Risk and Protective Factors for Sexual and Dating Violence Victimization: A Longitudinal, Prospective Study of Latino and African American Adolescents

Abstract

Teen dating violence and sexual victimization are serious public health concerns. Although research has highlighted the correlates and consequences of such abuse, little is known about early antecedents. The current study sought to identify the risk and protective factors evident in early adolescence that are associated with sexual and dating violence victimization in late adolescence. The sample involved 236 (52% female) low-income Latino (69%) and African American (31%) youth, their older sisters, and their mothers who were studied when youth were, on average, ages 13 and 18 years. The results indicated that early indicators of a risky lifestyle (e.g., getting drunk, having sex) and having deviant friends and siblings were associated with a higher likelihood of subsequent victimization. Mothers’ early strictness, monitoring, and conservative sexual attitudes predicted a lower likelihood of subsequent assault and served as significant buffers given specific risks, particularly for girls and Latinos. The findings suggest that behavior and social network patterns established relatively early in life increase one’s vulnerability to victimization later in life, as well as point to aspects of parenting that serve a protective function against such outcomes.

Actitud sexista y trascendente durante el noviazgo entre universitarios latinoamericanos.

“…Los dos factores fueron definidos como actitud trascendente y actitud sexista, de acuerdo a las dimensiones del modelo unifactorial de García-Cueto et al (2015); la correlación entre ambos factores fue de -.635 para Argentina y -.392 para México. Estos resultados sugieren que el papel de las actitudes de rol de género no sea el mismo en España que en México y Argentina, lo que concuerda con quienes afirman que las culturas y contextos reflejan diferentes perspectivas en la asignación de funciones concretas a varones y mujeres (East, y Hokoda, 2015;Fariña, Arce, y Novo, 2008;Marco, Gracia, Tomás, y López-Quilez, 2015).…”

“…En concreto, se ha descubierto que existen diferencias en las experiencias y actitudes hacia la violencia en las relaciones afectivas del noviazgo tanto por género como por niveles de aculturación (DuPont-Reyes, Fry, Rickert, y Davidson, 2015;East, y Hokoda, 2015;Rueda, Williams, y Nagoshi, 2015). Sucintamente, los hombres aceptan con mayor facilidad ciertas actitudes hacia la violencia, suelen ser más tradicionales en sus actitudes de rol sexual, lo que les facilita implicarse en mayor número y variedad de experiencias como perpetradores de violencia en las relaciones interpersonales.…”

Characteristics of Youth Dating Violence and Risk Factors in Mexico: An Analysis From a National Sample

“…Literature indicates there are basically four common forms of dating violence (Foshee & Reyes, 2011;Glass et al, 2003;East & Hokoda, 2015):…”

“…The literature also commonly covers within the category of psychological violence various threatening behaviors. Examples of such threatening behaviors include threats to hurt a partner, threats to damage a partner's possessions, throwing objects at a partner but missing, and starting but stopping short of hitting a partner (Foshee & Reyes, 2011;East & Hokoda, 2015). Furthermore, this form of violence includes emotional manipulation, for example, threatening suicide, ignoring the partner, or threatening to break up.…”

“…Moreover, pressure to have sex or to have more sex than desired may also be considered sexual violence. Other actions also included within the definition of sexual abuse, are insofar as "every act leading up to sexual intercourse can be classified as sexual abuse if it is without consent, painful, unprotected or performed in a demeaning way" (Foshee & Reyes, 2011;East & Hokoda, 2015).…”