Teens' Personal Beliefs and Peer Perceptions of Relationship Abuse Differ by Gender

• In Event: Positive Development Among Adolescents: Fostering Achievement and Well-Being in Today's Youth

Abstract

This article examines binary gender differences on teen’s personal beliefs about abuse and on how they believed their peers viewed abuse. The research question guiding the study was are there gender differences in self-beliefs and peer-beliefs across five abuse types (physical, emotional, sexual, stalking, and digital)? Differences were found on all factors (n=591). Notable findings from this study include: (a) Females have more positive views on abuse than males; (b) Females score themselves higher than peers; and (c) Male beliefs are influences by relationship status and being sexually active. The implications should push researchers and practitioners toward intervention programs that address multiple abuse factors to preventing patterns from developing that reach into adult relationships.

Authors

• Chen Zong, University of Colorado - Denver

• Courtney Donovan, University of Colorado - Denver

• Eron Lynn Reed, Metropolitan State University of Denver

• Taryn Fuchs, The Conflict Center