P138. Who Will Help Victims of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Dating Abuse? The Theory of Planned Behavior and Effects of Gender, Empathy, and Victimization on Adolescents’ Intentions

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Abstract

Background: Technology-facilitated sexual dating abuse (TFDSA) refers to the use of information and communication technologies to facilitate forms of sexual coercion and image-based sexual harassment/abuse within dating relationships. Most adolescent studies focus on victimization and perpetration, with limited attention to the role of bystanders, especially those who have not witnessed such incidents but may help a victim in the future. Objectives: This pioneering study tested the empirical utility of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict adolescents' helping intentions in hypothetical future scenarios of TFSDA while examining the effects of gender, empathy, and prior experiences of technology-facilitated dating victimization. Methods: Between February and May 2023, 1,235 adolescents (53.2% cisgender boys; Mage = 14.88, SD = 1.72) in grades 7-12 from 25 schools in northern and central Portugal completed an online questionnaire. Results: The structural equation model showed excellent fit statistics, accounting for 49.3% of the variance. Among the TPB constructs, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control emerged as the strongest predictors of adolescents’ helping intentions. Being a cisgender girl and having higher levels of empathy were positively associated with attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and helping intentions, whereas having been a victim of technology-facilitated dating abuse was positively related to attitudes but negatively associated with subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Additionally, TPB constructs mediated the effects of gender, empathy, and victimization on helping intentions. Conclusion: Results indicate that bystander programs should address gender-specific factors, promote empathy, and mitigate victimization-related barriers to enhance social support, confidence, and self-efficacy in adolescent helping intentions.
Keywords: adolescents, bystanders, empathy, technology-facilitated sexual dating abuse, theory of planned behavior, victimization

Authors

• Maria Vale, Psychology Research Centre, School of Psychology, University of Minho

• Denise Hines, Department of Social Work, College of Public Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

• Marlene Matos, Psychology Research Centre, School of Psychology, University of Minho