This study estimated longitudinal latent growth models of the perpetration of adolescent dating abuse (ADA) in a sample of 2,269 U.S. adolescents/young adults ages 12-18 at baseline, drawing on four waves (2013-2017) of data from the nationally representative Survey of Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence.
Despite extensive research regarding patterns and outcomes of victimization in dating relationships, there has been limited investigation of the developmental profiles of the perpetration of adolescent dating abuse (ADA). Model results from the current study identified three classes representing "nondaters," respondents showing "increasing dating/ADA," and respondents with "high/stable dating/ADA." These results support prior research in finding heightened patterns of ADA perpetration by older youth, and in distinguishing individual and family characteristics associated with adolescent/young adults' ADA perpetration, so as to inform individual and programmatic ADA prevention efforts. (publisher abstract modified)