Gender differences in adolescent dating abuse prevalence, types and injuries

TLDR

Studies of adults show inconsistent gender patterns in partner violence, yet adolescent dating violence is under‑studied and rarely reported by gender. The study aims to examine gender differences in adolescent dating violence. Data were collected via self‑administered questionnaires completed by 81 % of eighth‑ and ninth‑grade students in a primarily rural North Carolina school district. Females perpetrate more mild to severe and self‑defense violence, experience more sexual and psychological victimization and injuries, while males perpetrate more sexual violence and both genders sustain comparable mild–severe victimization, indicating that prevention programs should address both perpetration and victimization for all adolescents.

Abstract

Studies of adults report inconsistent findings as to whether males or females are more likely to use violent behaviors toward their partner. Although partner violence frequently begins during adolescence, few dating violence studies involve adolescents and even fewer report findings by gender. This study examines gender differences in adolescent dating violence. Data are from self-administered questionnaires completed by 81% of the adolescents in the eighth and ninth grades in a primarily rural school district in North Carolina. The significant findings are that (1) females perpetrate more mild, moderate and severe violence than males towards partners even when controlling for violence perpetrated in self-defense; (2) females perpetrate more violence than males out of self-defense; (3) males perpetrate more sexual dating violence than females; (4) males and females sustain equal amounts of mild, moderate and severe dating violence; (5) females sustain more sexual dating violence than males; (6) females sustain more psychological abuse than males from their partners; and (7) females receive more injuries than males from dating violence. These findings suggest that adolescent dating violence prevention programs are warranted and that unlike most dating violence prevention programs, both males and females should be exposed to activities related to victimization and perpetration.