Adolescent Dating Violence

Abstract

This study investigates differences in 3 dating violence profiles: those who are only victims of violence, those who are only perpetrators of violence, and those who are involved in mutually violent relationships. One hundred and eighty-five adolescents in the 6th to 12th grades responded to a questionnaire about dating violence and dating violence correlates. Study analysis was limited to the 77 students who reported involvement in dating violence in their most recent or current dating relationship. Differences in amount and severity of violence, injuries sustained, relationship characteristics, and individual characteristics across dating violence profile were assessed. About 66% of students reporting violence reported that the violence was mutual. Individuals in mutually violent relationships reported receiving and perpetrating significantly more violence than individuals involved in one-sided violent relationships as victims only or perpetrators only, respectively. Implications are made for treatment and prevention efforts.