The Mediating Role of Trauma Symptoms in the Association between Past and Future Teen Dating Violence Victimization

Abstract

We examined whether the frequency of recent physical and sexual teen dating violence (TDV) victimization is positively associated with trauma symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal), and whether these symptom clusters, in turn, are positively associated with the frequency of later TDV victimization. Participants were recruited primarily from truancy courts, and the sample consisted of 108 (47% female) 14-to-17-year-olds. Participants completed three assessments, spaced three months apart. Results indicated that the frequency of recent TDV victimization related positively to all three trauma symptom clusters. Re-experiencing symptoms mediated the relation between recent TDV victimization and TDV victimization six months later, even after controlling for exposure to community and interparental violence and demographic variables. The findings suggest that the trauma symptom clusters may differentially contribute to risk of future TDV victimization. Further research examining the cognitive and emotional processes involved in re-experiencing trauma symptoms will likely enhance our understanding of risk factors for TDV re-victimization.

Assessing the Risk of Repeat Victimization Using Structured and Unstructured Police Information

“…However, not all relevant information regarding risk factors for repeat victimization may be contained within official police records. In line with previous research, this study showed that words related to substance use, psychological distress, and family connections were associated with an increased risk of repeat victimization use (Gong, Kamboj, et al, 2019; Lawyer et al, 2006; López-Martínez et al, 2018; Rancher et al, 2019). To develop more knowledge on the risk factors of repeat victimization, future studies could focus on unstructured police information to identify other risk factors and explore whether information on these risk factors could, for example, be collected through an additional questionnaire.…”

“…Repeat victimization has theoretically been explained by individual risk factors such as biological aspects (e.g., gender, physical vulnerability), risky lifestyles, (e.g., staying out late drinking), and occupation (e.g., working nightshifts) (Nagin & Paternoster, 2000). Furthermore, previous victimization experiences may lead to psychological distress, risky lifestyles, and substance use, which may increase the risk of repeat victimization (Gong, Kamboj, et al, 2019;López-Martínez et al, 2018;Rancher et al, 2019). Previous studies employing a text mining approach to police data identified individuals or incidents of interest by using custom-made dictionaries containing words related to these risk factors (Elzinga et al, 2010;Haleem et al, 2019;Karystianis et al, 2018Karystianis et al, , 2019Karystianis et al, , 2020Poelmans et al, 2010).…”

Interpersonal Violence, Racial Discrimination, and Mental Health Symptoms Among Adolescents of Color in the Juvenile-Justice System

“…First, the data are nonexperimental, precluding conclusions about causal relations. For example, it is possible that mental health symptoms render youth more vulnerable to experiencing and reporting violence exposure (Jouriles et al, 2017;Rancher et al, 2019). Second, the sample was smaller than ideal for a study of this nature, which limited our ability to conduct meaningful analyses to test for differences across ethnoracial groups.…”

Influence of Direct and Indirect Domestic Violence on Dating Violence Victimization

“…Furthermore, recent studies tend to focus extensively on teen dating violence, with equivocal results on the ratio of male and female victimization (Cascardi & Jouriles, 2018; Liu et al, 2018; Rancher et al, 2019; Ruel et al, 2020). However, the increasing number and severe consequences of female college students’ victimization in intimate relationships (Han & Lim, 2019) still highlight the need to specify the age group and concentrate on the gendered experiences of violence recipients.…”