229575 Electronic aggression among adolescent dating partners: Demographic correlates and associations with academic performance and other types of violence

Monday, November 8, 2010

Stacey Cutbush, MA , Risk Behavior and Family Research, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
Olivia Ashley, Dr PH , RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
Marni L. Kan, PhD , Risk Behavior and Family Research, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
Diane M. Hall, PhD , National Center for Injury Prevention and Control/Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Little research has examined electronic aggression (e.g., using a cell phone, e-mail, or MySpace to threaten, insult, spread rumors, or harass) among adolescent dating partners. This study examines the associations between electronic aggression and 1) demographic indicators, 2) school grades, and 3) peer aggression and dating violence (psychological abuse, physical violence, sexual violence, and stalking). This study included 4163 9th graders who reported having ever been on a date from 43 schools in 11 states. The sample was 54.4% female, 40.3% White, 21.8% Black, and 17.3% Latino. Data were collected in schools using a self-administered paper-and pencil survey. Measures included lifetime incidence of victimization and perpetration of each dating violence behavior and physical fighting with a non-dating partner, sex, race/ethnicity, mother's education, and self-reported past semester grades in school. Multivariate logistic regression analyses accounting for school-level clustering indicated that electronic aggression victimization was positively associated with being female; higher levels of mother's education; better grades in school; physical victimization and perpetration; and psychological, sexual, and stalking victimization. Electronic aggression perpetration was associated with being female, better grades in school, peer aggression, and all other forms of dating violence victimization and perpetration. The presentation will focus on discussion of the findings, highlighting areas where electronic aggression is associated with other types of aggression, as well as implications for future prevention, evaluation, and research efforts.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Communication and informatics
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe at-risk groups for electronic aggression among adolescent dating partners. 2. Describe associations between electronic aggression and other types of violence, including other types of dating violence.

Keywords: Adolescents, Violence Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a diverse background in public health with more than 10 years of experience in dating and sexual violence prevention research and service delivery. My research experience includes effects of the media on adolescent dating relationships and behavior.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.