NCJ Number
200047
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 187-206
Editor(s)
Claire M. Renzetti
Date Published
February 2003
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the help-seeking behavioral intentions of middle school African-American inner-city adolescents with regard to dating violence and its impact on the development of dating violence prevention programs for middle school minority youth.
Abstract
In today’s world, dating violence among American youth is viewed as a significant public health problem. Youth in middle school may be at only slightly lower risk of violence in their relationships than high school youth. Adolescents rarely seek help from others when they experience violence in their relationships. Little research on dating violence has focused attention on youths’ willingness to seek help when violence occurs in their relationships. This study examined the relationship of African-American middle school youths’ help-seeking behavioral intentions related to dating violence with their levels of violent victimization and perpetration. One hundred and sixty-five seventh-grade students participated in the study. Findings suggest that the African-American youth were willing to seek help from others when confronted with dating violence. They were willing to seek help from adults, especially their family members. The majority of the youth in this study were more willing to seek assistance from adults, their mothers, aunts, fathers, grandmothers, and school counselors, than from their friends. More girls than boys in the study were willing to talk to someone about dating violence and more girls than boys were also willing to talk to a friend and to their mothers. The findings suggest that gender differences in regards to dating violence and help-seeking behaviors may be maintained across ethnicity and social class. The findings indicate that prevention programs must understand how cultural differences may influence help-seeking behaviors. Tables and references