Project Hope

Hope as a Path to Healing: Developing a Single-Session Intervention for Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a brief, digital, single-session intervention (SSI) designed to promote hope among women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). This study utilized a micro-longitudinal pre-post design to evaluate changes in hope (primary outcome) and self-worth, empowerment, and emotional wellbeing (secondary outcomes).

Project Hope was adapted from an existing SSI focused on growth mindset to specifically address hope among women who experience IPV Project Hope utilized four empirically-based elements (BEST) as its foundation: B – Normalize the potential for change/growth through Brain science; E – Empower participants to helper/Expert roles; S – Solidify learning by using Saying-is-believing exercises; and T – Include Testimonials and evidence from valued others (peers) (Schleider et al, 2020). Adaptations were driven by partnering with women in the community experiencing IPV, the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and clients and staff at the Center for Family Justice as well as informed by current literature and our team’s extensive experience and expertise.

Women in intimate relationships where they had experienced physical IPV by their partner enrolled into the study. Women completed an initial interview, 14 days of daily surveys before and after Project Hope using an app on their smartphone, and, midway through the study (~ day 15), completed Project Hope and, immediately following, a brief survey about their experiences completing it.

Project Hope was found to be feasible, acceptable, and well-liked, with 99% of women indicating they think Project Hope would be helpful to other women experiencing relationship problems. Women who completed Project Hope experienced increases in hope, empowerment, and emotional wellbeing.

Schleider, J. L., Dobias, M. L., Sung, J. Y., & Mullarkey, M. C. (2020). Future Directions in Single-Session Youth Mental Health Interventions. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 49(2), 264-278. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2019.1683852

* This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GG-04755-STOP awarded to Yale University (Principal Investigator: Tami P. Sullivan, PhD) by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. NCT06375876