A new article co-authored by PhD Candidate Qihao Zhan has been published in Qualitative Social Work.
“I felt represented”: Incorporating Latino youth’s perspectives into theatre for dating violence prevention discusses how Latino adolescents experience high rates of dating violence, but few interventions have been designed or adapted for Latino youth populations. The study explored Latino adolescents’ perceptions of a dating violence theatre intervention and solicited input on how the play may be adapted to reflect their dating experiences and cultural values, while also showcasing how researchers can partner with community organizations to enact meaningful change and amplify the voices of marginalized populations in the development of dating violence interventions.
“Prior studies have found that incorporating the insights of youth into program and research design is valuable for both enhancing the cultural and developmental relevance of programs and promoting skill-building among young people,” Qihao says. “Our project offers a practical example of this approach: we invited Latino youth to serve as playwrights and actively participate in program adaptations. They provided recommendations to improve cultural and developmental relevance and contributed meaningful input to community-based dating violence prevention efforts.”
Qihao was also recently featured in our PhD Student Spotlight series, where she shares what drew her to the University of Illinois, where she finds focus on campus, and how her work is reshaping conversations around adolescent dating violence and intergenerational trauma in social work.