Dating Violence in Adolescence: Implications for Girls' Sexual Health

Dating violence perpetration and victimization among high schoolers from public and private schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dating violence during adolescence is a global public health issue due to its widespread occurrence and negative health consequences. Unfortunately, research addressing this topic in Latin American countries remains limited. Seeking to bridge this gap, the present study estimated the prevalence of both dating violence victimization and perpetration among high schoolers considering sociodemographic factors, exposure to other forms of violence, and school-related characteristics. A total of 539 students participated in the study selected by means of probabilistic sampling from private and public schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dating violence was identified using the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory. Victimization prevalence ranged from 16.7% (sexual) to 94.6% (emotional), whereas perpetration prevalence varied between 9.9% (sexual) and 94.6% (emotional). Boys were more physically victimized (37.2% vs. 24.5%) and perpetrated more sexual abuse (13.7% vs. 6.9%) than girls. Adolescents reporting child abuse, living in violent areas, and those who consumed alcoholic beverages more frequently had greater dating violence prevalence overall. However, some differences between male and female vulnerability characteristics merit debate. These heterogeneous profiles of victimization/perpetration between boys and girls indicate the need for specific dating violence prevention interventions.

Cyber Dating Abuse and Substance Use as Predictors of In-Person Dating Violence in Mexican Adolescents

Objective: To determine whether cyber dating abuse and the severity of alcohol and other drug use are predictors of in-person dating violence in Mexican adolescents. Methods: Predictive, cross-sectional study, with a non-probabilistic sample of 883 students, enrolled in schools distributed throughout Mexico. Results: Verbal and psychological violence due to victimization is the main form of in-person dating violence, albeit in a higher proportion by girls, whereas physical violence shows a bidirectional pattern between both sexes. Cyber control and monitoring predict most types of in-person violence through victimization and, together with substance abuse, predict physical and sexual violence. For its part, direct cyber aggression, together with substance abuse, predict most forms of violence perpetrated. Discussion: Girls not only experience a high frequency of violence but in some modalities also inflict violence relatively frequently, particularly in the realm of cyber dating abuse but also in the case of physical violence. Findings confirm the predictive role of cyber abuse in in-person dating violence, showing that together with substance abuse, it constitutes a significant predictor of more bodily forms of violence through victimization.

Maltreatment and Parent-Child Attachment as Predictors of Dating Violence and Risky Sexual Behaviour Among High-Risk Teens

A history of maltreatment can increase risk for dating violence (DV) and risky sexual behaviour (RSB) among adolescents. Secure parent-child attachment may reduce this risk, yet few studies have examined this as a protective factor. This study differentiated developmentally appropriate, exploratory sexual behaviours from RSB and examined whether maltreatment experiences and parent-child attachment in adolescence predicted DV and RSB reported five years later in a high-risk sample. Participants were 179 adolescents (46% girls; M age = 15.34, range = 12-18 years) at risk for aggressive and antisocial behaviour. Adolescents reported their maltreatment histories and attachment to their parents at Time 1; five years later, at Time 2, they reported their experiences with DV perpetration and victimization and engagement in RSB. Both bivariate correlations and structural analyses demonstrated that maltreatment was associated with DV perpetration and victimization but not RSB, and attachment avoidance was associated with fewer RSB but not DV. Attachment anxiety was associated with physical DV perpetration and greater condom use, but only at the correlational level; attachment anxiety was not associated with DV or RSB in the structural model. There were no significant interaction effects. Findings highlight the importance of considering key developmental factors such as maltreatment and parent-child attachment in understanding adolescent risk for DV and RSB, and may inform future research that accounts for contextual factors such as motivation for violence perpetration and contraceptive use with multiple and/or casual sex partners.

Multilevel Barriers to Sexual Health Behavior Among Vulnerable Adolescent Girls in the USA

Introduction

Most sexual health interventions focus on individual-level predictors of sexual behavior. Given the considerable influence of environmental factors on adolescent girls' sexual health, current interventions may be insufficient to promote safer sex. In this study, we aimed to understand adolescent girls' anticipated barriers to engaging in safer sex behavior after completing a brief, web-based sexual health intervention called HEART.

Methods

This study used qualitative interviews with 50 adolescent girls who were recruited from community-based organizations that serve vulnerable youth. All participants were 12 to 19 years old (mean age=15.62, SD=1.83), and identified with a marginalized racial/ethnic group (58% Black; 18% Latinx; 24% Asian, biracial, or multiracial). Further, 24% identified as LGBTQ+, and 58% were sexually active.

Results

Guided by the social ecological model, we delineate six unique barriers to safer sex discussed by adolescents: partner manipulation, slut shaming, unclear sexual values, present time orientation, embarrassment, and access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Discussion

We conclude with recommendations for addressing these barriers to optimize adolescent girls' sexual health.

The Associations of Mental Health Disturbances, Self-Esteem, and Partner Violence Victimization with Condom Use in Spanish Adolescents

Risky sexual behaviors, such as not using a condom for preventing sexually transmittable diseases and unwanted pregnancies, are associated with emotional and psychological problems in adolescence, including higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem. Adolescents with a history of violence victimization are also at increased risk of engaging in sexual risk behaviors. In this study, we examined the associations between mental health disturbances and partner violence victimization and the non-use of condoms among young people in Spain. We also examined self-esteem as a mediator of mental health problems and unprotected sexual relationships. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 831 adolescents randomly selected from 25 high schools in Spain. From the initial sample, 285 students (144 men and 141 women) from high schools in Alicante (Spain) who reported having experienced sexual activity with at least one partner were approached. The results showed that one in three adolescents between 14 and 19 years old did not use condoms during sexual intercourse. The factors associated with the non-use of condoms in the estimated models of Poisson robust variance were having a history of physical, psychological, or sexual violence; having been expelled from school because of behavioral problems; and having higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and lower levels of self-esteem. Self-esteem was independently associated with the non-use of condoms. Having lower levels of self-esteem increased the risk of not using a condom during participants’ last sexual intercourse. These findings suggest the importance of developing public health strategies for mental health promotion to increase condom use among adolescents.

Increased Likelihood of Forced Sexual Intercourse, Sexual Violence, and Sexual Dating Violence Victimization Among Sexual Minority Youth

Sexual violence victimization among adolescents, specifically sexual minority youth, is a significant public health concern. The purpose of this study was to compare sexual violence victimization rates among sexual minority and heterosexual youth using nationally representative data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System. Results indicated that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth were significantly more likely than heterosexual youth (p < .05) to experience sexual violence (22.3% vs. 9.1%), sexual dating violence (16.3% vs. 6.4%), and forced sexual intercourse (17.6% vs. 5.9%). Among sexual minority youth, female participants were more likely than male participants (p < .05) to experience sexual violence (23.5% vs. 18.0%), sexual dating violence (17.2% vs. 11.6%), and forced sexual intercourse (19.0% vs. 13.1%). This study identified varying rates of sexual violence victimization among a national sample of youth while examining the differences between heterosexual and sexual minority communities. The additional behavioral risks experienced by sexual minority youth should be further researched to determine impact on overall quality of life and to help guide health education intervention development.