Informal helpers’ responses when adolescents tell them about dating violence or romantic relationship problems

Weisz, Arlene N.; Tolman, Richard M.; Callahan, Michelle Renee; Saunders, Daniel G.; Black, Beverly M.

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.09.004

Cited by 70 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…[14][15][16] Receiving help from informal social supports may have positive effects for victims, including lower levels of depression and anxiety, 17 elevated confidence and openness to future help-seeking, 18 and for those experiencing less violent relationships, a lower risk of being re-abused than traditionally found among relationship violence victims. 19 When adolescent victims disclose to informal support sources, they initially disclose solely to peers in nearly three out of four cases, 20 particularly when the victim's relationship entails less physical violence.…”

Section: Adolescent Help-seeking Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such conversations in turn can lead to victimization disclosures. 16 Adolescents are only more likely to reach out to adults than peers when physical violence is severe and escalating, perhaps because adults may be perceived as having more power to intervene. 21 Unfortunately, the majority of adolescent victims tell no one about the violence they are experiencing in their relationships.…”

Section: Adolescent Help-seeking Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…15,28 The sole study to explore help-giving responses to actual adolescent victim disclosures assessed emotional support and relied upon victims to report on the help-giving behaviors they received rather than sampling the help-givers directly. 16 Research is needed that directly surveys adolescent help-givers about the forms of help they provide.…”

Section: Adolescent Help-giving Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adolescent Relationship Violence: Help-Seeking and Help-Giving Behaviors among Peers

et al. 2013

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Young people tend to disclose relationship violence experiences to their peers, if they disclose at all, yet little is known about the nature and frequency of adolescent helpseeking and help-giving behaviors. Conducted within a sample of 1,312 young people from four New York City high schools, this is the first paper to ask adolescent help-givers about the various forms of help they provide and among the first to examine how ethnicity and nativity impact help-seeking behaviors. Relationship violence victims who had ever disclosed (61 %) were more likely to choose their friends for informal support. Ethnicity was predictive of adolescent disclosure outlets, whereas gender and nativity were not. Latinos were significantly less likely than non-Latinos to ever disclose to only friends, as compared to disclosing to at least one adult. The likelihood of a young person giving help to their friend in a violent relationship is associated with gender, ethnicity, and nativity, with males being significantly less likely than females to give all forms of help to their friends (talking to their friends about the violence, suggesting options, and taking action). Foreign-born adolescents are less likely to talk or suggest options to friends in violent relationships. This study also found that Latinos were significantly more likely than non-Latinos to report taking action with or on behalf of a friend in a violent relationship. This research shows that adolescents often rely on each other to address relationship violence, underlining the importance of adolescents' receipt of training and education on how to support their friends, including when to seek help from more formal services. To further understand the valuable role played by adolescent peers of victims, future research should explore both which forms of help are perceived by the victim to be most helpful and which are associated with more positive outcomes.KEYWORDS Dating violence, Relationship violence, Help-giving, Help-seeking, Adolescents, Peer support Adolescent relationship violence-sexual, physical, or psychological abuse between adolescent romantic partners-is prevalent 1,2 with estimates suggesting that approximately one in 10 adolescents are victims of relationship violence. 3,4 The health consequences of adolescent relationship violence are varied and can include increased

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Section: Adolescent Help-seeking Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Adolescent Help-seeking Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Adolescent Help-giving Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Adolescent Relationship Violence: Help-Seeking and Help-Giving Behaviors among Peers

et al. 2013

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“…The Latané and Darley model, and subsequent studies in this tradition, focus on bystanders that are unknown to the victim. Since adolescents spend most of their time in school and among peers (Vynckier, 2012), DV prevention should also include a focus on peers and friends as potential bystanders and informal helpers (Weisz et al, 2007). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Teens’ self-efficacy to deal with dating violence as victim, perpetrator or bystander

Camp

Hébert

Guidi

et al. 2014

International Review of Victimology

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Multiple studies have demonstrated that adolescent dating violence is highly prevalent and associated with internalizing and externalizing problems. A number of prevention initiatives are being implemented in North-American high schools. Such initiatives do not only aim to raise awareness among potential victims and offenders but also among peer bystanders. Since teenagers mainly reach out to their peers when experiencing adversity, it is important to address adolescents' efficiency to deal with witnessing dating violence or with friends disclosing dating abuse, in addition to increasing ability to deal with experienced dating violence victimization or perpetration. The aim of this study is to explore adolescents' self-efficacy to deal with dating violence victimization and perpetration in their relationships and those of their peers. A paper-andpencil questionnaire was completed by 259 14-18 years olds in Quebec, Canada. The data allows building insight into adolescents' confidence to reach out for help or to help others in a situation of dating violence victimization and perpetration. We also considered the impact of gender and dating victimization history. Results suggest that dating violence prevention can build on teens' self-efficacy to deal with dating violence and offer them tools to do so efficiently. KeywordsSelf-efficacy; adolescents; dating violence; bystander; help-seeking The issue of intimate partner violence has received considerable and much deserved attention over the past decades. Most of these studies address perpetrated or endured violence among young adults in the context of intimate relationships or dating. Recently the focus has shifted to adolescents as victims or perpetrators of dating violence (DV). Henton et al. (1983) first described the co-occurrence of romance and violence in early dating relationships. Adolescent DV is a significant issue due to its high incidence and potential serious consequences, such as internalizing and externalizing problems and an increased risk for revictimization (Antle et al., 2011;Hébert et al., 2012 A number of reports suggest that there are no significant differences in prevalence between boys and girls regarding physical and emotional DV victimization (Bélanger et al., 2010;Tucker Halpern et al., 2001). Although both male and female high school students report experiences of forced sexual activity in heterosexual relationships (Geiger et al., 2008;Poitras and Lavoie, 1995), girls are more likely to do so. Eaton et al. (2010) found that in a representative nationwide sample of American youth, 10% of the girls and 4% of the boys report having been physically forced to have sexual intercourse. Very few studies offer information as to possible motives for DV. Some studies found gender-related differences in motives (girls using DV out of self-defense and boys out of anger or to control) (Barter, 2009), while in other studies the empirical findings were inconclusive (Foshee et al., 2007;O'Keefe, 1997).Such incidence rates underline the need for ef...

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“…Victims of dating violence have stated that they encountered skeptical or dismissive attitudes after revealing their abusive experiences, with avoidance and minimization among the responses (Ismail et al, 2007;Weisz, Tolman, & Callahan, 2007). Fear of disapproval or rejection by family, peers, and school administrators on the basis of their sexual orientation (Marrow, 2004) may be an additional barrier for sexual minority youth in seeking help for dating violence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“There’s So Much at Stake”

Gillum

DiFulvio

2012

Violence Against Women

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The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of dating violence among a sample of sexual minority youth. Focus groups were conducted as part of a larger study that surveyed 109 sexual minority youth between the ages of 18 and 24 years. Participants identified four main themes contributing to dating violence among same-sex couples: homophobia (societal and internalized); negotiating socially prescribed gender roles; assumed female connection; and other relationship issues. Such information is essential for determining the need for and content of dating violence services, including education, safety planning, and referrals for mental and physical health services for sexual minority youth.

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Informal helpers’ responses when adolescents tell them about dating violence or romantic relationship problems

Cited by 70 publications

References 39 publications

Adolescent Relationship Violence: Help-Seeking and Help-Giving Behaviors among Peers

Adolescent Relationship Violence: Help-Seeking and Help-Giving Behaviors among Peers

Teens’ self-efficacy to deal with dating violence as victim, perpetrator or bystander

“There’s So Much at Stake”

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