Physical Dating Violence Affects U.S. Teen Boys and Girls Equally, Study Shows

According to a study published in the American Public Health Association's 135th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., physical violence in the dating world among high school adolescents affects boys and girls equally in the United States, with an almost 1 in 10 rate. The study is part of a broad survey titled National Youth Risk Behavior Study.

There is a perception among people that women are generally the most affected gender in what is called Physical Dating Violence (PDV). This study demystifies this and finds that boys are also affected by PDV in an equal manner.

Presenters of this study said that according to the data of the National Youth Risk Behavior Study males and females have about the same rate of reporting such dating violence incidents. The study took a sample of almost 14000 young people (enrolled on grades 9 to 12). The y were almost 50 - 50% males - females.

A specific question was formulated there to explore if they have been subjected to physical dating violence. Among the young respondents who were males 9.0% answered Yes to the question while 9.2 per cent of the girls said YES. The question asked for any hitting, slapping, or physical hurting on purpose.

There was significant discovery during this study in addition to finding that men and women are equally affected by PDV. The study found that current sexual activity, alcohol use, physical fighting, sexual victimization and suicidal thoughts were factors that influence and can predict physical dating violence regardless of gender (both males and females equally affected).

However there were other issues that can be used to predict PDV in females but not males. That is the case of poor body image for females and illegal usage for males.

According to this study's results women who felt that their bodies were not as they wanted to be were more affected by PDV. The same goes for boys but related to drug use. Males who were drug users were more inclined to PDV.

The study has implications for medical personnel and social workers who deal with these issues especially at the school level. Having handy certain predictors such as the ones uncovered by this study it is possible to better asses certain relationships and counsel those people accordingly.

This study is flashing that counselors, parents and tutors should be aware of female adolescents with poor body image and male adolescents using illicit drugs. AS mentioned before these were shown as predictors of PDV so more attention could be paid to young people with this issues and prevent Physical Dating Violence.

Source:

Saba Masho, and Candace M. Hamm, 2007. Determinants of physical dating violence victimization among high school adolescents in the United States