Examining the Cycle of Family Violence Mediated by the Social Developmental Model to Predict Teen Dating Violence Victimization: A Theoretical Test

Purpose: This paper examines hypothesized unique and mediated pathways from childhood exposure to family violence (e.g. child maltreatment and exposure to parental IPV) to teen dating violence (TDV) victimization. Prior studies found that distal and proximal developmental variables are important precursors to TDV and intimate partner violence (IPV) during adulthood (Magdol, Moffitt, Caspi, & Silva, 1998), yet few studies have modeled a theorized process of these developmental variables from childhood to adolescent victimization using longitudinal data (Foshee, et al., 2004). Catalano and Hawkins (1996) proposed the Social Development Model (SDM), that theorizes important developmental mechanisms—opportunities for involvement, social skills, bonding, values/beliefs—to explain pro- and anti-social development leading to behavioral outcomes. The SDM has been empirically supported in tests predicting substance use and violence perpetration (Brown, et al., 2005; Fleming, et al., 2008). The SDM has yet to be examined in terms of violence victimization. This paper examines the unique effects child maltreatment and parent IPV on proximal SDM constructs as well as later TDV victimization, and if the later relationship is mediated by theorized SDM processes.

Methods: The analysis includes 530 participants from the Raising Healthy Children (RHC) project who reported dating in high school. RHC is a 15-year study of a substance use and violence preventive intervention based on a community sample from 10 suburban public schools in Washington State. Survey data were collected annually, from parents, teachers, and the participants, as well as school and court records. Thirteen percent (13.3%) of the sample reported TDV victimization between 11th - 12th grades; females (15.3%) reported more victimization than males (12%) (χ2 = 1.20; p = .27). Latent constructs were developed to capture parent reported IPV when youths were in primary school (1st – 5th grades), self-reported child maltreatment when youths were 18 years old, and SDM concepts of pro- and anti-social development measured between the 6th and 8th grades.

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model was robust (Χ2 (779) = 1461.09 (p < .001); CFI = .95; TLI = .94; RMSEA = .042) (Hu & Bentler, 1995). Parental IPV and child maltreatment were significantly associated with TDV victimization. SDM constructs were significantly associated in the expected direction with the predictor and outcome variables. A structural equation model confirmed that the theorized model fit the data (Χ2 (131) = 239.71 (p < .001); CFI= .91; TLI = .94; RMSEA = .041). Unique relationships with TDV victimization were found for child maltreatment, social skills, and anti-social beliefs. A significant mediated pathway was found between child maltreatment and TDV victimization through social skills. This model accounted for 15% of the variance explaining TDV victimization.

Implications: The findings provide support for the SDM framework, where childhood exposure to family violence increased the likelihood of later dating violence victimization, as well as an increased likelihood of being exposed to anti-social developmental processes. The SDM identifies preventive intervention targets that might interrupt the link between childhood exposure to family violence and later TDV victimization.