Perceptions of Dating Violence and Associated Correlates: A Study of College Young Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to better understand young adults' perceptions of what behaviors constitute intimate partner violence (IPV) and the correlates of these perceptions using a comprehensive measure of IPV perceptions and behaviors. Participants were undergraduates (aged 18-25), including 357 women and 346 men ( N = 703) from the midwestern region of the United States, who completed surveys for course credit. Results demonstrated that young women and men on average reported that acts of physical, sexual, and psychological IPV were abusive. However, young women generally rated these behaviors as more abusive than young men, male-to-female (M-to-F) IPV was viewed as more abusive than female-to-male (F-to-M) IPV, and physical IPV was considered the most abusive form of IPV, followed by sexual IPV, which was rated as more abusive than psychological IPV. Furthermore, among men, a history of IPV perpetration and victimization generally predicted decreased perceptions that acts were abusive; however, among women, histories of IPV perpetration and victimization were generally unrelated to abuse perceptions. These data underscore the importance of the inclusion of psychoeducation about the seriousness of all forms of IPV in IPV prevention programming and the importance of situation-specific and targeted IPV prevention messages. Moreover, future research is needed to replicate and better understand the explanatory mechanisms underlying the relationships among a history of IPV, abuse perceptions, and gender.

Gender, sexism and the social representation of stalking: What makes the difference?

“…In line with previous studies (Dardis, Edwards, Kelley & Gidycz, 2015), our findings confirm that women are more sensitive to stalking than men. Women identify stalking with a broader range of behaviors that encompass tolerated socio-sexual behaviors.…”

Correlates of Attitudes Toward Dating Violence Among Police Cadets in China

“…Research on attitudes toward dating violence shows that the concept can be viewed as an intermediate factor that has its source of influence and in turn predicts an individual’s likelihood of violent dating behavior (e.g., Borsky, McDonnell, Turner, & Rimal, 2016; Dardis, Edwards, Kelley, & Gidycz, 2015; Shen et al, 2012). Scholars note, for example, that there is a close link between one’s attitudes and actual incidents of a man inflicting violence on a female partner during dating (e.g., Ulloa, Jaycox, Kinner, & Orsburn, 2008).…”

Who sees opportunity to help? A prospective study on adolescents’ detection of intervention opportunities in situations of sexual and dating violence

“…Sexual minority boys and heterosexual girls were no more likely than heterosexual boys to report opportunity. Sexual minority girls, and especially bisexual girls, may have the most opportunity because they are at high risk for sexual and dating violence victimization (Dardis et al, 2015; Hatchel et al, 2018), and thus may be more aware of the signs someone has been victimized (Ahrens & Campbell, 2000) or may be more likely to recognize a situation as risky (Anderson et al, 2017). Their sensitivity to risk may also make them more likely to judge a situation as a risky situation that presents an opportunity for action.…”