NCJ Number
210198
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 17 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2002 Pages: 1179-1197
Date Published
November 2002
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined three categories of risk markers for their ability to predict psychological, sexual, and physical victimization by dating partners.
Abstract
As research has increasingly uncovered the significance of the problem of dating violence, mounting research attention has been paid to identifying variables associated with an increased risk of dating violence. The current research investigated the predictive ability of three categories of risk markers (bidirectional aggression, situational factors, and victim attributes) for psychological, sexual, and physical victimization by dating partners among a sample of 874 men and women attending a large university. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire about student life at the university that contained measures for psychological, sexual, and physical victimization and perpetration, as well as victim attributes and situational factors such as number of dating partners and substance use. Results of multivariate analyses indicated that bidirectional aggression variables best predicted dating violence victimization, followed by situation variables. Victim attributes were not significantly predictive of dating violence. These findings held across types of dating violence but varied somewhat by gender. The results suggest that prevention programs should focus on reducing the risk of bidirectional aggression among dating partners. Future research should focus on uncovering the causal mechanisms between using and experiencing dating violence and whether they differ for men and women. Tables, notes