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Relationship Contexts as Sources of Socialization: An Exploration of Intimate Partner Violence Experiences of Economically Disadvantaged African American Adolescents

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Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among African Americans is a serious public health concern. Research suggest that African Americans adolescents, particularly those from economically disadvantaged communities, are at heightened risk for experiencing and perpetrating dating violence compared to youth from other racial and ethnic groups. In the present study, we examined different relationship contexts that are sources of IPV socialization. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 economically disadvantaged African American adolescents. Content analysis yielded five relationship contexts through which the participants witnessed, experienced, and perpetrated IPV: (a) adolescents’ own dating relationships (64%), (b) siblings and extended family members (e.g., cousins, aunts, uncles) (59%), (c) parent-partners (27%), (d) friends (23%), and (e) neighbors (18%). Adolescents also frequently described IPV in their own dating relationships and in parent-partner relationships as mutual. Moreover, they appeared to minimize the experience of IPV in their own relationships. Efforts to reduce rates of IPV among economically disadvantaged African American adolescents should consider these relational contexts through which adolescents are socialized with regards to IPV and adolescents’ beliefs about mutual violence in relationships. Results highlight the importance of culturally relevant prevention and intervention programs that consider these relationship contexts.

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Funding

This study was funded by a grant from the University of Georgia Poverty and the Economy Faculty Research Grants Program, awarded to the second and third authors. Tera R. Jordan publishes under her maiden name, Tera R. Hurt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri, 407 Gentry Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Antoinette M. Landor

  2. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Tera R. Hurt

  3. Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Ted Futris

  4. Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Allen W. Barton

  5. Counseling and Psychological Services, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Stacey E. McElroy

  6. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participation Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Kameron Sheats

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  1. Antoinette M. Landor
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  2. Tera R. Hurt
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  3. Ted Futris
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  4. Allen W. Barton
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  5. Stacey E. McElroy
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  6. Kameron Sheats
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Correspondence to Antoinette M. Landor.

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There are no potential conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

Ethical Approval

Our research involves human participants therefore our study was conducted under IRB at the University of Georgia (#685312628).

Informed Consent

In terms of informed consent, the research team members read the informed consent document to parents and youth and responded to any questions they had regarding the study. Parental consent and minor assent was obtained for youth 17 years of age and younger by requesting each individual sign the university-approved paperwork. For youth 18 years of age or older, research team members read the Informed Consent document to the participants and then gave them the opportunity to sign the consent form. No one refused participation.

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Landor, A.M., Hurt, T.R., Futris, T. et al. Relationship Contexts as Sources of Socialization: An Exploration of Intimate Partner Violence Experiences of Economically Disadvantaged African American Adolescents. J Child Fam Stud 26, 1274–1284 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0650-z

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