Abstract
Dating violence (DV) is a public health problem among young people, especially women. It involves violent acts towards one’s partner and occurs face-to-face (offline) or through the Internet (online). Offline DV is linked to suicidal ideation and attachment to parents and peers. Fewer studies analyze the psychological and social consequences of online DV. This study tests the link between young women’s DV victimization (off- and online), suicide risk (SR), and parent and peer support in a sample of young Spanish females (N = 1227) (Mage=19, SD = 2.82; range = 13–28). Results confirm that compared to non-victims off- and online DV increase suicidal thoughts and attempts. This effect is stronger for victims of both types of DV (thoughts: OR offline DV = 3.11; CI95% 2.06, 4.69; OR online DV = 2.37; CI95% 1.69, 3.32; OR off-online DV = 4.19 CI95% 2.44, 7.17) (attempts: OR offline DV = 4.02; CI95% 1.83, 8.81; OR online DV = 3.69; CI95% 1.96, 7.01; OR off-online DV = 10.55 CI95% 2.56, 44.43). Mediation and moderation models were used to assess the effect of perceived attachment of parents and friends in DV victims and SR. Mediation analyses indicated that perceived attachment and proximity to parents and peers reduces the impact of DV on SR. Moderation analyses showed that a high level of perceived peer attachment reduces the effect of offline DV on SR. Regarding off-online DV, a high level of perceived parent attachment mitigates suicide risk. Loneliness, lack of care from loved ones, and thwarted belongingness increase suicidal thoughts in DV victims. Peers and parents’ proximity may prevent risk behaviors in DV victims.
Highlights
Dating violence (DV) is a social and public health hazard and refers to any physical, sexual or psychological aggression inflicted by a member of a couple against the other
Social support given by peers was only related to lower levels of DV victimization among girls but not for boys, while parental social support was not been associated with DV victimization. These results suggest that adolescents rarely turn to their parents or other adults for concerns and issues related to DV and indicate that friends may play a crucial function as protective figures in DV, mostly among girls [50,51]
A recent study found that different forms of offline DV victimization were a predictor of online DV [72]. These results suggest that technology and social media may provide new opportunities for online DV victimization, which may not have been possible before the development of the internet and social media
Summary
Dating violence (DV) is a social and public health hazard and refers to any physical, sexual or psychological aggression inflicted by a member of a couple against the other. Some authors indicate that DV occurs in couples who do not live together and have no children in common or legal ties [4,5]. Abuse of one’s dating partner may occur face-to-face (offline), but it can happen on the Internet, using new technologies and social networks (online). Offline DV comprises intentional abuse or sexual, physical or psychological acts from one partner to another [1]. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 3174; doi:10.3390/ijerph17093174 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
