Gender differences in the longitudinal predictors of adolescent dating violence

Prevalence and correlates of adolescent dating violence: baseline study of a cohort of 7,960 male and female Mexican public school students

INTRODUCTION

Factors correlated with adolescent dating violence have yet to be documented in most developing countries; this study assesses the prevalence and correlates of victimization with and perpetration of dating violence among Mexican youth.

METHODS

This was the baseline measurement (1998-1999) of a cohort of 7960 public school students (11-24 years) developed to explore various health behaviors in Mexican youth. Multinomial logistic regression models were constructed with adolescent dating violence as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

Prevalence of dating violence victimization was 9.37% (female) and 8.57% (male) for psychological violence; 9.88% (female) and 22.71% (male) for physical violence, and 8.63% (female) and 15.15% (male) for both psychological and physical violence. Prevalence of perpetration was 4.21% (female) and 4.33% (male) for psychological violence; 20.99% (female) and 19.54% (male) for physical violence; and 7.48% (female) and 5.51% (male) for both types of violence. Factors associated with dating violence victimization for both genders included: two or more lifetime sexual partners and intra-familial violence. Higher age, alcohol use and illegal drug use were significantly associated with victimization only among girls. The following were significantly associated with perpetration of dating violence in both genders: gang membership, illegal drug use, two or more lifetime sexual partners and intra-familial violence. Higher age and alcohol use were significantly associated with perpetration only among girls. High or middle socio-economic status was associated with perpetration only in boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Future research on adolescent dating violence in Mexico should further explore severity and frequency of violent behaviors, include a focus on severe dating violence and take into account the context and meaning of dating violence. A longitudinal design that allows determination of causality will also be needed in order to develop prevention strategies.

Interpersonal violence in adolescence: ecological correlates of self-reported perpetration

Although growing attention is being paid to the problem of teen dating violence, to date less is known about perpetrators of victimization. The current article used a subset of 980 adolescents aged 11 to 19 who were surveyed as part of a statewide community service coordinated through Cooperative Extension to survey all youth in target communities about risky health behaviors. The current article examined correlates of perpetration of either physical dating violence or sexual abuse across all levels of the ecological model (individual, family, and community factors). At the bivariate level, individual factors including substance use and low social responsibility, family factors including divorce, low parental monitoring, and low social support, and community variables such as low school attachment and neighborhood monitoring were associated with self-reported perpetration. At the multivariate level, gender and history of victimization were most significant in explaining variance in perpetration.

The co-occurrence of adolescent boys' and girls' use of psychologically, physically, and sexually abusive behaviours in their dating relationships

We examined the co-occurrence of and risk factors for adolescent boys' and girls' self-reported use of psychologically, physically, and sexually abusive behaviours in their dating relationships. The participants were 324 boys and 309 girls in grades 7, 9, or 11 who completed surveys at school. Descriptive analyses showed that 19% of boys and 26% of girls reported having used two or more forms of dating violence. One third of students in grade 7 had already used at least one form of aggressive behaviour in this context. Canonical correlation analyses indicated that boys' and girls' use of multiple forms of dating violence were predicted by their attitudes toward and experiences with violence. After controlling for general abusiveness, boys' use of sexually abusive behaviour and girls' use of psychologically abusive behaviour were linked to specific risk factors that suggest an enactment of social scripts associated with their respective gender roles.

Parenting processes and dating violence: the mediating role of self-esteem in low- and high-SES adolescents

The current investigation tested a model in which low self-esteem mediated the effects by parenting processes (monitoring, closeness, and support) on measures of dating violence (victimization, perpetration, attitudes, and perceptions) in a sample of adolescents (n=809; mean age=16.4 years) from both low- and high-socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds. Hierarchical regression analyses provided evidence that low self-esteem partially mediated the link between parenting processes and dating violence, with unique differences observed between low- and high-SES youth. Specifically, in low-SES youth, low self-esteem mediated the relationship between closeness as well as support and dating violence behaviours, while in high-SES youth, it only mediated the relationship between maternal support and dating violence attitudes.

"Dissed" by dating violence

PROBLEM

This study describes the impact of the experience of dating violence on the daily lives of college women.

METHODS

Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze transcribed responses from an open-ended question about the impact of dating violence.

FINDINGS

Eight thematic categories emerged: emotional distress, distrust and using extra precautions, disconnected and distant in relationships, self-discontentment, disclaiming the experience, feeling disenfranchised, life disruption, and turning a situation from disempowering to empowering.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the perspective of dating violence victims assists the advanced practice psychiatric nurse (APPN) with planning effective care. Routine screening about past and present experiences of violence must occur with all young women. Providers must be knowledgeable about available resources for victims.

Dating violence prevention in middle school and high school youth

TOPIC

Dating violence and interpersonal abuse among middle school and high school students.

PURPOSE

To review the current literature and evaluate the need of conducting further study in order to create early interventions for the prevention of relationship abuse.

SOURCES USED

Case report and review of the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Dating violence among middle school and high school youth must be addressed by screening risk and offering anticipatory guidance during each health maintenance visit in order to prevent victimization of youth in dating and attraction relationships.

Predicting abuse in adolescent dating relationships over 1 year: the role of child maltreatment and trauma

Three mediators of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and dating violence perpetration during midadolescence (i.e., trauma-related symptoms, attitudes justifying dating violence, and empathy and self-efficacy in dating relationships) were tested over 1 year with a sample of students from 10 high schools (N = 1,317). Trauma-related symptoms had a significant cross-time effect on predicting incidents of dating violence for both boys and girls. Attitudes and empathy and self-efficacy did not predict dating violence over time, although they were correlated with such behavior at both time points. Child maltreatment is a distal risk factor for adolescent dating violence, and trauma-related symptoms act as a significant mediator of this relationship. The importance of longitudinal methodology that separates correlates from predictors is discussed.

Acculturation, ethnic identity, and dating violence among Latino ninth-grade students

BACKGROUND

Studies of dating violence among Latino men and women have found that victims who are less acculturated have lower rates of dating violence. None of these studies have focused on adolescents. We assessed acculturation, ethnic identity, and dating violence victimization among Latino ninth-grade students.

METHODS

Students from 13 high schools representing 24% of ninth-grade students in the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley during 2000-2001 completed questionnaires. This analysis is restricted to students age 14 years or older who self-identified as Hispanic or Latino (n = 4,525). Logistic regression was performed to estimate the risk of dating violence associated with measures of acculturation and ethnic identity.

RESULTS

Latino female adolescents were more likely to report dating violence victimization in the past 12 months (8.7%) than were males (6.4%). Parental birthplace outside of the United States was significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of dating violence victimization among females. Reporting a great deal of ethnic discrimination was strongly associated with increased dating violence victimization among females.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that greater acculturation may be associated with greater prevalence of dating violence victimization among females. Understanding those aspects of Latino culture that may impact risk of dating violence could have important public health implications.

Assessing the long-term effects of the Safe Dates program and a booster in preventing and reducing adolescent dating violence victimization and perpetration

OBJECTIVES

This study determined 4-year postintervention effects of Safe Dates on dating violence, booster effects, and moderators of the program effects.

METHODS

We gathered baseline data in 10 schools that were randomly allocated to a treatment condition. We collected follow-up data 1 month after the program and then yearly thereafter for 4 years. Between the 2- and 3-year follow-ups, a randomly selected half of treatment adolescents received a booster.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, adolescents receiving Safe Dates reported significantly less physical, serious physical, and sexual dating violence perpetration and victimization 4 years after the program. The booster did not improve the effectiveness of Safe Dates.

CONCLUSIONS

Safe Dates shows promise for preventing dating violence but the booster should not be used.

Physical aggression, forced sex, and stalking victimization by a dating partner: an analysis of the National Violence Against Women Survey

This study used the National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS) of women and men to estimate noncohabitating dating violence prevalence by type (physical, forced sex, and stalking), associations between dating violence and other types of interpersonal violence across the lifespan, and association of dating violence with longer-term mental health including substance abuse. Among respondents aged 18 to 65, 8.3% of 6,790 women and 2.4% of 7,122 men experienced physical aggression, forced sex, or stalking victimization by a dating partner. Few (20.6% of women and 9.7% of men) reported more than one type of dating violence. Childhood physical aggression by a parent or guardian was strongly associated with subsequent dating violence risk for men and women. Dating violence (physical aggression specifically) was associated with current depressive symptoms, current therapeutic drug use (antidepressants, tranquilizers, or pain medications), and current recreation drug use for women. Implications for parents, survivors, health care, and service providers are discussed.

Pediatric Residents' Attitudes and Practices Regarding Adolescent Dating Violence

OBJECTIVES

To examine pediatric residents' knowledge, attitudes, self-reported screening, and care of adolescents involved in violent dating relationships.

METHODS

Data were obtained by a cross-sectional survey of pediatrics and medicine-pediatrics residents at 4 pediatric and medicine-pediatric training programs in the United States during 1996-1997. We analyzed self-reported rates of screening for dating violence, resident responses to an adolescent report of dating violence, and barriers to caring for adolescent patients who report dating violence by descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses, chi(2) analysis, and prevalence ratios.

RESULTS

A survey was completed by 204 of 296 residents (69% response rate). Residents were knowledgeable about the prevalence of dating violence, but 91% did not routinely screen for dating violence in adolescent patients. Residents were more likely to ask about dating violence, be concerned, and refer for counseling when a teen was female or was involved in a physically versus emotionally violent relationship. Resident characteristics associated with responses were female sex, number of adolescent patients seen, and prior personal experience with intimate violence. Barriers to asking about dating violence mirror those for marital violence, with lack of time and insufficient training cited as major barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Residents in pediatric training programs report that they would not routinely screen for or manage appropriately their adolescent patients in violent dating relationships. Residents believe that although it is a physician's role to discuss adolescent dating violence, they are not adequately trained to do so. Efforts are needed to properly prepare pediatricians to deal with this common adolescent health risk.

Dating violence prevention with at-risk youth: a controlled outcome evaluation

This study evaluated a community-based intervention to help at-risk teens develop healthy, nonabusive relationships with dating partners. Participants were 158 14-16-year-olds with histories of child maltreatment who were randomly assigned to a preventive intervention group or a no-treatment control group. They completed measures of abuse and victimization with dating partners, emotional distress, and healthy relationship skills at bimonthly intervals when dating someone. Intervention consisted of education about healthy and abusive relationships, conflict resolution and communication skills, and social action activities. Growth curve analyses showed that intervention was effective in reducing incidents of physical and emotional abuse and symptoms of emotional distress over-time. Findings support involvement of youths in reducing the cycle of violence as they initiate dating in midadolescence.

Adolescent dating violence and date rape

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In this review we intend to examine recent literature on dating violence among female adolescents, including prevalence, risk factors, sequelae, screening practices, and potential interventions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Dating violence is perpetrated by both males and females and occurs frequently within heterosexual dating relationships. Attitudes toward physical aggression, including those of peers, and abuse by siblings predict later violence as victim and perpetrator. Victims of childhood or dating violence may be at greater risk of developing eating disorders. New strategies and measures to promote screening are available.

SUMMARY

Dating violence occurs among all groups of adolescents with common and unique risk factors for dating violence found across adolescents grouped by race/ethnicity, sex, and prior victimization. Efforts to decrease dating violence should (1) increase the use of screening tools that measure victimization as well as attitudes and contextual parameters that promote dating violence; (2) increase self-efficacy to negotiate safer sex; (3) reduce the use/abuse of alcohol and other drugs that facilitate dating violence; and (4) eliminate the influence of negative peer behavior. Interventions to prevent dating violence will likely also reduce rates of unintended pregnancies, HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents.