Victimization and Relational Aggression in Adolescent Romantic Relationships: The Influence of Parental and Peer Behaviors, and Individual Adjustment

• NCJ Number: 222131
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2008 Pages: 359-372
• Author(s): Bonnie J. Leadbeater; Elizabeth M. Banister; Wendy E. Ellis; Rachel Yeung
• Date Published: March 2008
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined inherent characteristics and individual differences that contribute to relational and physical victimization in adolescent dating relationships.

Abstract

Results suggest that different aspects of parental and peer behaviors are important in enhancing or decreasing risks for different types of dating victimization and relational aggression. The relative importance of peers and parents has been widely debated; investigations that simultaneously examined parenting and peer experiences on adolescent behavior often showed that peer influence was independent of, or greater than that of parents. For example, high-quality friendships can weaken links between negative aspects of parenting and adjustment difficulties. In terms of dating adjustment, experiences with same-sex friends may also outweigh or moderate parental effects. Support of high-quality friendships can be related to the cause of conflict resolution with dating partners, despite early family violence. Moderating relationships may also be important; it is possible that the effects of aggression against peers on dating violence are limited in the context of high-quality parental monitoring. The past failure to make distinctions between more overt and subtle relational forms of aggression and victimization may cloud an understanding of the influences of parents and peers and routes of intervention or prevention of dating relationship violence. Results from this study point to the need for dating violence prevention and treatment programs. Parent and peer ecologies need to be considered in the design of dating violence prevention and treatment programs. The inclusion of healthy peers and the support of adult mentors in prevention programs can offer adolescents positive alternatives for relationships. Dating prevention curricula need to be more developmentally appropriate, culturally and gender sensitive, and geographically relevant. Participants in the study completed the “Healthy Youth Survey” questionnaire in the spring of 2003. Data were collected from 664 diverse youths between the ages of 12 and 19. Tables, references