Variables Associated with Dating Violence Victimization in Colombian Adolescents

Abstract

Objective. To examine the relation between a set of variables with dating violence victimization, among 811 adolescents from12 to 19 years old, attending various educational institutions from two intermediate Colombian cities. Method. e Spanishversions of the Conict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI), the self-report of the Behavior AssessmentSystem for Children and Adolescents (BASC-S3), the SCL-90-R Checklist of Symptoms, and a self-report questionnaire ofpsychological variables were used. Correlational analysis and a multiple linear regression were implemented. Results. e frequencyof abuse received correlated signicantly (p ≤ 0.05) with clinical variables including somatization, depression and anxiety,substance use, suicide attempts and general clinical maladjustment, personality traits such as sensation seeking and atypicalityand with contextual variables such as school maladjustment, negative attitude toward school, family physical abuse, paternal andmaternal neglect and bad relationships with parents. All these variables explained 18.1% of victimization variance. Marijuana use,some psychopathological symptoms, and poor maternal relationships signicantly predicted such victimization. Conclusion. evictimization could be related to severe physical and mental health difficulties, as well as intrapersonal and contextual variableswhich should be considered together for the successful intervention of the victims, including their families and the schoolenvironment.