Violence In Romantic Relationships Research Articles

Do context and emotional reaction to physical dating violence interact to increase the likelihood of disclosure in 13 year-old British adolescents?

The present study examines the contextual antecedent correlates and consequences of adolescents’ involvement in dating violence and their role as correlates of disclosure in a sample of 3604, 13 year-old adolescents (1838, 51.6% female; 91% White) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Of the sample, 322 (10.5%) reported using violence and 382 (11.7%) reported experiencing violence in romantic relationships, with males more likely to identify themselves as victims, and girls more likely to be perpetrators and perpetrator/victims. Girls however, were more likely to disclose their experiences. Males were more likely to be victimized due to anger and jealousy and perpetration was explained as being part of a game or done in self defense. For females victimization was experienced in the context of a game and perpetration was initiated due to anger or responding to being annoyed by their partners. Associations were found for each gender in relation to the context of the violence and the resulting emotional response to the experience. These findings need to be considered in relation to what educational strategies may be required in order to ensure that adolescents can enjoy healthy dating relationships.

Physical dating violence: towards a comprehensible view of the phenomenon / Violencia física en las relaciones sentimentales adolescentes: hacia la comprensión del fenómeno

Much research on adolescent dating violence has been constrained by the tradition of studies on gender-based violence. In contrast, other studies have indicated that the violence that occurs in these early dating relationships could be the result of adolescent inexperience in the dating process, which may result in erotic-aggressive dynamics. On the basis of this, the present study stresses the need for research focusing on dating violence that is sensitive to the particularities of such violent dynamics. Drawing on an initial sample of 3,256 adolescents, we identified 2,687 participants aged 15 to 21 years who had had at least one romantic relationship. The aim was to analyse involvement in physical dating violence and the forms it takes based on variables such as the frequency and severity of aggression and the roles taken by those involved. The results indicate that violence was mostly occasional and that both boys and girls were identified as victims and aggressors. The percentages of involvement of boys and girls differed depending on the severity of the behaviour (mild vs. severe). These results are discussed in terms of the importance of defining the characteristics of this phenomenon to advance understanding of this violent dynamic and its relationship to other forms of violence in romantic relationships.

Non-Respectful Behavior and Violence in Romantic Relationships between Adolescents: Prevalence and Quality of Life among Hesse Pupils

International studies illustrate the high prevalence of non-respectful or violent behaviour in adolescents' romantic relationships (teen dating violence) and health implications being comparable to intimate partner violence between adults. For Germany, there have been only data on sexual aggressive acting. The study investigated the magnitude of teen dating violence among secondary school pupils between 14 and 18 years in Hesse. Adolescents attending general education system and vocational schools in Hesse were standardised and anonymously surveyed with a modified paper-pencil version of the YPRQ and the KIDSCREEN-10. 462 questionnaires were included into the analysis. In a first step, weighted data have been analysed descriptively. 181 female students (78%) and 173 male students (75%) affirmed the question concerning first experiences with dates or relationships. About 65.7% of the girls [95% CI 58.8-72.6] and 60.1% of the boys [95% CI 52.8-67.4] at risk stated that they suffered from at least one form of non-respectful behaviour or violence. 61% of the girls and 57% of the boys reported on emotionally difficult situations, 26% of the girls and 13% of the boys experienced unwanted sexually behaviour as well as physical violence in 11% of the girls and 10% of the boys. Life quality was lower between victimised adolescents (female 45.25; SD 7.2 and males 50.19; SD 8.3) compared to non-victimised females (47.40; SD 7.06) or males (51.04; (SD 7.5). The high prevalence rates are comparable with results of existing studies and demonstrate the need for prevention. An underestimation of serious violence is assumed due to methodical reasons. Due to the cross-sectional design, the direction of a cause-and-effect association between victimisation and quality of life remains uncertain.

Informing Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Efforts: Dyadic, Developmental, and Contextual Considerations

Informing Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Efforts: Dyadic, Developmental, and Contextual Considerations

Borderline Personality Disorder Features and Mate Retention Tactics

The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and mate retention tactics as a means of examining an evolutionary perspective on the association between BPD features and interpersonal problems and violence in romantic relationships. Two-hundred twenty-five college student participants completed the Personality Assessment Inventory for Borderlines (PAI-BOR; Morey, 1991) and the Mate Retention Inventory-Short Form (MRI-SF; Buss, Shackelford, & McKibbin, 2008) embedded within other measures. There was a strong association between BPD features and cost-inflicting mate retention tactics, including the specific tactics of vigilance, punishing mate's infidelity threat, intrasexual threats, and sexual inducements for both men and women. There were also gender-specific associations for additional tactics. These results contribute to our understanding of problems in romantic relationships among men and women with BPD features, including violence, and to our understanding of impulsive sexual behavior among individuals with BPD features by showing how these behaviors are used as extreme, maladaptive attempts at mate retention.

Risk Factors for Victimization in Romantic Relationships of Young Women

This article reviews the literature on risk factors for victimization in romantic relationships of adolescent girls and young adult women. The review includes 61 empirical studies published between 1986 and 2006 that have investigated risk factors for sustained psychological, sexual, and physical violence in romantic relationships of young women ages 12 to 24. An ecological approach is used as a conceptual model to review risk factors into four categories: sociodemographic factors, individual factors (personal and interpersonal), environmental factors (family, community, and peers), and contextual factors (linked to the romantic relationship). Methodological limitations of the studies in terms of measurement issues, samples studied, research designs, and underlying conceptual models are discussed. Finally, implications for prevention programming are considered. Recommendations are presented about which clientele should be targeted, which risk factors should be considered, and when programs should be implemented.

ADHD and Social Adaptation: From Childhood to Adulthood

While the symptomatic expression of ADHD, as defined by current diagnostic standards (APA, 1994), has been shown to generally decline in adolescence and adulthood (Biederman, Faraone, & Mick, 2000), there seems to be a developing consensus that a portion of this population will continue to exhibit above–threshold clinical symptoms and adaptive impairment related to ADHD into their adult years (ADHD Consensus Group, 2002; Biederman et al., 1996). For example, adults with ADHD tend to exhibit lower educational attainment (Mannuzza, Klein, Bessler, Malloy, & LaPadula, 1993), employment instability (Murphy & Barkley, 1996), more frequent motor vehicle accidents and violations (Barkley, Murphy, & Kwasnik, 1996), and higher rates of antisocial and/or criminal activity (Rasmussen & Gillberg, 2000).

Violence in adolescents' romantic relationships: findings from a survey amongst school-going youth in a South African community

This paper reports on a study of heterosexual adolescent dating violence among secondary school students in a South African community. Approximately half of the surveyed males, and just over half of the surveyed females reported involvement in a physically violent dating relationship either as a perpetrator and/or victim. The study found significant associations between the beliefs about violence in a romantic relationship, the witnessing of physical violence in friendship contexts, the use of alcohol and adolescent dating violence. A significant association between familial variables and adolescent dating violence was only found for male participants. No significant association was found between religious participation and adolescent dating violence. The implications for prevention are discussed in an attempt to demonstrate the potential of local information that identifies risk factors for the development of appropriate community- and schools-based intervention programmes. Copyright 2002 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rejection sensitivity and male violence in romantic relationships

AbstractRejection sensitivity is the disposition to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and intensely react to rejection by significant others. A model of the role of this disposition in male violence toward romantic partners is proposed. Specifically, it is proposed that rejection sensitivity is a vulnerability factor for two distinct maladaptive styles of coping with intimate relationships. Rejection‐sensitive men may attempt to prevent anticipated rejection by reducing their investment in intimate relationships. Alternatively, they may become highly invested in intimate relationships in search of an unconditionally supportive partner. Their low threshold for perceiving and overreacting to rejection, however, heightens their risk of responding aggressively to their partners’negative or ambiguous behavior. Cross‐sectional data from 217 male college students supported predictions derived from the model. Among college men who reported relatively high investment in romantic relationships, anxious expectations of rejection predicted dating violence. Among men who reported relatively low investment in romantic relationships, anxious expectations of rejection predicted reduced involvement in discretionary close relationships with friends and romantic partners and, more generally, increased distress in and avoidance of social situations.