Physical, sexual and psychological abuse in high school dating relationships: Prevalence rates and self-esteem issues

Abstract

The present study examined the rates of victimization by physical, sexual and psychological abuse in adolescent dating relationships, with self-esteem being explored as a mediating variable. Subjects included 257 students from a coed, ethnically diverse, religiously affiliated high school. Information was obtained using a self-report questionnaire on teenage dating behaviors. Of the 114 male and 118 female subjects who had dating experience, 59% had been victimized at least once in some past or current dating relationship by physical violence, 96% had experienced some form of psychological maltreatment and 15% had been forced to engage in sexual activity. Significantly more males than females reported experiencing physical abuse overall. Significantly more males than females experienced acts of moderate physical abuse, while there was no significant gender difference in the experience of acts of severe physical abuse. Thirteen percent of the subjects stated they had remained in a physically abusive relationship at one time, with females being more likely to remain than males. Self-esteem was not a factor in the level of physical abuse sustained in dating relationships, nor was there a significant difference in the levels of self-esteem between subjects who remained in, terminated, or never were involved in, physically abusive dating relationships. For all subjects, self-esteem negatively correlated with the level of psychologi-

Risk Factors for Victimization in Romantic Relationships of Young Women

“…This approach can therefore not Vézina,Hébert / RISK FACTORS FOR VICTIMIZATION 57 identify the potential unique contribution of specific types of violence. Of 62 studies reviewed, only 5 have evaluated psychological, physical, and sexual violence separately (Harned, 2002;Jezl et al, 1996;Tourigny et al, 2006;). These studies demonstrated that risk factors could vary according to the type of violence.…”

Práticas de prevenção da violência nas relações de intimidade juvenil: Orientações gerais

“…Não menos inquietantes, são os dados que indicam que, caso a relação amorosa abusiva se perpetue, a violência tende a aumentar em termos de frequência e gravidade (Hamberg & Holtzworth-Munroe, 1994), constituindo um factor preditor da violência conjugal (Hamby, 1998). O impacto deste tipo de abuso é igualmente descrito ao nível da literatura em que se procura destacar as consequências perniciosas que este tipo de comportamento pode desencadear nos jovens, designadamente, baixa auto-estima, depressão, raiva, ansiedade, insucesso escolar, ideação suicida, perturbações alimentares, envolvimento em comportamentos sexuais de risco, consumo de substâncias e comportamentos de risco associados (e.g., Jackson, Cram, & Seymour, 2000;Jezl, Molidor, & Wright, 1996;Jouriles, Wolfe, Garrido, & McCarthy, 2006;Leadbeater, Banister, Ellis, & Yeung, 2008).…”

Parental and Cultural Influences on Hispanic College Women's Verbal Intimate Partner Violence Victimization: An Examination of Within-Group Differences

“…In contrast, Hispanic college women are more likely to be verbally aggressive towards their romantic partner than other populations (Rivas, Graña Gómez, O'Leary, &González Lozano, 2007). These differences highlight the importance of examining the differing values towards the normalization of verbal IPV in heterosexual romantic relationships (Jezl, Molidor, Wright, 1996;Muñoz-Rivas, Graña Gómez, O'Leary, & González Lozano, 2007).…”

“…Researchers, however, believe that the incidence rate is much higher than 25%. Given that verbal violence is considered less obvious (than physical violence) with no clear definition, it is often overlooked or even normalized in relationships (Jezl, Molidor, Wright, 1996;Muñoz-Rivas, Graña Gómez, O'Leary, & González Lozano, 2007). For this reason, research notes that it is difficult to accurately predict the prevalence of verbal IPV among college women.…”