International Conditions during Childhood and the Influence on Perpetration of Dating Violence in Emerging Adulthood

Purpose: Prior research has examined the unique patterns of dating violence (DV) amongst young adults and differences that exist across national and cultural contexts. However most studies that have examined international differences in dating violence evaluate the current status of the nation in relationship to violence perpetration. Using culture of violence and ecological theory as a tool for understanding the effect of macro level amity on micro level relationships, this study examined how national conditions at the time of childhood would influence dating violence in early adulthood.

Methods: The International Dating Violence Study (IDVS) provides data from a convenience sample (N=17,404) of university students in 32 countries (2001-2006). Respondents (N=10,548) from 20 countries between the ages of 18-29 who identified their most recent dating relationship were included in this analysis. Scores from the Status of Women Index (1996), indicated by parliamentary seats occupied by women, their advantage over men in life expectancy, and their proportion in the labor force was used as a measure of gender equality.  Scores from the Human Development Index (1990), indicated by life expectancy, literacy, and income were used as a measure of overall national well-being.  Indicators from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale measured DV. Following bivariate analysis and controlling for covariates, multinomial logistic regression (MLNR) was used to examine how the status of women and national well-being interests in childhood impact dating violence status in early adulthood. Predicted probabilities of being only victimized, perpetrating DV, experiencing both, or experiencing neither were calculated through MNLR.

Results: People in countries that had a high status of women during their childhood were 23% less likely (b=-0.21,p<0.05) to become a perpetrator of DV when compared to those who were in countries where status of women was low during childhood. However, when medium level wellbeing was coupled with a high status of women, the odds of becoming a perpetrator increased, reducing the influence of high gender quality. Essentially, becoming a perpetrator of DV depended on overall national well-being and the status of women during childhood, an interaction which was significant (p<0.05). Finally, men whose countries had a low status of women and low a well-being score during their childhood had a significantly smaller probability (5% vs 7%) of becoming a perpetrator than those in countries with medium women status/low-wellbeing (p<0.05).

Implications: Although the odds of the analysis were shown to be weak, most perceptions about gender equality, violence approval, and healthy intimate relationships begin developing during early childhood and are carried into adulthood. Being in a country that has a medium status of women may facilitate a stronger drive to exert power and control by male partners in effort to prevent mobility towards high gender equality. Boys in countries that already heavily oppress women may not need to exert as much control over women as they grow up. Although these findings are not generalizable, since they are based on a convenience sample, the analysis adds to the knowledge of social work by understanding of DV perpetration in a worldwide context.