The Impact of Contemporary Communication Technology on Undergraduate Students’ Dating Violence Episodes: An Exploration of Routine Activity Theory

Abstract

The study was an empirical exploration of the kinds of communication technologies used in perpetrating different forms of Cyber Dating Abuse. The study was guided by Routine activities theory which states that the daily activities that individuals engage in make them susceptible to Cyber Dating Abuse. The study utilized data collected from 315 dating undergraduate students from selected universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The research design used in the study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. The results showed that respondents mainly used smartphones to constantly exchange calls, text messages and instant messages on social media. Instant messaging on WhatsApp was most frequently used to perpetrate Cyber Dating Abuse. The findings indicate that the social interaction afforded by the use of various digital media made it possible for motivated offenders to encounter suitable victims (in this case their partners). An extended use of digital media by the victims increased their visibility and accessibility to the offender. A Pearson's Correlation Coefficient r (313) = 0.20, p ≤ 0.001 established that the amount of time spent online was statistically and significantly positively associated with higher Cyber Dating Abuse victimization. Since digital media keeps evolving with chances that the youth will keep using it, this implies that Cyber Dating Abuse victimization is likely to persist. This calls for a need for universities to have critical discussions on how Cyber Dating Abuse, can be prevented to avoid its escalation which may lead to worse consequences on students' psychological health and academic outcomes.

Examination of Risk Factors Predicting Cyber Dating Violence Categories in Youths

“…Similarly to this finding, Picard (2007) detected that 30% of 382 participants received ten or more SMSs in an hour from their partners to locate or stalk them; 25% were harassed or humiliated through text messaging (SMS), and 22% was forced to have sexual intercourse. Mayoyo, Ogeno & Likoye (2020) conducted a study with university students and found common stalking and controlling behaviors via cell phone; 64% of the participants reported that they were oppressed to reply swiftly to phone calls and text messages. Thus, it can be concluded that making a phone call or sending each other text messages when not together are normal behaviors, which may become cyber dating violence when repeated annoyingly for one partner.…”

Points of View of Chilean Adolescents about Asking for Help and Suggestions to Prevent Dating Violence Based on an Ecological Systems Theory

“…Prevention of Dating Violence Open Journal of Social Sciences more informal sources, namely friends, parents, and family (Adams & Williams, 2011a;Mayoyo, Ogeno, & Likoye 2020;Weisz & Black, 2009). Conversely, teachers are most often mentioned with regard to requests for help from formal sources.…”

“…Other barriers that inhibit adolescents from seeking help include: the adolescents' lack of knowledge of the existing services (Mayoyo, Ogeno, & Likoye 2020;Sabina et al, 2014), an inadequate intervention for adolescents, and the lack of screening protocols (e.g., in schools) (Moore, Sargenton, Ferranti, & Gonzalez-Guarda, 2015). The attitudes of teachers or school personnel, who do not consider DV to be a serious problem in adolescence and who believe that preventing it is not their responsibility, is another possible obstacle (Khubchandani, Price, Thompson, Dake, Wiblishauser, & Telijohann, 2012;Sundaram, 2016).…”