Abuse in teen dating: A multi-factorial analysis of the association between child maltreatment and abuse in subsequent intimate relationships

The present study employed a theoretically-driven multi-factorial design in order to identify intermediary variables that affect the strength of the relationship between child maltreatment and subsequent violence in teenage dating relationships. Trends in adolescent dating aggression were further analysed through use of a prospective design. Adolescents in grades nine, ten or eleven at two high schools in London, Ontario (N = 450) completed questionnaires about experiences of violence in their family of origin, emotional adjustment, social functioning, and experiences with violence in their dating relationships. Students were re-surveyed three months later. Analysis of a structural equation model (SEM) of aggression in adolescent dating supported a model of intimate relationship violence in which emotional adjustment (i.e. interpersonal hostility, hyper-sensitivity, and trauma symptomotology) and interpersonal functioning (i.e. negative peer influences, need for interpersonal power and control, and overidentification with stereotypically masculine traits) mediated the relationship between violence in the family of origin and subsequent dating violence. This model provides support for the developmental and social learning perspectives on the association of child maltreatment on subsequent relationship violence. The investigation also indicated that adolescent dating violence is common, has a tendency to be mutual, continues throughout the length of each relationship, and carries over into new relationships. Analysis of the prospective data indicated that experience with dating violence had a small but significant impact on adolescents' feelings of interpersonal hostility 3 months later. Perpetration of dating violence also had a small but significant impact on self-perceived desire for interpersonal power and control. However, contrary to expectations, there were no discernible gender differences in the impact of dating violence on emotional well-being. Implications of the study for intervention and future research are discussed.