Dating violence, sexual risk, and pregnancy involvement: In-depth interviews with adolescent male perpetrators


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

3063.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 9:00 AM

Abstract #109428

Michele R. Decker, MPH, Division of Public Health Practice/Department of Society, Human Development & Health, Harvard University, 677 Huntington Ave., Kresge 705, Boston, MA 02115, 617-432-4694, mdecker@hsph.harvard.edu, Emily Rothman, ScD, Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T253W, Boston, MA 02118, Jay G. Silverman, PhD, Department for Society, Human Development and Health/Division of Public Health Practice, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, 7th floor, Boston, MA 02115, Elizabeth Miller, Stoeckle Center for Primary Care innovation, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St., 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, Anita Raj, PhD, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, T2W, Boston, MA 02118, Ruth Paris, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Boston University, 264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, and Elizabeth Reed, MPH, Violence Prevention and Intervention Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 4th floor, Boston, MA 02108.

Previous research indicates high prevalence of dating victimization among adolescent girls with one in five high school girls reporting dating violence victimization ever and one in ten reporting such victimization during the past year. Although significant associations exist between dating violence victimization and sexual risk and pregnancy among female adolescents, little study has been conducted regarding the role of male perpetrators of dating violence in sexual risk and pregnancy involvement. The purpose of the study is to provide qualitative data to better understand contexts and mechanisms underlying relationships seen among dating violence, sexual risk, and pregnancy involvement among adolescent boys. Data from semi-structured interviews conducted with 25 adolescent boys ages 14-18 years involved in psycho-educational groups for perpetration of dating violence will be presented. Results are expected to (1) contribute to understanding of the relationship of dating violence to adolescent sexual health and pregnancy involvement among males, (2) guide pregnancy prevention and sexual health promotion efforts targeted toward adolescent males, and (3) inform prevention programs, clinicians, and health educators on the role of dating violence in sexual risk and pregnancy involvement, including describing how to address dating violence within the context of these programs.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will be able to

- Describe attitudes and decision-making processes regarding dating violence from the perspective of male perpetrators of dating violence.
- Describe attitudes towards sexual risk and pregnancy prevention expressed by male perpetrators of dating violence.
- Describe mechanisms involved in risky sexual activity and pregnancy involvement in the context of abusive relationships.

Keywords: Adolescents, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Perspectives on Violence Against Women

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA