The Dynamic Context of Teen Dating Violence within Adolescent Relationships

• NCJ Number: 251207
• Author(s): Megan H. Bair-Merritt; Pamela Matson
• Date Published: September 2017
• Length: 17 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2013-VA-CX-0003
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored)

Annotation

This study examined the relational and situational context of teen dating violence (TDV), using innovative longitudinal data collection to overcome limitations of previous TDV studies.

Abstract

A cohort of 184 college students involved in dating relationships used daily electronic diaries to answer questions about dating-violence perpetration and alcohol use for 60 days. This methodology was used in an effort to capture the dynamic nature of daily variations in relationship perceptions and self-reported risk behaviors. Preliminary analyses of the data produced several key findings. For TDV incidents perpetrated by the male partner, the largest associations with relationship characteristics occurred on the same day as the violence. The previous day's level of closeness, commitment, trust, jealousy, or instrumental support were less associated with a male-perpetrated TDV event than reports of these feelings on the same day as the TDV event. On the day of and the day following a male- perpetrated TDV incident, jealousy increased and positive relational qualities decreased. Similar patterns emerged for female-perpetrated TDV incidents, with the exception that participants reported trusting their partners more on the day following. 3 tables and 12 references