Risk Factors and Correlates of Dating Violence: The Relevance of Examining Frequency and Severity Levels in a College Sample

• NCJ Number: 182281
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: Winter 1999 Pages: 365-380
• Author(s): Diane R. Follingstad; Rebekah G. Bradley; James E. Laughlin; Leslie Burke
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

To determine whether categorizing levels of violence along dimensions of frequency and severity would result in informative distinctions among individuals using dating violence, this study examined reported use of physical violence, along with variables theorized to be related to use of force in intimate relationships, in a sample of 617 college students (males=290; females=327).

Abstract

The participants completed a wide array of instruments that measured theorized triggers for dating violence, coping skills, and the use and effects of violence and control in interpersonal relationships. Findings show that individuals who reported ever using force in their dating relationships were more likely to express their anger, experience higher levels of jealousy, have poorer communication skills, report more daily stressors, be more irrational in their behaviors and beliefs, have more difficulty controlling their anger, report more problems due to using alcohol, report being more verbally aggressive, and indicate more efforts to control their dating partners than individuals who never used force in dating relationships. All of these variables have had support in the literature for being present in maritally violent men and/or for being present with respondents admitting to using force in dating relationships. Only the variables of self-esteem, fear of negative evaluation, and problem solving skills did not show differences between the two groups. Because there can be many different types of individuals with many different patterns of using force, it is important to distinguish those individuals for whom physical violence appears to be a pattern in their lives. Determining which variables are predictive of higher severity and frequency might allow for identification of individuals at risk for continued use of violence, and also might allow for more specifically targeted interventions for reduction of dating violence. 3 tables and 78 references