Youth Dating Violence: Exploring Links between Messages, Sources, and Experiences

Background and Purpose: Adolescence and emerging adulthood are periods when youth tend to develop their sexual identities and explore romantic relationships. Dating violence is a pervasive problem during these years. Research indicates that 15 to 24-year olds are at the highest risk of experiencing dating violence in Canada. Up to 20% of youth may report physical or sexual victimization in relationships, with much higher numbers experiencing psychological violence. Furthermore, youth are inundated with messages about sexuality and dating from multiple sources, including schools, parents (particularly mothers), and friends. Some research indicates friend messages may affect experiences, but the impact of other sources is unknown. Accordingly, this research poses the question: What is the relationship between dating violence information received from mothers, friends, and schools, and reported experiences of dating violence?

Methods: Participants were 330 first-year undergraduates (mean age=19; 56% female; 54% Caucasian; 72% heterosexual) attending a university in southwestern Ontario.  Participants received course credit for completing a brief online survey. Sexuality information received was assessed by asking about 35 topics with the heading, “Where did you learn about sexuality?”  A score assessing participants’ main source of dating violence information (mother, friends, school, or a combination) was created. Participants were also asked about their experiences of relationship and dating violence, assessed using the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory Scale (CADRI).

Results: Participants reported receiving the most dating violence information from school sex education. Initial bivariate correlations indicated that school messages were linked with significantly lower levels of threatening and sexual perpetration and victimization. After controlling for socio-demographics, OLS regression revealed that messages received from mothers were significantly more likely to be linked with physical perpetration (b=.12, p<.05); sexual perpetration (b=.17, p<.05); and sexual victimization (b=.27, p<.01) than messages from schools. Receiving messaging from multiple sources was also linked with perpetration of threatening behaviors (b=.12; p<.05). People of color and LGBTQ youth reported higher levels of dating violence. Unexpectedly, friend messages were not influential.

Conclusions and Implications: Results indicate that dating violence messages and experiences may be related. Additionally, although school sex education continues to spark controversy in much of North America, school programs addressing dating violence prevention may be making a difference. More research is needed in order to better understand specific messages being delivered and how they may affect youth experiences. Social workers are in a unique position to work within and across family, peer, and school contexts, help change unhealthy norms, and advocate for more effective, culturally competent messaging and education.  As youth in violent relationships have a greater likelihood of continuing these relationship patterns into adulthood, the stakes are high. Additionally, youth of color and LGBTQ youth are at greater risk, often marginalized in these conversations, and must be a focus. Social work can play a critical role across practice, policy, and research, working to prioritize dating violence reduction and prevention, as well as the promotion of healthy and safe relationships. These goals are invaluable for youth development, and present grand challenges for social work.