Prevalence of Teen Dating Violence and Co-Occurring Risk Factors Among Middle School Youth in High Risk Urban Communities

The purposes of this study are to 1) describe the lifetime prevalence of teen dating violence (TDV) perpetration in a sample of middle school students from high-risk urban communities and  2) to examine the cross-sectional relation between cognitive and behavioral risk factors and perpetration of multiple forms of teen dating violence (TDV).  The data for the current study were drawn from the baseline surveys of a cluster-randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of the Dating Matters®: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships initiative. Surveys were administered to 2,895 middle school students (6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades) in Alameda County, CA (Oakland); Baltimore, MD; Broward County, FL (Fort Lauderdale); and Chicago, IL.  Those who reported having dated (n= 1,673; 58%) were included in analyses.  The sample was 52.3% female and racially diverse (48.2% non-Hispanic Black/African-American, 38.2% Hispanic, 4.8% non-Hispanic White, and 7.6% other race). The following types of TDV perpetration were assessed: threatening behaviors, verbal/emotional abuse, relational abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and stalking. Of those students who reported having dated in their lifetimes, over three-quarters (77%) reported perpetrating verbal/emotional abuse, while almost a third (32%) reported perpetrating physical abuse.  Other forms had lower percentages of reports of perpetration; for example, 20% reported threatening a partner, 15% reported perpetrating sexual abuse, 13% reported perpetrating relational abuse, and 6% reported stalking. Although boys were more likely to report perpetrating sexual abuse, girls were more likely to report perpetrating threatening behaviors, verbal/emotional abuse, and physical abuse. Associations between cognitive and behavioral risk factors and the different forms of TDV were tested with logistic regression, and were tested separately for boys and girls. Involvement in bullying was positively associated with perpetration of multiple forms of TDV, although in different ways for boys and girls. Alcohol use and sex initiation were associated with multiple forms of TDV perpetration for boys. Weapon carrying and emotional symptoms were associated with several forms of TDV perpetration for girls.   Results indicate that teen dating violence and other cognitive and behavioral risk factors that are often addressed by other intervention programs (e.g., bullying, substance use, risky sex) are associated, although these associations appear to differ for boys and girls. Comprehensive prevention programs, such as Dating Matters, that target TDV and related risk factors, seem warranted.