids without a doctor's prescription; in greater amounts, more often, longer than prescribed, or for a reason other than a doctor said they should be used\], and recovery), and empowerment. We will explore the extent to which the effectiveness of PCT+2HOPE vs. treatment as usual differs based on access to basic needs. We will also conduct an implementation-focused process evaluation.

What Works to Prevent Violence - Malawi Moyo Olemekeza

Violence against women is complex and must be addressed at multiple levels, with leadership from women themselves on how to bring about positive change to free women and girls from daily experiences of violence and to promote their rights. It is in this context that the Pamodzi Kuthetsa Nkhanza (PKN) consortium will implement a programme to facilitate the prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Malawi as one of the most common forms of VAW experienced in Malawi. The programme takes a whole community approach and uses gender transformative approaches at different levels of society to address the root causes of IPV. It will draw primarily on two existing, evidence-based prevention models, namely SASA! Together (community mobilisation model) and Moyo Olemekeza (MO) (gender norms and behaviour change and economic empowerment approach). The institutional strengthening component of these evaluations is meant to create an enabling environment. The cRCT described in this protocol will assess the added value of the women's social and economic empowerment programme (MO) when layered on top of SASA! Together for eligible at-risk households.

Smartphone Climate Adaptation and IPV Intervention for Women in Informal Settlements in Kenya

This study is testing a smartphone-delivered program to help women living in informal settlements in Kenya manage intimate partner violence (IPV) and stress related to extreme weather events. Women in these communities often face high levels of violence from partners, challenges caused by climate-related events, and limited access to support services. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a mobile intervention or a comparison condition. The mobile program provides short, tailored sessions that help women learn safety planning, coping skills, and strategies for adapting to climate-related stress. The program also offers tools to improve communication and strengthen social support. The main goal of the study is to see whether this smartphone-based approach can reduce the frequency and severity of IPV over 12 months. The study will also examine changes in stress levels, self-confidence in handling problems, social support, and safety behaviors. Results from this study may help create accessible, scalable support for women experiencing IPV and climate-related stress in similar settings.

A Multi-Level Trauma-Informed Approach to Increase HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Initiation Among Black Women

U.S. epidemiological data indicates that Black women are a high-risk HIV disparity group, yet initiation of novel prevention strategies like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among this group is stagnant. Socio-structural challenges like intimate partner violence and gendered racism can constrain PrEP access among Black women, but few implementation studies have mitigated these challenges to improve PrEP initiation. The proposed research aims to implement and assess the effectiveness, implementation, and sustainability of a multilevel intervention to increase PrEP initiation among Black women with and without intimate partner violence in Baltimore.

Evaluation of a Sexual Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Primary Prevention Program Implemented in Drinking Establishments

The goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of Safe Night Out, a community-level primary violence prevention program offered in drinking establishments in the Sacramento region of California. The main questions this project aims to answer are: 1) Does the Safe Night Out program reduce incidents of sexual violence and intimate partner violence among patrons? 2) Does the Safe Night Out program increase incidents of safety checks of patrons by staff participants? To address these questions, we will enroll 150 staff participants and 500 patron participants from 25 drinking establishments that have implemented the Safe Night Out program (\~3 staff participants and 10 patron participants per drinking establishment) and 25 drinking establishments that have not implemented the Safe Night Out program (\~3 staff participants and 10 patron participants per drinking establishment). Participants will complete a baseline and three 6-month follow-up assessments, until 18 month-follow-up.

What Works - Malawi SASA! Together

Violence against women is complex and must be addressed at multiple levels, with leadership from women themselves on how to bring about positive change to free women and girls from daily experiences of violence and to promote their rights. It is in this context that the Pamodzi Kuthetsa Nkhanza (PKN) consortium will implement a programme to facilitate the prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Malawi as one of the most common forms of VAW experienced in Malawi. The programme takes a whole community approach and uses gender transformative approaches at different levels of society to address the root causes of IPV. It will draw primarily on two existing, evidence-based prevention models, namely SASA! Together (community mobilisation model) and Moyo Olemekeza (MO) (gender norms and behaviour change and economic empowerment approach). A cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) will evaluate the effectiveness of the PKN programme, assessing the effectiveness of the SASA! Together programme at shifting individual behaviours and reducing violence in intimate relationships while also tackling community norms that drive these forms of violence against women. The cRCT will also assess the added value of combining SASA! Together and a women's social and economic empowerment programme (MO) for most at-risk households. This protocol focuses on the evaluation of the SASA! Together programme.

Intimate Partner Violence Among People Who Inject Drugs - Prevalence, Risk Factors and Experiences

There are around 15,6 million people who inject drugs (PWID) worldwide, of which around 3,5 million are women who inject drugs (WWID) (1). In Sweden, estimates suggest 8000-21000 PWID (2). PWID are exposed to substantial health risks that are directly linked to injection drug use, such as blood borne viruses (hepatitis and HIV), overdoses and skin and tissue infections. Additionally psychiatric disorders are common and PWID's general health is often neglected (3,4,5). In Sweden, harm reduction units such as needle and syringe programs (NSP) have scaled-up in recent years. In Stockholm the first NSP opened in 2013 and the second in 2018. In 2022, 4600 individuals were enrolled in the program since it opened, of which approximately 25% were women. Around 2000 were active participants, defined as having visited the program at least once during the last 12 months. In 2021 54% of the participants stated amphetamine as the last drug injected, 31% heroin, 4% buprenorphine and 11% other drugs. Most participants were between 30-49 years of age. In addition to distribution of sterile needles and injection paraphernalia, the NSP staff (nurses, doctors, midwifes, counselors) provides services such as testing for blood borne viruses, vaccinations, wound care, take-home naloxone, reproductive health services, counselling, support in contact with social service and referrals for substance use disorder treatment and hepatitis C/HIV treatment. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global health issue and WHO estimates that one in three women globally have been exposed to some sort of partner violence during their lifespan (7). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as violent behavior between two people who have a close relationship, such as partners, ex-partners, siblings, relatives, friends and alike. In Sweden around 14% of women and 5% of men are exposed to physical violence in an intimate partner relationship during their lifespan however 20-25% of women and around 17% of men are exposed to psychological violence during their lifespan (8; 9). The prevalence of IPV among PWID is estimated to be significantly higher than in the general population (10). A study from USA found the risk of IPV to be three times higher and the prevalence estimated between 35-57% (7). In international studies, IPV exposure is found to be a significant risk factor for needle sharing among WWID (11, 12). There are other well-known consequences of IPV including impact on sexual and reproductive health rights, physical and psychological wellbeing, increased risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis C (13; 14). IPV exposure disproportionately affects WWID worldwide, however studies in Sweden on IPV exposure in the PWID population is scarce. To date there are studies that address this among women with substance use disorders but none with an exclusive focus on PWID or WWID. In clinical research of women diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUD) with psychiatric comorbidities and social challenges, one study indicates that the majority (91%, n=79) of women had been exposed to some form of IPV (15). Another study of women with SUD (n=52), 50% reported exposure of serious violence and the majority (96%) reported exposure to psychological violence (10). There are different types of IPV; psychological, physical, sexual, financial, latent, digital, neglect, honor related, aftermath of IPV (16). Our research team has previously carried out a qualitative interview study among WWID at the Stockholm NSP in 2019 to investigate reasons and barriers for participation among women (17). The interviews illustrated that IPV is common. In the proposed studies, for this doctoral thesis, we have chosen to focus on physical, sexual, psychological and financial violence among PWID motivated by findings in our previous research. PWID and specifically WWID are regarded as groups who are especially vulnerable for IPV exposure and should therefore be prioritized in the national efforts to prevent IPV (15). However, there are no studies estimating the prevalence and frequency of IPV among PWID in Sweden. Previous international studies suggest that PWID are exposed to IPV to a greater extent than the general population, and women with substance use disorders are exposed to an alarming degree of violence (15). In Sweden there are no tailored interventions for PWID or WWID who are exposed to IPV, it is reasonable to believe that there is a need for a multi-faceted program for PWID exposed to IPV, however this is still unexplored. The overall aim of this project is to increase knowledge about IPV among PWID and WWID as particularly vulnerable groups in regards to IPV. More specifically, the aim is to investigate the prevalence and frequency of different types of IPV among PWID at the Stockholm NSP and to explore the experiences' of IPV, needs and preferences for IPV support among WWID to facilitate tailored support and prevention programs for those exposed.

Psilocybin-assisted Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin administered with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as an intervention to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom burden in adult (aged 18-65) survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). This trail will test the following 2 aims: AIM 1 : To compare the efficacy of a therapeutic psilocybin dose at improving outcomes on the PCL-5 and CAPS-5 as compared to an active control psilocybin dose in IPV survivors with chronic PTSD. AIM 2: To evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin on quality of life, cognitive function, motor ability, depression, anxiety, and cognitive flexibility. Participants will be asked to: * Complete a 2 part screening process * Attend a baseline assessment * Complete a psychoeducation preparation session(s) * Attend psilocybin administration session (receive high dose \[25mg\] or low dose psilocybin \[1mg\]) * Complete 5-6 weekly sessions of ACT * Repeat outcome measures at 1-week, 4 weeks, 3 months (online questionnaires only), and 6 months post-psilocybin administration.

The Effect of Simulation Training on Nursing Students' Perception, Myths and Attitudes of Dating Violence

Violence is a major global public health problem, causing approximately 1.5 million deaths each year. Dating violence, a common form of violence among young people, has serious consequences for women's and youths' physical and mental health, including mortality, chronic diseases, mental disorders, risky health behaviors, and substantial economic burden. As future healthcare providers, nursing students' myths, attitudes, and perceptions regarding dating violence can directly influence the quality and sensitivity of the care they deliver to survivors. Current literature mainly consists of descriptive studies focusing on nursing students' perceptions or attitudes toward dating violence, while experimental and structured educational interventions are limited. This study aims to develop and evaluate an educational program supported by high-fidelity simulation and flipped learning to increase nursing students' awareness levels regarding dating violence, as well as to address their myths, attitudes, and perceptions. In the flipped learning component, students will review digital educational materials before class and actively participate in in-class activities; in the simulation component, students will engage in realistic scenarios involving dating violence cases to enhance their clinical readiness and care competencies. The study is designed to contribute to the prevention of dating violence by strengthening nursing students' knowledge, awareness, and professional responsibility in this field.

Alcohol and Sexual Communication Among Couples in the Laboratory

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV) is a significant and understudied public health problem among couples, yet little is known about factors that contribute to IPSV perpetration. This proposal aims to determine the acute effect of alcohol and sexual communication on IPSV. In this study, 240 couples who drink alcohol will be recruited from the Metro-Denver area. Upon arrival to the laboratory, a trained research assistant will check the participant's ID, verify that they adhered to the pre-session guidelines, administer a breath test to ensure a breath alcohol content (BrAC) of 0.00 and conduct a field sobriety test. They will also obtain informed consent for each member of the couple separately. Female participants will take a pregnancy test to ensure a negative result. All participants will complete measures to reverify eligibility criteria and be weighed to determine their correct alcohol dose. Partners will separately complete a baseline survey measuring demographic factors, alcohol use, sexual communication, and daily experiences. After completing the survey, participants will be assigned a beverage condition (alcohol or no-alcohol control) and couples will be randomly assigned to a communication condition (direct verbal or indirect verbal). Participants will be seated in a room separate from their partner, where they will drink an alcoholic or no-alcohol control beverage. Upon reaching a breath alcohol content (BrAC) of .07, or immediately after drinking in the No-Alcohol control condition, participants will complete a laboratory assessment of sexual violence. The main hypotheses are: (1) one's alcohol use will increase IPSV toward partners who are also drinking, (2) one's alcohol use will increase IPSV among partners who use indirect, relative to direct, communication, and (3) actor alcohol use will increase IPSV toward partners who are also drinking and use indirect, relative to direct, communication.

Can the IDEA3 Intervention Prevent Intimate Partner Violence?: A Substudy to the IDEA3 Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this study is to understand if the Internet-Delivered Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (IDEA3) sexual assault resistance program works to prevent intimate partner violence in undergraduate women. Participants who were in a prior trial by the study team (the IDEA3 parent trial) and joined in September 2024 or later will be invited to also join this study at the conclusion of the parent study. Participants in this study will fill out one additional survey. Researchers will compare intimate partner violence victimization between the control group and the intervention group.

Get Better Together: Relationship Education For Military Couples

This study is testing a program called Get Better Together, a relationship education program designed to help military couples effectively navigate life stressors as a team. The goal is to find out if attending Get Better Together improves mental health and relationship skills, and reduces problems like alcohol misuse, aggression, and suicide risk. Couples who join the study will be randomly placed into one of two groups. One group will attend Get Better Together at a weekend retreat. The other group will continue their usual activities and later receive access to an online relationship education program. All participants will complete surveys before the retreat and again 2, 4, and 6 months later.

RISE Versus Advocacy-based Enhanced Care as Usual for Patients Experiencing IPV

This study aims to improve treatment for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients who experience intimate partner violence (IPV). This study will evaluate two brief counseling interventions for VHA patients who have experienced IPV in the past 12 months: Recovering from IPV through Strength and Empowerment (RISE) and advocacy-based Enhanced Care as Usual (ECAU). The RISE intervention includes up to 8 sessions and includes specific topic areas (e.g., social support, health effects, resources). The other intervention, ECAU, includes a single session that includes supportive education about IPV and health effects, discussion of ways to increase safety, and information about resources. This study will test which approach is better for improving self-efficacy and other aspects of health. Participants will answer surveys about their self-efficacy and other health and safety indicators (e.g., mental health symptoms) right before receiving treatment, approximately 12 weeks later, and then every three months after that for one year. Participation in this research will last about 15 months.

Multi-component Family Intervention to Lower Depression and Address Intimate Partner Violence in Nepal

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, an estimated 30% of women report physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. IPV is a well-established social driver of mental health problems, and doubles the rate of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can improve depression after women experiencing IPV exit abusive relationships. However, despite ongoing violence, many young women in LMICs are less likely to divorce or separate from their husband. But ongoing IPV severely limits mental health recovery and increases the risks of suicide. Another important factor in many LMICs is that young women often live in extended, multi-generational households, where studies have shown that mother-in-laws (MILs) play a critical role in young married women's autonomy and freedom of movement, substantially affecting her mental health. The pathways via which multiple family members and ongoing IPV affect young women's mental health in LMICs is very poorly understood. There is an urgent need to design and assess interventions that: a) improve mental health and reduce IPV; b) engage husbands and MILs, and not just women experiencing IPV; and c) elucidate pathways via which IPV-related drivers affect mental health. This study's research team, with over 16 years of experience in Nepal, conducted a pilot study introducing the Multi-component family Intervention to Lower depression and Address intimate Partner violence (MILAP). MILAP, which translates to "unity and reconciliation" in Nepali, showed promise in reducing depression and IPV among families (comprising women, husbands, and mothers-in-law). Based on these favorable results, the investigators now propose a 12-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the effectiveness of MILAP in addressing depression, IPV, and PTSD among young married women in Nepal. The goal of this RCT is to assess the effectiveness of MILAP, understand mechanisms of change for MILAP's effectiveness, and conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis. The specific aims of this study are: AIM 1: Conduct a 12-month RCT to assess the effectiveness of MILAP on depression, IPV, and PTSD among young married women in Nepal. AIM 2: Conduct a mixed-methods assessment of theorized mechanisms of change for MILAP's effectiveness. AIM 3: Conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of MILAP for depression and IPV. Participants of this study will receive either MILAP or enhanced usual care, and will answer questions about depression, IPV and PTSD at baseline, at 1 month and every 3 months until 1-year.

Zithandani Stepping Stones and Creating Futures - Phase 2 Pilot

The goal of this uncontrolled intervention study is to assess whether Zithandani Stepping Stones and Creating Futures is feasible to deliver, acceptable for participants, safe for participants and to estimate effect sizes, in young (ages 18-40 years) heterosexual couples, living in urban informal settlements in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is Zithandani SSCF feasible to deliver to young couples, and what are the barriers and opportunities in intervention delivery? 2. Is Zithandani SSCF acceptable to participants? What do they like and what do they not like about the intervention? 3. Is Zithandani SSCF safe for female participants and do they engage adequately? 4. Does Zithandani SSCF show indication of positive change on key indicators and what are the effect sizes? Participants will be recruited as heterosexual couples and participate in 14 sessions, each approximately 3 hours long, with between 4 and 6 other couples, focused on gender norms, livelihoods and communication.

Cultural Adaptation of a Web-Based App (myPlan Thailand) to Empower and Support Friends and Family of Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

This research will support and empower friends/family (F/F) of intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors in Thailand, where IPV is critical and common, and survivors first and foremost seek help for abuse from their F/F. myPlan app (www.myPlanapp.org) is a free mobile evidence-based intervention app to prevent IPV. The app was first developed in the United States (US) and has been disseminated to high-income countries (e.g., New Zealand, Canada, Australia) and lowincome (Kenya). One new hope for improving survivors' psychological and well-being is adapting and introducing the myPlan app for the concerned friends/family who support survivors in Thailand. Therefore, the propose of this longitudinal research study, Cultural Adaptation of a Web-Based App (myPlan Thailand) to Empower and Support Friends/Family of Intimate Partner Violence Survivors in Thailand, will have two consecutive phases with three aims: 1) To tailor the myPlan app content for concerned F/F members of Thai IPV survivors, 2) To integrate the adapted myPlan app content for concerned F/F members of Thai IPV survivors, 3) To test the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted myPlan app with concerned F/F members of Thai IPV survivors. Phase 1 (Year 1-2) will achieve aim 1-2 to tailor the myPlan app with Thai survivors and friends/family. The investigators will review current content and conduct in-depth interviews with survivors and concerned F/F members on social norms associated with IPV, informal support systems and the role/responsibility in helping survivors, safety strategies used by concerned F/F members and negative consequences for both survivor and F/F member providing support. Moreover, in phase 1, the adapted content will be pilot tested with concerned F/F members of survivors by using cognitive techniques and theater-testing methodology. Phase 2 (Year 3-4) will achieve aim 3 to test the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted myPlan app with F/F. The investigators will conduct a two-group RCT design with concerned F/F member randomized to receive a) the myPlan app for F/F member, or b) standard usual-care safety planning information. Primary outcomes for F/F members include change in knowledge and attitudes towards IPV and F/F empowerment to plan and take safety support survivor. Secondary outcomes will examine change in F/F' distress, frustration and consequences for supporting the survivor. This phase will also collect feasibility and acceptability data to informed a planned R01 submission in Year 3 of the study. The K43 application outlines a four-year plan to support a candidate who is a nursing instructor with 15 years of work in diverse projects, settings, and disciplines; which positions her for a successful career as an independent researcher in research field of intimate partner violence. The career development plan provides a sequence of carefully selected training and mentoring experiences, including coursework to increase research capacity, leadership skills, mentored research leading to a R01 proposal, peer reviewed publications, and professional networking, that will catapult this research to the next level of research achievement. The team will be a collaboration between the Boromarajonani College of Nursing Khon Kaen (BCNKK), Khon Kaen One Stop Crisis Center (OSCC), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDM), and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand.

Effectiveness of Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy Intervention for Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

This interventional study aims to examine the impact of the Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy-Based Intervention Program on the psychosocial well-being of female victims of intimate partner violence. The main questions to be answered are the following: 1. Is the Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy-Based Intervention Program effective on the interpersonal problems of female victims of intimate partner violence? 2. Is the Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy-Based Intervention Program effective on the mental well-being of female victims of intimate partner violence? The study will include eight individual interviews using a variety of data collection forms.

The Economics of Domestic Violence: Evidence From Bangladesh

This project aims to test the scalability and cost-effectiveness of edutainment-soap operas designed to challenge harmful social norms and promote resilience-as a strategy to improve mental health and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural Bangladesh. Investigators will run a clustered randomized control trial in which villages will be randomized to one of three versions of the same soap opera: (i) Norms: Challenges harmful norms that condone IPV, targeting the belief that violence is an acceptable way to assert control or maintain reputation, (ii) Norms + Skills: builds on the norms campaign by adding CBT-based skills for stress management and non-violent conflict resolution, (iii) Placebo: No violence content. Investigators will evaluate the impact on attitudes towards IPV and IPV incidence.

The Effect of Laughter Yoga-Supported Strong Woman, Safe Life Training Program on Attitudes Towards Violence, Styles of Coping with Stress and Psychological Flexibility

The aim of this project is to examine the effects of the Laughter Yoga Supported Strong Woman, Safe Life Education Program applied to women on attitudes towards violence, stress coping styles and psychological flexibility. The problem of violence against women is a public health problem that affects and concerns not only women at the individual level, but also children, all family members and therefore society. According to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute in our country, 38% of women have been subjected to spousal or partner violence at some point in their lives. Violence or the threat of violence that causes fear, pain and anxiety in women from an individual perspective; constitutes an obstacle to women's more active and productive participation in economic and social life, especially in the private sphere. From a social perspective, the economic cost of violence against women is extremely high in terms of loss of working hours and wages, social services, legal and medical expenses. Our country has a culturally patriarchal social structure. Living in a patriarchal order affects beliefs and attitudes towards the acceptance of violence, making women more vulnerable to violence. Living in a patriarchal order affects beliefs and attitudes towards acceptance of violence, making women more vulnerable to violence. When the reasons for submissive behaviors towards violence are examined, it is stated that factors such as having children, low self-esteem, religious beliefs, social pressure, emotional attachment to a long-term relationship, running away from home, arranged marriage, being economically dependent on the spouse and low level of education are effective. Accepting violence encourages aggression and causes violent people to legitimize their actions. It is stated that submissive and accepting attitudes towards violence can be changed. Interventions aimed at empowering women play an important role in reducing attitudes accepting violence. It is anticipated that this project will create an opportunity for women to raise awareness about violence and change their accepting attitudes towards violence. The proposed project consists of THREE stages. The first stage, PREPARATION stage; includes preparation of data collection tools, determination and informing of scholarship recipients, development of training content and tools, preliminary application and determination of the working group. The second stage is the IMPLEMENTATION stage, which includes collecting pre-test data, loading public transportation fees onto participants' cards for transportation, providing training to the intervention group, and collecting post-test data. The third stage is the MONITORING-EVALUATION stage, which is the stage of collecting follow-up test data and conducting analyses. The research will be conducted as a randomized controlled parallel group intervention study. The universe of the research will consist of 7988 women registered in 24 Women's Education and Culture Centers (KEKM) affiliated with Altındağ Municipality. 1 center will be randomly selected from 24 Women's Education and Culture Centers for the sample of the research. In this study, the smallest sample size was determined as 43 for each group, totaling 86, at 80% statistical power and α=.05 significance level. Considering the 10% data loss in the determined sample size, it was planned to include a total of 94 participants, 47 for each group. The assignment of the women included in the research to the intervention (47 participants) and control (47 participants) groups will be done by randomization method. The aim is to implement the Laughter Yoga Supported Strong Woman, Safe Life Training Program face-to-face for an 8-week period for the participants in the intervention group. The 47 participants in the intervention group will be divided into 3 separate groups (16 participants, 16 participants and 15 participants) to increase interaction and experience sharing. The project team will implement the Laughter Yoga Supported Strong Woman, Safe Life Training Program consisting of 8 modules to 3 separate groups. The intervention group will be given a pre-test before the training, a post-test after the training and a follow-up test 1 month after the training is completed. It is planned to collect data by conducting a pre-test, post-test and follow-up test simultaneously with the experimental group without any intervention for the control group. Data will be collected using the Attitude Towards Violence in Close Relationships Scale, the Psychological Flexibility Scale and the Styles of Coping with Stress Scale. Institutional permission will be obtained from the Ankara University Ethics Committee and the Altındağ Municipality. In this project, with the "Strong Woman, Safe Life Training Program Supported by Laughter Yoga", women will be provided with training on the Importance of Self-Knowledge and Communication, Stress and Coping Techniques, Gender, Empowerment

Impacts of the Indashyikirwa Program on Intimate Partner Violence in Syria

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Indashyikirwa program in enhancing women's empowerment and reducing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in conflict-affected communities in Northeast Syria. The intervention group will participate in the Indashyikirwa ("Agents of Change") program, which includes a comprehensive couples' training module and access to safe spaces. The control group will not receive the Indashyikirwa program. Both intervention and control groups are beneficieries of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) support and Vocational Training (VT) to promote economic empowerment. The study employs a cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) design. Out of 30 pre-identified villages, 15 villages were randomly assigned to receive the Indashyikirwa program and 15 villages will not receive the Indashyikirwa program. The villages were located within the same sub-districts to ensure a balanced geographic distribution of the intervention. Based on a power analysis with 80% power, at least 16 married couples from eligible SME and VT beneficiaries will be voluntarily enrolled in each village to receive the Indashyikirwa intervention. Similarly, 16 eligible SME and VT married couples from control villages will be enrolled using the same voluntary participation principle. To account for potential attrition, 20 couples per village will be initially enrolled, ensuring a robust sample size for analysis. This approach results in a total sample size of 600 couples (or 1,200 individual participants). The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of Indashyikirwa program on key outcomes, including the reduction in IPV, transformation of gender norms, enhancement of women's empowerment, improvements in intra-household dynamics, economic benefits to the household. Data collection will involve structured surveys administered separately to both husbands and wives. Surveys will be conducted at four time points: baseline, 2 months post-intervention, 12 months post-intervention, and 24 months post-intervention.