Risk profiles of adolescent girls who were victims of dating violence

Adolescence, Spring, 2003 by Donna E. Howard, Min Qi Wang

Directions for Future Research and Intervention

The findings not only have important implications for adolescent dating violence prevention, but also offer directions for future research. At present, it is unclear whether physical dating violence precipitated the sad and/or hopeless emotions. In addition, it could be argued that, in an attempt to cope with the emotional, social, and physical experience of victimization, girls may have resorted to drug or alcohol use. It is also possible that another factor accounts for both substance use and sad/hopeless feelings. Further, having multiple sex partners might be at the fulcrum of antecedent factors that put adolescent girls at risk for courtship violence. It is left for future research to establish the temporality of the factors associated with dating violence against girls, not only in regard to sexual behaviors but emotional health as well. Longitudinal studies, initiated well before adolescence, would shed light on these important relationships.

At the same time, intervention efforts should be targeted at the perpetrators of dating violence, so as not to further the impression of blaming the victim. Given the prevalence of violent behavior by boys in romantic relationships (Halpern, Oslak, Young, Martin, & Kupper, 2001; Centers for Disease Control, 2000; Foshee, 1996; Gray & Foshee, 1997; Gwartney-Gibbs, Stockard, & Brobmer, 1987), their role and responsibility must be clearly addressed. Likewise, improving the ability of interventions to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy necessitates a concentration on both partners in dating relationships.

Conclusion

Physical dating violence against adolescent girls is an important public health problem. This study provides not only generalizable findings on such violence, but also highlights implications for intervention and prevention research. As part of a comprehensive dating violence prevention program, intervention efforts should be targeted at girls who have risk profiles for victimization. Such programs may concurrently impact other forms of violence and sexual behavior outcomes.

In sum, the findings provide further evidence that there is a clustering of problem behaviors and other risk factors among certain adolescents, specifically girls who experience dating violence. This risk profile can help in the identification of appropriate content for intervention and prevention programs.