Adolescent Dating Violence

In 2021, 13.6% of United States (U.S.) high school students reported experiencing teen dating violence (TDV). Most states have at least one law for addressing TDV in high schools through policies and/or educational programs. Limited research has been done to analyze the content and variability of school district TDV policies across the U.S., and its association with TDV victimization. Twenty-three large urban school districts across the U.S. were included in the analysis. School district TDV policies were obtained through an online search and were coded for the presence or absence of information pertaining to the scope, prevention education, response to TDV, and implementation of the policy. Self-reported TDV victimization was also obtained for each school district from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Overall, 18 school districts had a written TDV policy available online, with 15 school districts defining TDV in the policy. In terms of prevention education, only two school districts used culturally responsive language for diverse populations in the policy. Although 17 school districts included disciplinary consequences for TDV perpetration in the policy, only 6 school districts specified the consequences. All school districts with a TDV policy designated a liaison for TDV coordination. Overall, the prevalence and odds of self-reported TDV victimization was higher in school districts without a TDV policy compared to school districts with a TDV policy. Although most of the school districts had a TDV policy, there was substantial variation in the content of these TDV policies. Identifying and addressing gaps in school district TDV policies can potentially lead schools to preventing and responding to TDV more comprehensively, ultimately creating safer school environments.

Injunctive social norms of adults regarding teen dating violence

With our study we aimed to (1) understand what factors uniquely conferred risk for physical and sexual forms of teen dating violence (TDV) perpetration and (2) create a screening algorithm to quantify perpetration risk on the basis of these factors. A total of 1031 diverse public high school students living in Southeast Texas participated in our study (56% female; 29% African American, 28% white, and 31% Hispanic). Self-report measures concerning TDV and associated risk factors were completed annually for 6 years. Results suggested that family violence (domestic violence exposure, maltreatment) together with deficits in conflict resolution incrementally improved our forecasts above and beyond lifetime history of physical TDV perpetration (net reclassification improvement = 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30-0.59). Meanwhile, a violent dating history (TDV sexual perpetration, sexual victimization, and emotional perpetration) and acceptance of TDV incrementally improved our models for forecasting sexual forms of perpetration (net reclassification improvement = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.24-0.58). These models adequately discriminated between future perpetrators and nonoffenders (area under the curve statistic >0.70; 95% CI: 0.69-0.74). Overall, adolescents with positive test results on our algorithms were over twice as likely to perpetrate dating violence over the course of 6 years. Our study represents one of the first applications of reclassification analyses to psychosocial research in a pediatric population. The result is a theoretically informed, empirically based algorithm that can adequately estimate the likelihood of physical and sexual TDV perpetration during vulnerable developmental periods. These findings can immediately aid emerging preventive initiatives for this increasing public health concern.

Teen dating violence (TDV) negatively impacts health, mental and physical well-being, and school performance. Data from a nationally representative sample of high school students participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) are used to demonstrate associations of physical and sexual TDV with school violence-related experiences and behaviors, including bullying victimization. Bivariate and adjusted sex-stratified regressions assessed relationships between TDV and school violence-related experiences and behaviors. Compared to students not reporting TDV, those experiencing both physical and sexual TDV were more likely to report carrying a weapon at school, missing school because they felt unsafe, being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property, having a physical fight at school, and being bullied on school property. School-based prevention efforts should target multiple forms of violence.

PurposeGiven sexual minority youth (SMY) are disproportionately impacted by teen dating violence (TDV), this study assessed binge drinking and depression symptoms as possible risk factors contributing to this disparity.MethodsCross-sectional survey data collected from a nationally representative sample of SMY high school students in the United States in 2017 and 2019 through the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) (n = 3,424) was used to create 3 logistic regression models. The models estimated the associations between the exposures, binge drinking and depression symptoms, and TDV, including physical TDV, sexual TDV, or both. Additionally, we hypothesized that these associations would be stronger in SMY than heterosexual youth. Therefore, we expanded the study population to include SMY and heterosexual youth (n = 22,798) and tested for interaction.ResultsBoth binge drinking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8–3.8) and symptoms of depression (aOR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.8–4.02) were positively associated with TDV among SMY. Additionally, binge drinking was associated with a significantly greater risk of victimization for SMY (aOR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.9–3.9) than heterosexual youth (aOR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–2.0).ConclusionsOur results suggest that while both exposures are associated with an increased risk of both physical and sexual TDV, binge drinking may contribute to the disparate rates of dating violence impacting SMY.

077 School district teen dating violence policies may effectively reduce teen dating violence

With the increasing popularity of mobile Internet devices, the exposure of adolescents to media has significantly increased. There is limited information about associations between the types and frequency of media use and experiences of violence victimization and suicide risk. The current study sought to examine the association of bullying and teen dating violence (TDV) victimization, suicide risk with different types of media use (i.e., television and computer/video game use), and number of total media use hours per school day. Data from the nationally representative 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 15,624) were used to examine the association between media use and violence victimization and suicide risk. Logistic regression models generated prevalence ratios adjusted for demographic characteristics and substance use behaviors to identify significant associations between media use and victimization and suicide risk, stratified by gender. Media use was associated with TDV victimization for male students only, while media use was related to experiences of bullying and suicide risk for both male and female students. In addition, limited (2 or fewer hours) and excessive (5 or more hours) media use emerged as significant correlates of suicide risk and bullying victimization, with limited media use associated with decreased risk and excessive media use with increased risk. Comprehensive, cross-cutting efforts to prevent different forms of victimization should take into account media use and its potential association with adolescent victimization and suicide risk. The current study results suggest limiting adolescent media use, as part of comprehensive prevention programming, might relate to reductions in risk for victimization and suicide.

Sexual minority youth (SMY) report more substance use and experience more physical and sexual dating violence victimization than heterosexual youth; however, few studies have explored the relationship between substance use and disparities in teen dating violence and victimization (TDVV) using national-level estimates, and examined if these relationships vary by sexual minority subgroups. Data from the nationally representative 2015 and 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were used to examine differences in TDVV and substance use by sexual identity, and to determine if substance use was associated with TDVV disparities between SMY and heterosexual high school students who dated 12months prior to the survey (n = 18,704). Sex-stratified logistic regression models generated prevalence ratios adjusted for demographic characteristics and substance use behaviors to determine if substance use mediated the relationship between sexual identity and TDVV. Compared with their heterosexual peers, SMY experienced higher rates of TDVV and were more likely to report using most types of substances, although differences were more pronounced among female students compared with male students. Disparities in TDVV were reduced for male gay and bisexual students as well as for female bisexual students once substance use was entered into the model, suggesting that there is a relationship between substance use and some of gay and bisexual students' risk for experiences of TDVV. Comprehensive efforts for violence prevention among sexual minority students may benefit from incorporating substance use prevention, given its relationship to disparities in TDVV.

Teen dating violence (TDV) prevention programs are frequently delivered in middle and high schools to educate adolescents on the dynamics of abuse and provide them with tools to build healthy relationships. There is substantial variation in the length, focus, and content of these programs, and the factors that inform the decision of educators on what curriculums to use are unknown. To explore this issue, our research team conducted interviews with N = 20 sexual assault/domestic violence prevention educators across the Midwestern United States. We used reflexive thematic analysis to identify critical themes for recognizing which factors inform the curricular decision of prevention educators. We identified four primary themes: exposure to curriculum, what students need, organizational values, and external constraints. Collectively, these themes indicate that prevention educators have many choices to make concerning to prevention content and strategy and juggle multiple factors when making those decisions. Findings highlight the need to incorporate the practice-based knowledge of prevention educators in curriculum design and include prevention educators in the development of state TDV prevention policy.

With the purpose to better understand common gender-based violence behaviours and to gather data on the frequency of teen dating violence in rural communities, Jana’s Campaign has administered the ‘Raise Your Hand’ activity from the 2007 edition of Building Healthy Relationships across Virginia: A Facilitator’s Guide to Teen Dating Violence Prevention in 27 rural secondary schools in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska with 2,866 middle and high school students. To participate, students are asked to close their eyes and place their heads on their desks for confidentiality purposes. Activity facilitators read a series of statements and data is recorded when students raise their hands to identify the unhealthy behaviours as something they or someone they know has experienced. The findings from this activity are used to guide Jana’s Campaign’s violence prevention education efforts with youth in schools and communities.

Violence in adolescent relationships is a common problem with numerous negative short- and long-term consequences. Because most of the evidence on teen dating violence (TDV) synthesized in reviews comes from North American studies, this review aimed to compile evidence on prevalence rates of TDV based on studies identified for Europe only. Specifically, we considered different forms of TDV victimization and perpetration, gender differences, and its measurement. A systematic literature search of the most popular databases Ebsco and PubMed yielded a total of N=34 studies, with most of the studies identified for Spain, and only a few studies in other European countries. In sum, the results revealed a great variability in prevalence rates across and within the European countries, a common pattern of gender differences, and a wide range of applied measures, corresponding with the evidence from the North American studies. Implications for future research and policy were discussed.

This chapter explore the definition, occurrence, and confrontations of intimate and domestic violence in the region through various studies and literature on the topic. The work does not seek to provide an exhaustive or comprehensive review of the literature on gendered violence in the region or produce an encompassing account of all forms of gendered and sexual violence, which women disproportionately experience throughout the region. Instead, it discusses some of the major issues concerning how intimate and domestic violence is defined, experienced, and combatted in several locations throughout the Middle East. In this work, intimate and domestic violence are not read as private (or privatized acts), but they are instead placed within the broader public, social, and historical contexts in which they occur. By utilizing an intersectional analysis of gendered violence attuned to the complexities of gender, race, class, and the nexus of nationality and citizenship, the work seeks to unpack the various politics underpinning the economies of domestic and intimate violence taking place and efforts to confront gender violence in both the private and public spheres in the Middle East.

The adolescent age group plays a vital role in tackling the pandemic, one of which is in high school and college students. Through the Remaja Bergerak webinar with the theme of COVID-19, it is hoped that it will increase the knowledge of high school and college students in Indonesia regarding the epidemiology of COVID-19 cases and the COVID-19 vaccine. The purpose of this study was to compare the COVID-19 knowledge level between high school and college students. This type of research is a cross-sectional study with a pretest-posttest design. The first group consisted of 262 high school students and the second group consisted of 301 college students who have then compared the pretest and posttest scores. As a result, the high school student pretest scores were higher than the college student, but it was not significant (p>0.05). Likewise, in the posttest result, it was shown that the high school student experienced a higher score than the college student, but it was not significant (p>0.05). In conclusion, there was no difference in knowledge level in both high school and college students, but there was an increase in knowledge of each group.

This article describes a school-based youth-driven teen dating violence prevention project. The project objectives are to provide opportunities for students to plan presentations and activities; develop knowledge and awareness about unhealthy gender norms, seen as an important root cause of relationship violence, particularly for teenagers; and identify ways to cope with and influence their environment with respect to this issue. This project was conducted in a rural Wisconsin community over the course of 5 years. It started as a multischool “drop-in” program with students from various high schools but eventually evolved into a youth action team at an alternative high school as a for-credit service learning class. Evaluation findings show the project to have promise in changing individual attitudes and beliefs while promoting bystander intervention. This youth-led health approach provides excellent opportunities for youth to become involved and empowered, and collaborating with schools can also be a successful strategy. Because unhealthy gender norms are so deeply entrenched, it is important to document and celebrate the smallest positive shifts in attitudes and behaviors.

The connection between adolescent dating violence (ADV) and substance use is important to consider because of the serious consequences for teens who engage in these behaviors. Although prior research shows that these two health problems are related, the context in which they occur is missing, including when (i.e., the timeline) in the relationship these events occur. To fill this gap, eight sex-specific focus groups were conducted with 39 high school-aged teens, all of whom had experienced prior relationship violence. Adolescents discussed using alcohol and/or drugs at the start of the dating relationship and after the relationship ended as a way to cope with the break-up. Alcohol and drugs were also used throughout to cope with being in an abusive relationship. The intersection of ADV and substance use occurred during instances when both partners were using alcohol and/or drugs, as well as when only one partner was using. These findings provide support for prevention and intervention programs that consider the intersection of ADV and substance use.