Correlates of Dating Violence Victimization: Gender-Specific Effects among Poor Minority Youth

• In Event: Victimization of Youth

Abstract

Youth dating violence is a serious problem in the United States, one that is prevalent physically and is psychologically damaging to those who experience it. Identifying the correlates of this type of violence victimization is of great interest, because such knowledge may enhance awareness of the warning signs, which, in turn, could reduce rates of future victimization. The present study investigated the effects of 14 psychological, behavioral, and demographic predictors of youth dating violence victimization. Four hypotheses were tested using cross-sectional, secondary, self-report data collected from 1,700 poor, minority, male and female Americans, 9-19 years of age, who completed the 2006 Mobile Youth Survey. The correlates of dating violence victimization were examined for the total sample, as well as gender-specific subsamples. A number of predictors exerted gender-specific risk effects, including the protective effects of involvement in religious activities. Involvement in fighting was consistently found to decrease risk for dating violence victimization, not increase risk as hypothesized. The methodology and major findings will be presented and discussed.

Authors

• Rebecca Howell, Charleston Southern University

• Demian Karges, Charleston Southern University