Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Longitudinal Relationships Between Individual and Class Norms Supporting Dating Violence and Perpetration of Dating Violence

  • Empirical Research
  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dating violence is commonly perpetrated in adolescence, making it imperative to understand risk factors in order to inform prevention efforts. Although individual norms supporting dating violence are strongly related to its perpetration, few studies have examined their longitudinal impact. Moreover, the influence of class norms (i.e., norms for students in the same grade, cohort, and school) supporting dating violence on perpetration has rarely been studied. The current study examined longitudinal relationships between individual and class norms supporting dating violence and perpetration of physical and psychological dating violence. Participants were two cohorts of sixth graders from 37 schools who were in dating relationships at Wave 1 and 6 months later at Wave 2 (N = 2,022; 43 % female; 52 % African American, 21 % Latino/a, 20 % White, and 7 % other). The analyses used a multilevel approach, with students represented at Level 1 and classes (n = 74) at Level 2. The models tested direct effects of Wave 1 individual and class norms supporting dating violence on subsequent changes in perpetration of dating violence at Wave 2 and the extent to which gender moderated these relationships. The findings indicated that greater individual norms supporting male dating violence predicted greater change in perpetration of physical and psychological dating violence and greater individual norms supporting female dating violence predicted greater change in perpetration of psychological dating violence. Greater class norms supporting male dating violence predicted greater change in perpetration of physical dating violence; whereas greater class norms supporting female dating violence predicted less change in perpetration of physical dating violence. These findings highlight the need to address norms in early adolescence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arriaga, X. B., & Foshee, V. A. (2004). Adolescent dating violence: Do adolescents follow in their friends’ or their parents’ footsteps? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19, 162–184. doi:10.1177/0886260503260247.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomew, K., Cobb, R. J., & Dutton, D. G. (2015). Established and emerging perspectives on violence in intimate relationships. In M. Mikulincer, P. R. Shaver, J. A. Simpson, & J. F. Dovidio (Eds.), APA handbooks in psychology. APA handbook of personality and social psychology, Vol. 3. Interpersonal relations (pp. 605–630). doi:10.1037/14344-022

  • Bernburg, J. G., & Thorlindsson, T. (2005). Violent values, conduct norms, and youth aggression: A multilevel study in Iceland. The Sociological Quarterly, 46, 457–478. doi:10.1111/j.1533-8525.2005.00022.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. B. (1999). “You’re going out with who?”: Peer group influences on adolescent romantic relationships. In W. Furman, B. Brown, & C. Feiring (Eds.), The development of romantic relationships in adolescence (pp. 291–329). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, W. A. (2003). More than myth: The developmental significance of romantic relationships during adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13, 1–24. doi:10.1111/1532-7795.1301001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, J., & McIsaac, C. (2009). Adolescents’ explanations for romantic dissolutions: A developmental perspective. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 1209–1223. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.01.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foshee, V. A., Bauman, K. E., Arriaga, X. B., Helms, R. W., Koch, G. G., & Linder, G. F. (1998). An evaluation of Safe Dates, an adolescent dating violence prevention program. American Journal of Public Health, 88, 45–50. doi:10.2105/AJPH.88.1.45.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foshee, V. A., Benefield, T. S., Ennett, S. T., Bauman, K. E., & Suchindran, C. (2004). Longitudinal predictors of serious physical and sexual dating violence victimization during adolescence. Preventive Medicine, 39, 1007–1016. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.04.014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foshee, V. A., Benefield, T., Suchindran, C., Ennett, S. T., Bauman, K. E., Karriker-Jaffe, K. J., et al. (2009). The development of four types of adolescent dating abuse and selected demographic correlates. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 19, 380–400. doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2009.00593.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foshee, V. A., Linder, G. F., Bauman, K. E., Langwick, S. A., Arriaga, X. B., Heath, J. L., et al. (1996). The Safe Dates Project: theoretical basis, evaluation design, and selected baseline findings. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12, 39–47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foshee, V. A., Linder, F., MacDougall, J. E., & Bangdiwala, S. (2001). Gender differences in the longitudinal predictors of adolescent dating violence. Preventive Medicine, 32, 128–141. doi:10.1006/pmed.2000.0793.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giordano, P. C., Manning, W. D., & Longmore, M. A. (2006). Adolescent romantic relationships: An emerging portrait of their nature and developmental significance. In A. C. Crouter & A. Booth (Eds.), Romance and sex in adolescence and emerging adulthood: Risks and opportunities (pp. 127–150). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, A. M. (2011). Testing the cycle of violence hypothesis: Child abuse and adolescent dating violence as predictors of intimate partner violence in young adulthood. Youth & Society, 43, 171–192. doi:10.1177/0044118X09358313.

  • Henry, D., & Chan, W. Y. (2010). Cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of sixth grade setting-level norms for nonviolent problem solving on aggression and associated attitudes. Journal of Community Psychology, 38, 1007–1022. doi:10.1002/jcop.20411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, D. B., Farrell, A. D., & Multisite Violence Prevention Project. (2004). The study designed by a committee: Design of the Multisite Violence Prevention Project. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 26, 12–19. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2003.09.027.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, D. B., Farrell, A. D., Schoeny, M. E., Tolan, P. H., & Dymnicki, A. B. (2011). Influence of school-level variables on aggression and associated attitudes of middle school students. Journal of School Psychology, 49, 481–503. doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2011.04.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, D., Guerra, N., Huesmann, R., Tolan, P., VanAcker, R., & Eron, L. (2000). Normative influences on aggression in urban elementary school classrooms. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28, 59–81. doi:10.1023/A:1005142429725.

  • Hox, J. (2010). Multilevel analysis: Techniques and applications. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malik, S., Sorenson, S. B., & Aneshensel, C. S. (1997). Community and dating violence among adolescents: Perpetration and victimization. Journal of Adolescent Health, 21, 291–302. doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(97)00143-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCauley, H. L., Tancredi, D. J., Silverman, J. G., Decker, M. R., Austin, S. B., McCormick, M. C., et al. (2013). Gender-equitable attitudes, bystander behavior, and recent abuse perpetration against heterosexual dating partners of male high school athletes. American Journal of Public Health, 103, 1882–1887. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301443.

  • Multisite Violence Prevention Project (MVPP). (2004). The Multisite Violence Prevention Project: Background and overview. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 26, 3–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (2012). Mplus user’s guide. Los Angeles: Muthén & Muthén.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noonan, R. K., & Charles, D. (2009). Developing teen dating violence prevention strategies: Formative research with middle school youth. Violence against Women, 15, 1087–1105. doi:10.1177/1077801209340761.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Keefe, M. (1997). Predictors of dating violence among high school students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 12, 546–568. doi:10.1177/088626097012004005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Leary, K. D., Smith Slep, A. M., Avery-Leaf, S., & Cassardi, M. (2008). Gender differences in dating aggression among multiethnic high school students. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 473–479. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.09.012.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olweus, D., & Limber, S. P. (2007). Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: Teacher guide. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

  • Orpinas, P., Horne, A. M., & Multisite Violence Prevention Program. (2004). A teacher-focused approached to prevent and reduce students’ aggressive behavior: The GREAT Teacher Program. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 26, 29–38. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2003.09.016.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, P. M., & Orpinas, P. (2012). Dating norms and dating violence among ninth graders in Northeast Georgia: Reports from student surveys and focus groups. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27, 1677–1698. doi:10.1177/0886260511430386.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, R. J., Raudenbush, S. W., & Earls, F. (1997). Neighborhoods and violent crime: A multilevel study of collective efficacy. Science, 277, 918–924. doi:10.1126/science.277.5328.918.

  • Simon, T. R., Miller, S., Gorman-Smith, D., Orpinas, P., & Sullivan, T. (2010). Physical dating violence norms and behavior among sixth-grade students from four U.S. sites. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 30, 395–409. doi:10.1177/0272431609333301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. P., Gorman-Smith, D., Quinn, W., Rabiner, D., Tolan, P., Winn, D.-M., et al. (2004). Community-based multiple family groups to prevent and reduce violent and aggressive behavior: The GREAT families program. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 26, 39–47. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2003.09.018.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snijders, T. A. B., & Bosker, R. J. (1994). Modeled variance in two-level models. Sociological Methods & Research, 22, 342–363. doi:10.1177/0049124194022003004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spriggs, A. L., Halpern, C. T., & Martin, S. L. (2009). Continuity of adolescent and early adult partner violence victimization: Association with witnessing violent crime in adolescence. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 63, 741–748. doi:10.1136/jech.2008.078592.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, T. N., Erwin, E. H., Helms, S. W., Masho, S. W., & Farrell, A. D. (2010). Problematic situations associated with dating experiences and relationships among urban African American adolescents: A qualitative study. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 31, 365–378. doi:10.1007/s10935-010-0225-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Census Bureau. (2000). Census tracts and block numbering areas. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cen_tract.html.

  • Wekerle, C., & Wolfe, D. A. (1999). Dating violence in mid-adolescence: theory, significance, and emerging prevention initiatives. Clinical Psychology Review, 19, 435–456. doi:10.1016/S0272-7358(98)00091-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, D. A., Wekerle, C., Scott, K., Straatman, A., Grasley, C., & Reitzel-Jaffe, D. (2003). Dating violence prevention with at-risk youth: A controlled outcome evaluation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 279–291. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.71.2.279.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zweig, J. M., Dank, M., Yahner, J., & Lachman, P. (2013). The rate of cyber dating abuse among teens and how it relates to other forms of teen dating violence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47, 1–15. doi:10.1007/s10964-013-9922-8.

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Multi-Site Violence Prevention Project for permission to use the data for this study. Investigators from each site are as follows (changes in affiliations in parentheses): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA: Thomas R. Simon, Robin M. Ikeda, Emilie Smith (Penn State University); Le’Roy E. Reese (Morehouse University); Duke University, Durham NC: David L. Rabiner, Shari Miller (Research Triangle Institute), Donna-Marie Winn (University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill), Kenneth A. Dodge, Steven R. Asher; University of Georgia, Athens GA: Arthur M. Horne, Pamela Orpinas, Roy Martin, William H. Quinn (Clemson University); University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago IL: Patrick H. Tolan (University of Virginia), Deborah Gorman-Smith (University of Chicago), David B. Henry, Franklin N. Gay (University of Chicago), Michael Schoeny (University of Chicago), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA: Albert D. Farrell, Aleta L. Meyer (Administration for Children and Families, Washington, DC); Terri N. Sullivan, Kevin W. Allison. This study was funded, in part, by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC Cooperative Agreements U81/CCU317633 and 1U01CE001956. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Authors’ contributions

KT conceived of the study, participated in its design and the interpretation of the data, performed statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript. TS assisted in the conceptualization of the study, participated in the design and the interpretation of the data and helped to draft the manuscript. AF participated in the design of the study and the interpretation of the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA

    Katherine A. Taylor, Terri N. Sullivan & Albert D. Farrell

Authors
  1. Katherine A. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Terri N. Sullivan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Albert D. Farrell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine A. Taylor.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Taylor, K.A., Sullivan, T.N. & Farrell, A.D. Longitudinal Relationships Between Individual and Class Norms Supporting Dating Violence and Perpetration of Dating Violence. J Youth Adolescence 44, 745–760 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-014-0195-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-014-0195-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation