Male Dating Violence Victimization and Adjustment

Abstract

Dating violence is a prevalent problem. Research demonstrates that males and females are victimized at comparable rates in their dating relationships and experience a number of mental health and relationship problems. Less research has examined male dating violence victimization, its association to mental health and relationship satisfaction, and whether coping styles influence mental health symptoms and relationship satisfaction among victims. The current study examined physical and psychological aggression victimization, adjustment (posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and relationship satisfaction), and problem-focused and emotion-focused coping among heterosexual college males in a current dating relationship (n = 184). Results identified that psychological victimization was associated with posttraumatic stress and relationship discord above and beyond physical victimization. Interaction findings identified that psychological victimization was associated with increased posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms at high levels of problem-focused coping, whereas psychological victimization was associated with less relationship satisfaction at low levels of emotion-focused coping. Implications of these findings for future research are discussed.

Drinking and Dating: Examining the Link Among Relationship Satisfaction, Hazardous Drinking, and Readiness-to-Change in College Dating Relationships

“…Previous assessments of relationship satisfaction in samples of dating students at this institution (e.g. Kivisto et al, 2011; Shorey, Febres, Brasfield, & Stuart, 2012) have consistently observed average levels of relationship satisfaction comparable to those reported in other dating samples (e.g. Renshaw, McKnight, Caska, & Rebecca K. Blais, 2011; Hendrick, Dicke, & Hendrick, 1998), indicating that dating students at this institution are, on average, highly satisfied in their relationships.…”

Stalking in College Student Dating Relationships: A Descriptive Investigation

“…In addition, research suggests that men and women are equally likely to perpetrate psychological and physical aggression, and some research suggesting that women are more likely to perpetrate these two forms of aggression (Archer 2000;Straus 2008). Moreover, male and female victims of dating violence evidence increased mental health symptoms, including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, somatic complaints, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and increased substance use (e.g., Prospero 2007;Shorey et al 2011cShorey et al , 2012. Thus, it is clear that psychological and physical dating violence perpetration and victimization are significant problems.…”

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

“…Most of the research has occurred in the United States and Canada, whereas the studies performed in European countries are considerably more recent. Nevertheless, these studies have had to confront some difficulties along the way: the phenomenon known in international literature as dating violence or dating aggression (Feiring, Simon, & Cleland, 2009;Jackson, 1999;Lewis & Fremouw, 2001;O'Leary & Smith-Slep, 2003;Shorey, Febres, Brasfield, & Stuart, 2012) & González, 2007a;2007b;Muñoz-Rivas, Gámez-Guadix, Graña, & Fernández, 2010;Ortega et al, 2008;among others). Nevertheless, some research has alluded to the very nature of this phenomenon of using one label or another: certain studies focus on a behavioural definition of the problem, whereas other studies take into account the consequences for the victim and the intention of the aggressor (Menesini & Nocentini, 2008).…”