NCJ Number
243570
Journal
Women & Criminal Justice Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: July - September 2013 Pages: 185-208
Date Published
July 2013
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study examined gender differences in the substance-related etiology of teen dating violence.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in the substance-related etiology of teen dating violence using a high-risk sample of urban youth. Data were obtained from 2,991 students in grade 12 who participated in Project Northland Chicago, a group-randomized alcohol prevention intervention implemented in Chicago schools. Typologies of dating violence and physical aggression were created, and hierarchical multinomial regression procedures were used to examine risk and protective factors for membership in each group. The results suggested that there were no quantifiable gender differences in dating violence victimization; however, there were substantial differences in aggression and in the reporting of both dating violence victimization and physical aggression. Furthermore, substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana) was identified as a robust risk factor for each of the typologies for women. Among men, marijuana use was associated with only the most at-risk group (e.g., the victim-offender overlap group), whereas alcohol and marijuana use predicted membership in each typology among women. Study limitations and implications are also discussed. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.