Dating violence in New York City high school males: Aggression, victimization, and reciprocal violence

Aim: To determine the prevalence of sexually and physically violent behaviors reported by romantically or sexually involved urban adolescent males.

Methods: A paper/pencil or ACASI survey was administered to students in four metropolitan NYC high schools (n= 1,312) using validated measures of current and lifetime dating violence.

Results: Out of 574 boys, aged 13-20 yrs, 64% of boys reported having a dating relationship in the last year. Of these, 17% reported inflicting ³ one physically violent behaviors (hitting, slapping, pushing, etc) on their girlfriend; almost a third (30%) reported ³ one experiencing physically violent behaviors from their girlfriend. About 16% of young men reported experiencing sexual victimization (inappropriate touching, being threatened to have sex or forced to have sex) at least once in the last year and 15% reported inflicting at least one sexually violent behavior.

Logistic regression analyses found that a history of non-partner sexual abuse, being feared by their girlfriend during conflicts, and/or mutual fear of each other in conflict situations, were significantly associated experiences among those who inflicted physical dating violence or sexual dating violence (sexual perpetration is also associated with fear of his partner). Among physical dating victims, the same factors including a history of impregnating a partner were significantly associated. Only suspicion of infidelity or reporting a nonexclusive sexual relationship were associated with sexual victimization.

Conclusion: Young men experience and inflict dating violence with many reporting bi-directional violence. Fear plays an important contextual role in both physical and sexual violence perpetration and victimization.