Victim to Aggressor: The Relationship Between Violence Victimization, Perpetration and Mental Health Symptoms Among Teenage Girls

Background and Purpose:

There is a plethora of literature that exposes the prevalence of dating violence among adolescent boys and girls (NIJ, 2008). Researchers found that dating violence was related to increased depression, anxiety, and other manifestations of mental health issues   in adolescent girls (Eaton et al., 2010 Clemente et al., 2005; Repetto, Caldwell, & Zimmerman, 2004). As troubling as it is to realize the impact that dating violence has on young women, it is even more troubling to realize that being a victim is a predictor of future violence perpetration (Gomez, 2011). Studies suggest that among adolescent females, dating violence victimization increases the risk of mental health problems, future perpetration, and acceptance of violence. The current study investigates these issues further by examining how different types of dating violence victimization are associated with mental health symptoms and perpetration    among adolescent females.

Methods:

The present study investigates the prevalence and mental health consequences of dating violence among adolescent females.  The sample consists of 727 heterosexual female adolescent high school students from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds (63% minority). The sample has a mean age of 15.72 years (SD = .81).  Researcher(s) administered surveys to the students in high school health classrooms. The questionnaires asked participants if they had experienced dating violence victimization and perpetration, mental health symptoms, and acceptance of violence towards boys and girls.   Multivariate analysis was employed to analyze the data. Five multiple regressions were conducted, which identified predictors from each of the models on mental health and future perpetration of dating violence.

Results:

Participants revealed high rates of IPV victimization overall (physical 26%, psychological 40%, and sexual 18%). Multiple regressions showed that experiencing psychological violence and holding attitudes that accept violence were predictors of mental health (PTSD and depression) consequences. Further analysis revealed that participants who experienced any type of dating violence (physical, sexual, or psychological) were significantly more likely to perpetrate physical, psychological, and/or sexual violence.   These findings suggest that violent attitudes and experiencing dating violence are significantly predictive of future negative mental health and violence perpetration among teenage girls.

Implications:

The current study indicates the predictive power of dating violence victimization on mental health and dating violence perpetration for female youth. The present study discovered that adolescent females who suffered dating violence were more likely to inflict different types of dating violence on their dating partner. Furthermore, the experience of multiple forms of dating violence and subsequent perpetration of violence was found to be linked with specific mental health outcomes. Types of violence victimization and attitudes accepting violence should be assessed by mental health practitioners. Policy makers should consider the current study’s findings to better understand and inform dating violence prevention measures. Future studies could explore the lived experiences of youth to better understand the context and cultural influences related to interpersonal violence. Studies of this nature can also provide a deeper understanding of female adolescents’ lived experiences as both a victim and a perpetrator.