Exploration of Dating Violence and Related Attitudes Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults

Abstract

Young people's romantic relationships can be marked with various forms of dating violence (DV). However, adolescents and emerging adults do not necessarily acknowledge this violence because of their attitudes toward dating violence. Our study aims to study dating violence and attitudes toward this phenomenon through two well-established questionnaires administered jointly in their entirety. Indeed, too many studies report results on some dimensions and items, neglecting the richness of available tools. The Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationship Inventory and the Attitudes Toward Dating Violence Scale were self-administered to 1,014 participants ( M age = 18.9) attending secondary schools or a regional college. They reported the frequency of their dating violence perpetration and victimization, and their attitudes toward dating violence. Results show that relational and sexual violence perpetration rates are higher for males, physical violence perpetration rate is higher for females, and relational violence victimization is higher for males. MANCOVAs not only show the same trends for scores but also underline more frequent emotional violence perpetrated by females, physical victimization for males, and sexual victimization for females. Males show higher tolerance toward every form of dating violence; younger participants are also more tolerant. Participants are more tolerant toward male-perpetrated psychological DV than female-perpetrated ones, and more tolerant toward female-perpetrated physical and sexual DV compared with male-perpetrated physical and sexual DV. There are patterns of multiperpetration, multivictimization, bidirectionality, and multi(in)tolerance. Our paper contributes to the symmetry debate, a better understanding of the link between attitudes and violent behaviors, a further step on gendered attitudes regarding who perpetrates and who sustains.

Adolescent Violence: A Narrative Review

“…Girls reported greater levels of perpetration of physical violence and boys reported more perpetration of relational violence. In a larger sample (N=1014), once again, the physical violence perpetration rate was higher for females and the relational and sexual violence perpetration rates were higher for males (Courtain et al, 2018). In this study, emotional violence was also more frequently perpetrated by females, and, physical victimization occurred more frequently for males and sexual victimization for females.…”

Dating Victimization Among Chilean University Students: Gender Roles and Christian Spirituality

“…This is consistent with the national and international scientific literature, highlighting high numbers for violence by detachment, coercion, and humiliation. DV affects both male and female participants, with the former reporting greater violence by coercion and physical violence ( Courtain & Glowacz, 2018 ; Lehrer et al, 2009 ; R. Rodríguez et al, 2018 ; Rubio-Garay et al, 2017 ; Saldivia & Vizcarra, 2012 ; Vivanco et al, 2015 ; Vizcarra & Póo, 2011 ).…”

“…Chilean adolescents identify female DV as reaffirmation of woman and as a tool to demand respect ( Sanhueza & Geneviève, 2018 ). For their part, Courtain and Glowacz (2018) state that men tolerate any type of violence more, and that female physical and sexual violence as well as male psychological violence are the most tolerated. However, the evidence suggests men and women have similar underlying motivations and factors for violence ( Walker et al, 2018 ).…”

“…However, the evidence suggests men and women have similar underlying motivations and factors for violence ( Walker et al, 2018 ). This points to the need to overcome the gender hierarchy and allows for bidirectional and reciprocal violence dynamics ( Archer, 2000 ; Arnoso et al, 2017 ; Courtain & Glowacz, 2018 ).…”

“…Some studies report that men admit to suffering a greater number of abusive behaviors than women, tolerate more female violence, and ask less for help. Studies with samples of Chilean young people also report this, although there are also studies in which women are more victimized, or there are no differences between sexes ( Courtain & Glowacz, 2018 ; Lehrer et al, 2009 ; López-Cepero et al, 2015 ; R. Rodríguez et al, 2018 ; Rubio-Garay et al, 2017 ; Saldivia & Vizcarra, 2012 ; Vivanco et al, 2015 ; Vizcarra & Póo, 2011 ). The results of the systematic review by Rubio-Garay et al (2017) suggest a greater prevalence in the psychological and sexual victimization in women, although the women report victimizing their partners more psychologically.…”