This study examined factors that influence help-seeking among a diverse sample of adolescents who experienced dating violence. A sample of 57 high school students in an urban community reported on the prevalence and characteristics of dating violence in their relationships. Someone observing a dating violence incident and a survivor's attaching an emotional meaning to the event significantly influenced adolescents to talk to someone. When dating violence occurred in isolation, survivors were more likely to receive no support from others in the aftermath of the incident. Differences between boys' and girls' help-seeking and implications for dating violence intervention and prevention programming are discussed.

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This study examines the responses of informal helpers to adolescents who disclose dating violence or upsetting but non‐violent experiences in their romantic relationships. Based on a survey of 224 Midwestern high school students, the study found that youths were more likely to disclose problems to friends rather than others. A factor analysis of potential helpers’ responses showed that, compared to avoidance and minimization, nurturing was the most typical response received. Adolescents who told someone about being victimized by severe dating violence were more likely to receive an avoidance response than those who told about less severe dating violence. Males encountered high levels of minimization regarding less severe dating violence. While friends and family seem to respond effectively to romantic relationship problems, youths need more training in how to respond helpfully to friends’ difficulties with dating violence or how to encourage victims to seek help from trained practitioners.

This study explored the effectiveness of a coordinated community intervention designed to reduce domestic violence in DuPage County, Illinois. Police reports for all domestic violence calls within a 3-month period that indicated a male perpetrator of physical abuse against an intimate female partner were analyzed. The analysis examined the effects of arrest and prosecution on subsequent police calls and arrests within an 18-month period following the initial incident. Logistic regression analysis indicated that arrest significantly deterred subsequent domestic violence incidents. The deterrent effect of arrest did not deteriorate over the 18-month period and was most pronounced for those offenders who had a previous history of police involvement for domestic violence.

This qualitative study explored gender differences in socially interactive technology (SIT) use/abuse among dating teens from Michigan (N ¼ 23). Focus group transcripts were coded using three categories: (1) type of SIT (e.g., social networking); (2) abusive action (e.g., monitoring); and (3) consequence (e.g., jealousy). Texting and social networking were the most commonly used types of SIT. Spying/monitoring, sexting, and password sharing/account access were the most common abusive actions. Distrust and jealousy were the most frequent consequences. Young men and women differed in their conceptualization of SIT abuse. Most participants agreed that some abusive actions were typical parts of adolescent dating experiences.