Healthy Teens – Dating and dating violence among ninth graders: Student focus groups

Purpose: Healthy Teens is a mixed-methods study of social competence in students who have been followed from middle to high school. This presentation will examine the meaning of dating and dating violence from the perspectives of ninth graders. Methods: We conducted 2 focus groups (one for girls and one for boys) at 6 of the 8 participating schools (total of 12 focus groups). Focus groups were composed of 7-11 members who were randomly selected (75% participation). Groups were designed to explore students' perceptions of dating, antecedent events that lead to dating violence, and ways adults can help students refrain from involvement in dating aggression. Results: Preliminary data analysis reveals that students: (1) use different names for dating and define it broadly; (2) acknowledge the prevalence of dating violence, particularly verbal/psychological abuse, but strongly disapprove of both male-female and female-male aggression; (3) identify several precipitating factors for dating violence, including jealously, the need to exert power over a partner and/or “show off” for peers, and different expectations/levels of comfort in regard to sexual behaviors; (4) learn appropriate dating behaviors from a variety of individuals and institutions; and (5) perceive most adults in the school environment are invested in their academic success but not in their social development, and they desire greater adult involvement. Conclusions: Students' perceptions of dating differ from adults' perceptions, with many factors contributing to dating violence. Adults are unaware of the extent of their influence in helping students desist from dating violence. Implications for prevention will be discussed.