Adolescent Victims of Physical Dating Violence: Why Do They Stay in Abusive Relationships?

Teen dating violence: predictive role of sexism and the mediating role of empathy and assertiveness based on gender

Background

Despite efforts to prevent dating violence among adolescents, it remains a major problem with multiple negative consequences. Sexist beliefs, empathy, and assertiveness influence teen dating violence (TDV) with potential gender differences.

Objectives

(1) Determine gender disparities in TDV perpetration and victimization, including relational, verbal-emotional, and physical aspects, as well as roles; (2) Analyze gender variations in sexism, empathy, assertiveness, and their relationship with TDV; (3) Establish a predictive model of sexism in TDV with empathy and assertiveness as mediators for both genders.

Participants and setting

A sample of 862 secondary school students (50.2% females, 49.8% males; mean age: 14.1 years) from diverse regions in Spain participated.

Methods

TDV was measured using the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI) in a cross-sectional study. Sexism, empathy, and assertiveness were assessed using the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Assertiveness Inventory for Students Questionnaire (AISQ), respectively.

Results

Females exhibited higher TDV perpetration, specifically verbal-emotional TDV. Males showed more relational TDV and hostile sexism, while no benevolent sexism differences were observed. Mediation models demonstrated sexism, assertiveness, and empathy as individual predictors of TDV, with varying mediation effects. Personal distress partially mediates the link between sexism and TDV perpetration or victimization in males, while practical personal ability mediates between sexism and TDV perpetration in females.

Conclusion

Sexism predicts both perpetration and victimization in TDV, linked to empathy and assertiveness. Notably, specific dimensions of empathy and assertiveness mediate the connection between sexism and TDV, displaying gender-specific patterns. Preventive measures should consider personal distress in male perpetrators/victims and practical personal ability in female perpetrators.

Intimate partner violence among adolescents: Prevalence rates after one decade of research

INTRODUCTION

Intimate partner violence research and intervention strategies have grown substantially over the last two decades. However, little research has examined whether the intimate partner prevalence has changed or remained stable over time in Spain. Moreover, few studies have analyzed whether intimate partner violence prevalence rates among genders and age groups have fluctuated similarly or not.

METHOD

The aim of this study was to analyze the trends observed in intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization rates among adolescents in three sample cohorts from Spain interviewed in 2006, 2010, and 2016 (4591 Spanish adolescents; 53.6% girls and 46.2% boys). ANCOVA was used to compare the population means between the cohorts: sex, age, and the type of intimate partner violence, for example, verbal, physical, and sexual.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant decrease in intimate partner violence rates from 2006 to 2016, which was more noticeable within the first half of this decade. Throughout the decade, the girls perpetrated more verbal and mild physical assaults, while the boys perpetrated more sexual assaults. However, these results suggest a clear bidirectional intimate partner violence dynamic between the genders. Additionally, late adolescence reported a higher prevalence of aggressions.

CONCLUSIONS

The results highlight the need to adapt current prevention strategies considering the differences in the intimate partner violence trajectories based on sex and age, with the aim of regaining the marked rate of decline in aggression observed up to 2010.

Relationship quality among dating adolescents: Development and validation of the Relationship Quality Inventory for Adolescents

Relationship quality has implications for individuals’ and couples’ wellbeing, such as higher couple functioning and perceived quality of life. In adolescence, low relationship quality has been associated with poor mental health and relational outcomes. However, given the lack of instruments to assess satisfaction in dating relationships, most studies have relied on measures of marital satisfaction. The current study aimed to address this gap by elaborating and validating the Relationship Quality Inventory for Adolescents (RQI-A). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted among two samples of French-speaking dating adolescents (n₁ = 310; n₂ = 335). The two-factor structure (Connectedness and Commitment) was cross-validated, and dimensions showed high internal consistency coefficients (ω = 0.86–0.89). Results also provide evidence of convergent validity of the scale with related measures. The RQI-A may help study predictors and correlates of dating relationship quality.

Religiosity as a potential mediator for violence in childhood and adulthood: results from a Brazilian nationally representative survey

OBJECTIVES

Although previous studies have investigated the role of religiosity in violence outcomes, there is a lack of studies including this aspect as a mediator for violence in childhood and adulthood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between religiosity and violence in childhood, as well as the possible mediating role of religiosity between suffering violence in childhood and suffering and/or perpetrating violence in adulthood.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional population-based study carried out from November 2011 to March 2012.

SETTING

Face-to-face surveys (at participants' homes) were performed in a Brazilian nationally representative sample.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 3378 adults (aged 19 years and above) were included.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES

The association between suffering violence in childhood and religiosity, and the mediating role of religiosity between childhood and adulthood violence were analysed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Religiosity was associated with childhood violence, showing that those who suffered less violence in childhood were more religious in adulthood and considered religion more important in their lives. However, while there was a significant association between suffering violence during childhood and suffering and/or perpetrating violence in adulthood, religiosity did not mediate this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Although religious individuals self-reported less violence suffered in childhood, religiosity did not show evidence of being a potential mediator for childhood and adulthood violence (experienced and/or perpetrated). These results could help researchers explore this phenomenon, and aid health professionals and managers when proposing future interventions.

Structural relationships between psychosocial risk, relationship quality, need for cognition, and quarantine intentions: the case of the quarantine hotel

This study investigates the relationships between psychosocial risk, relationship quality, need for cognition, and quarantine intentions. Empirical data were collected from quarantine hotel guests in Guangzhou. The results show that depression, anxiety, and stress have a negative influence on satisfaction and that trust and intimacy have a positive influence on satisfaction. Trust has a positive influence on intimacy. Trust and intimacy have a positive influence on commitment. Commitment, satisfaction, and intimacy have a positive influence on quarantine intentions. Intimacy mediates the effect of trust on quarantine intentions. Need for cognition moderates the relationship between satisfaction and quarantine intentions. The theoretical and managerial implications of these results are discussed.