Gender Role Attitudes and Male Adolescent Dating Violence Perpetration: Normative Beliefs as Moderators

Abstract

Commonly used dating violence prevention programs assume that promotion of more egalitarian gender role attitudes will prevent dating violence perpetration. Empirical research examining this assumption, however, is limited and inconsistent. The current study examined the longitudinal association between gender role attitudes and physical dating violence perpetration among adolescent boys (n=577; 14% Black, 5% other race/ethnicity) and examined whether injunctive (i.e., acceptance of dating violence) and descriptive (i.e., beliefs about dating violence prevalence) normative beliefs moderated the association. As expected, the findings suggest that traditional gender role attitudes at T1 were associated with increased risk for dating violence perpetration 18 months later (T2) among boys who reported high, but not low, acceptance of dating violence (injunctive normative beliefs) at T1. Descriptive norms did not moderate the effect of gender role attitudes on dating violence perpetration. The results suggest that injunctive norms and gender role attitudes work synergistically to increase risk for dating violence perpetration among boys; as such, simultaneously targeting both of these constructs may be an effective prevention approach.

Psychological Abuse, Mental Health, and Acceptance of Dating Violence Among Adolescents

“…This finding is consistent with previous research indicating that acceptance of dating violence is associated with and precedes TDV perpetration and indicates that adolescents who accept dating violence norms are at an increased risk for perpetrating abuse in their relationships. 12 Furthermore, psychological abuse perpetration significantly predicted internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and hostility). To date, limited research has directly examined the relationship between psychological abuse perpetration and anxiety; thus, this study adds to the literature by demonstrating that adolescents who perpetrate psychological abuse may experience anxiety as a result (in addition to hostility and symptoms of depression).…”

“…2,12 Indeed, acceptance of dating violence is an important mediator in the relationship between known risk factors (e.g., family violence) and TDV perpetration. 2,12 For instance, Reyes and colleagues 12 found that adolescents who experienced family violence were more likely to develop attitudes accepting of dating violence, anger dysregulation, and depression, which ultimately led to an increased risk for perpetrating physical TDV over time. In addition, Foshee and colleagues 13 demonstrated that acceptance of dating violence helped explain the association between specific demographic variables, and moderate and severe physical TDV perpetration.…”

Boys are victims too? Sexual dating violence and injury among high-risk youth

“…In fact, a recent multinational study found that boys who were victims of sexual violence were more likely condone violence against a female partner (Sumner et al, 2016). Attitudes condoning violence are consistently associated with boys' TDV perpetration (Foshee et al, 2001; Reyes et al, 2016). Similarly, given pervasive hegemonic gender socialization messages in our culture mandating boys and men to be strong, dominant, and superior to women, it is likely victimization by girls could fuel anti-feminine attitudes and hostility thereby precipitating future IPV/TDV by males as a means of maintaining dominance over women (Bosson et al, 2015; Malamuth et al, 1995; Smith et al, 2015).…”

Longitudinal Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization in Latino Emerging Adults

“…Nonetheless, extant research has consistently found a link between traditional gender role attitudes and intimate partner violence perpetration, yet studies have been limited to cross-sectional examinations. Moreover, the association between gender role attitudes (i.e., patriarchal ideology such as male dominance, hypermasculinity, or "macho" values) and intimate partner violence has been studied with predominantly college samples and male participants in the United States (Baugher and Gazmararian 2015;Eaton and Matamala 2014;Fitzpatrick et al 2004;Nabors and Jasinski 2009;Reyes et al 2016;Stith et al 2004;Thompson and Cracco 2008). Prior research has also identified a positive correlation between traditional gender role attitudes and greater violence between partners.…”