Closing the Gap
A Mixed-Methods Study on Aligning Explicit and Hidden Curriculum for Gender Equity and Teen Dating Violence Prevention in Upper Secondary Schools
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22041945 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Andreana Lavanga (0009-0008-4019-6753, University of Foggia), Salvatore Adam Leone (University of Foggia), Nunzia Merafina (University of Foggia), Giulia Fiorentino (0000-0002-6163-9428, University of Foggia), Francesco Sulla (0000-0002-0871-4943, University of Foggia, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 362 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-25 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Education Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2227-7102 • E-ISSN: 2227-7102 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/educsci16030362 |
| OpenAlex | W7131682727 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 52 |
Teen dating violence (TDV) is a relevant threat to adolescent wellbeing, and schools may contribute to prevention by promoting gender equity through both the explicit curriculum (formal content and materials) and the hidden curriculum (everyday norms, interactions, and climate). This convergent mixed-methods study descriptively compared teachers’ and students’ perceptions of gender equity practices in three technical upper secondary schools in Southern Italy. Thirty-five teachers and 82 students completed an online, mirrored questionnaire developed for this study, including Likert-type items across three domains (explicit curriculum, hidden curriculum, and affective relationships/TDV-related education) and brief open-ended prompts. Closed-ended responses were summarized using descriptive frequencies and stacked distributions based on aggregated Likert categories, and open-ended responses were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Across domains, teachers reported higher endorsement of equity-oriented practices than students, whereas students more often indicated limited visibility of gender equity in materials and activities, greater neutrality/uncertainty in everyday practices, and weaker perceptions of school-wide consistency. Qualitative themes aligned with these descriptive patterns, emphasizing variability across contexts and requests for clearer, more consistent practices. These findings should be interpreted as perceptions within a context-specific convenience sample and may inform future school-based research and program development on gender equity and TDV-related education
Curriculum · Descriptive statistics · Likert scale · Perception · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Thematic analysis · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development
Gender Similarities and Differences
Does It Get Better? A Longitudinal Analysis of Psychological Distress and Victimization in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth
Ecological systems theory.
Intergenerational Transmission of Violence
Longitudinal Associations Between Teen Dating Violence Victimization and Adverse Health Outcomes
Thematic Analysis
Implicit social cognition
Benevolent Sexism and Hostile Sexism Across the Ages
Ideology and Curriculum
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
Learning or Unlearning Racism
Internalization of the Romantic Love Myths as a Risk Factor for Gender Violence
Preventing domestic abuse for children and young people
Gender Minority Stress
Dating violence victimization disparities across sexual orientation of a population-based sample of adolescents
Cognitive Strategies and Social Attitudes That Perpetuate Gender Inequality in Secondary Education Students
Individual, Familial, and School Risk Factors Affecting Teen Dating Violence in Early Adolescents
Un‐believing the matrix
Social Education in the Classroom
The Peer Context and the Development of the Perpetration of Adolescent Dating Violence
Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms and Suicidality Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Youth
Pygmalion in the classroom
The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory
Binge Drinking and Depression Symptoms as Risk Factors for Teen Dating Violence Among Sexual Minority Youth
Gender Stereotypes
An ambivalent alliance
Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations
| Highly cited | No |
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