Violencia psicológica en el noviazgo: análisis de las redes semánticas de estudiantes universitarios argentinos / Psychological Violence during Courtship: Analysis of the Semantic Networks of Argentine University Students

Resumen En la actualidad, la violencia psicológica (VP) en las relaciones de noviazgo es un fenómeno prevalente. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar y comprender las redes de significados acerca de la VP en el noviazgo según los estudiantes de la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad del Aconcagua a través del software ATLAS.ti. Es una investigación cualitativa, estudio descriptivo, con un diseño fenomenológico en una muestra intencional de estudiantes universitarios argentinos. Participaron un total de 153 estudiantes de 1º y 4º año, de ambos sexos, con una edad promedio de 22 años (rango de 18 a 25) que hubieran mantenido alguna relación de noviazgo. La técnica utilizada fue el grupo focal y se usó el software ATLAS.ti para el análisis de los datos. Se obtuvieron cuatro líneas temáticas: Diferencias entre VP y violencia física, Emociones de la VP en el noviazgo, Conductas en la VP en el noviazgo y Consecuencias en futuras relaciones. Se concluye que la VP es considerada como más dañina, que pasa desapercibida y se naturaliza. Angustia, culpa y miedo son algunas de las emociones que provoca la VP, y la manipulación, el maltrato y el control algunas de las conductas que manifiestan VP en el noviazgo. Como consecuencias en futuras relaciones, destacan el miedo y el establecimiento de nuevas relaciones de pareja similares. Urge diseñar programas de prevención temprana para minimizar el impacto de sus consecuencias, fomentando el amor y el respeto en las relaciones entre jóvenes.

Abstract Introduction: Psychological violence (PSV) in dating relationships is currently prevalent. Objective: Analyze and understand the networks of meanings of PSV in the dating of students from the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Aconcagua by means of the ATLAS.ti software. Method: Qualitative research, descriptive study, with a phenomenological design in an intentional sample of university students from Argentina. A total of 153 students from 1st and 4th year, of both sexes, with an average age of 22 years (range of 18 to 25) who would have had some relationship. The instrument used was the focus group and the ATLAS.ti software was used to analyze the data. Results: Four thematic lines were obtained: Differences between PSV and physical violence, Emotions of PSV in courtship, PSV behaviors in in courtship and Consequences in future relationships. Conclusions: PSV was considered more harmful, unnoticed, and naturalized. Distress, guilt, and fear are some of the emotions that PSV provokes; and manipulation, abuse, and control are some of its behaviors. As consequences in future relationships the fear of the establishing new relationships with a similar partner stands out. There is an urgent need to design early prevention programs to minimize the impact of their consequences, fostering love and respect in relationships between young people.

Relationship Dynamics and Abusive Interactions in a National Sample of Youth and Young Adults.

Stemming intimate partner violence among adults demands earlier education and skill-building supportive of healthy youth and young adult dating relationships. The current U.S.-based study examines a spectrum of youth and young adult relationship dynamics (RDs), inclusive of abusive interactions. In a nationally representative cohort of youth aged 10-18 at baseline and one parent or caregiver, survey responses regarding RDs from 618 participants ages 15-23 at wave 5 follow-up were analyzed. Latent class analysis of four positive dynamics, six problematic dynamics, and three scales of adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) were estimated, yielding four latent profiles of dating RDs. Relationships characterized by Unhealthy and Intense RDs both exhibited high probability of ARA but differed from each other in terms of other positive and problematic dynamics. Relationships characterized by Disengaged RDs had lower probability of ARA but elevated probability of awkward communications, negative feelings, social liability, and other challenging dynamics. Several baseline covariates were significantly associated with profiles of dating RDs approximately 5 years later. Younger participants were more likely to subsequently fall in an Intense or Disengaged RDs profile, as were participants with baseline emotional health problems. Further, classification in the Unhealthy RDs profile was less likely for participants reporting a better baseline relationship with their parents and more likely for those exposed to violence in childhood. These findings suggest that in addition to developmental maturity, youth and young adults would benefit from closer investigation and processing of past emotional and relational issues and traumas to foster healthier dating relationships.

School-based interventions for preventing dating and relationship violence and gender-based violence: A systematic review and synthesis of theories of change.

School-based interventions for preventing dating and relationship violence (DRV) and gender-based violence (GBV) are an important way of attempting to prevent and reduce the significant amount of DRV and GBV that occurs in schools. A theoretical understanding of how these interventions are likely to cause change is essential for developing and evaluating effectiveness, so developing an overarching theory of change for school-based interventions to prevent DRV and GBV was the first step in our systematic review. Theoretical data were synthesised from 68 outcome evaluations using methods common to qualitative synthesis. Specifically, we used a meta-ethnographic approach to develop a line-of-argument for an overarching theory of change and Markham and Aveyard's (2003, Social Science & Medicine, 56, 1209) theory of human functioning and school organisation as a framework for structuring the concepts. The overall theory of change generated was that by strengthening relationships between and among staff and students, between the classroom and the wider school, and between schools and communities, and by increasing students' sense of belonging with student-centred learning opportunities, schools would encourage student commitment to the school and its values, prosocial behaviour and avoidance of violence and aggression. The theory of human functioning informed our understanding of the mechanisms of action but from our analysis we found that it required refinement to address the importance of context and student agency.

Narrative stories of high risk sexual behaviors among adolescents in Makassar City.

Background: Dating behavior by some Indonesian adolescents is against the social norms of the society, showing moral gaps and psychosocial unconventionality. Several challenges emanate from this issue, including risk behavior-sexual intercourse. This research aims to describe the adolescents' risk behavior-sexual intercourse in Makassar City. Design and Methods: The study uses a narrative qualitative approach with a criterion sampling technique. Three adolescents who participated in this research: two males and one female, between 17 and 19 years of age. The data are obtained through an in-depth interview based on the guideline from to Adolescent Health and Development Questionnaire by Jessor. Results: The result shows that risk behavior such as premature sexual intercourse is caused by high risk factors, including behavior, opportunity, models, and vulnerability risks. The moderator effect of protection form protective factors, such as behavior, controls, models protection and supports protections toward risk factors, play less significant roles in minimizing the possibility of indulging in risk behavior in sexual intercourse and in dating. Conclusions: The risk of sexual intercourse starts from dating, which leads to sexual intercourse. Additionally, this issue is also attributed to the risk and protective factors, affecting preparation for adulthood, personal development, and health.

Youth and young adult dating relationship dynamics and subsequent abusive outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: In order to prevent youth and young adult partner abuse, it is necessary to have a better understanding of dating relationship dynamics as the context for potential abusive interactions. METHODS: Youth and young adults (ages 10-18 at baseline) were surveyed along with a matched parent/caregiver. Data, including parent and youth responses (n = 437 youth/parent dyads), are drawn from the nationally representative Survey on Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence (STRiV). RESULTS: Applying latent class analytic techniques with seven different positive and problematic descriptors of dating relationships, this study found four classes of relationship dynamics representing healthy, unhealthy, intense, and disengaged relationships. The intense relationship dynamic class exhibits the strongest associations with reports of any youth and young adult partner abuse, as well as distinctly with the subtypes of psychological, physical, and sexual victimization and perpetration. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate the importance of clinicians, parents and other responsible adults attending to an array of youth and young adult dating relationship dynamics rather than single indicators, to assess youth and young adult risk for involvement in abusive relationships.

'Youth's Conflict Resolution Strategies in their Dating Relationships'.

Youth can experience conflicts with their dating partner and then need strategies to solve such conflicts. Research is scarce regarding positive conflict resolution strategies in a dating context. Considering research on various interpersonal relationships (e.g. friendships, dating, marriage), the present study examined how dimensions of empathy, verbal skills and impulsivity can contribute to the use of positive conflict resolution strategies in dating relationships. The sample is made up of 813 youth attending secondary schools or a regional college (71.7% female, mean age = 18.9, age range 14.2-24.9). They completed self-administered questionnaires investigating positive conflict resolution strategies, as well as dimensions of empathy (i.e., fantasy, perspective-taking, empathic concern, and personal distress), verbal skills (similarities and figurative language) and impulsivity (positive urgency, negative urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking). The results reveal sex differences and developmental improvements on several factors. The findings showed that specific dimensions of empathy and verbal skills foster the use of positive conflict resolution strategies whereas specific dimensions of impulsivity and one dimension of empathy hamper it. Both sexes shared a common correlate: the propensity toward perspective-taking fostered the use of positive conflict resolution strategies. In addition to highlighting correlates of positive conflict resolution strategies in dating relationships, this study can contribute to programs dedicated to the promotion of healthy dating relationships among adolescents and emerging adults.

A Qualitative Exploration of Date Rape Survivors' Physical and Psycho-Social Experiences in a Nigerian University.

Date rape (DR) is a serious but under-recognized public health problem that affects female university undergraduates. The burden of the problem in Nigerian universities is, however, yet to be fully investigated. The study was designed to explore the physical and psycho-social experiences of DR female survivors at the University of Ibadan. The study was qualitative in nature and involved eight consenting DR survivors. A pre-tested In-Depth Interview (IDI) guide that included questions relating to survivors' personal profile, context of DR experienced, factors that promoted survivors' vulnerability, reported adverse health consequences, help-seeking behaviors, and effects of the rape episode on dating relationship was used to facilitate the conduct of the narrative interview. The interviews were conducted in accordance to the protocol approved by the Joint University of Ibadan and University College Hospital Ethics Review Committee, and were taped-recorded and subjected to content analysis. Participants' mean age was 17.3 ± 2.3 years. All the participants were teenagers when they were first raped. Coercive and deceptive means were used to perpetrate the act of rape. Participants' use of verbal appeals, crying, and physical resistance to prevent being raped proved abortive. The experienced adverse physical health consequences included vaginal bleeding and injury. Major psycho-social effects of the experienced DR included self-blame, depression, hatred for men, and suicidal feelings. DR experiences occurred mainly in isolated settings, and most participants could not seek for medical help and other forms of care due to fear of being stigmatized. Some of the DR survivors continued their dating relationships when apologies were tendered by the perpetrators. DR is a traumatic experience, which is characterized by physical and psycho-social adverse effects. DR survivors, however, rarely seek for help as a result of the fear of being stigmatized. Multiple behavioral change interventions are needed to address the phenomenon.

Number of Siblings During Childhood and the Likelihood of Divorce in Adulthood.

Despite fertility decline across economically developed countries, relatively little is known about the social consequences of children being raised with fewer siblings. Much research suggests that growing up with fewer siblings is probably positive, as children tend to do better in school when sibship size is small. Less scholarship, however, has explored how growing up with few siblings influences children's ability to get along with peers and develop long-term meaningful relationships. If siblings serve as important social practice partners during childhood, individuals with few or no siblings may struggle to develop successful social lives later in adulthood. With data from the General Social Surveys 1972-2012, we explore this possibility by testing whether sibship size during childhood predicts the probability of divorce in adulthood. We find that, among those who ever marry, each additional sibling is associated with a three percent decline in the likelihood of divorce, net of covariates.

Relationship Characteristics Associated with Teen Dating Violence Perpetration.

Teen dating violence (TDV) is unstable across dating relationships, suggesting that characteristics of the relationship could be related to TDV. Few empirical studies have examined these links. This study examined associations between relationship characteristics and TDV perpetration among teens and sex differences in those associations. Relationship characteristics examined include tactics used to manipulate partners; ways of responding to relationship problems; relationship duration; exclusivity of the relationship; age difference between partners; and history of sexual intercourse with partner. Data were drawn from 667 teens in a current relationship (62.5% female and 81.4% white) enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade in 14 public schools in a rural US state. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses examined proposed associations. 30.1% and 8.2% of teens reported controlling and physical TDV perpetration, respectively. In multivariable models, frequent use manipulation tactics increased risk for controlling or physical TDV perpetration. Teens dating a partner two or more years younger were at significantly increased risk for both controlling and physical perpetration. A significant interaction emerged between sex and exit/neglect accommodation for physical TDV. Characteristics of a current dating relationship play an important role in determining risk for controlling and physical TDV perpetration.

Romantic Relationship Experiences of Adolescents and Young Adults: The Role of Mothers' Relationship History.

With most current studies focusing on the snapshot of family structure and offspring relationship outcomes, this study examined how children's exposure to mothers' cumulative relationship history affected the likelihood of their own romantic involvement in adolescence and relationship frequency from adolescence to young adulthood. Using a large, nationally representative dataset, this study found that the number of mothers' relationship transitions was positively associated with both the likelihood of romantic involvement among adolescent children and relationship frequency their children had from adolescence to young adulthood. Further, the association between mothers' relationship transitions and young adults' relationship frequency was mediated by mother-adolescent relationship closeness and young adults' attitude towards marriage and relationships. Finally, an interaction between mother-adolescent relationship closeness and adolescent gender on young adults' relationship frequency was found.

Adolescent interpersonal violence: implications for health care professionals.

Violence involvement is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adolescents. This review provides a summary of the burden of adolescent violence and violence-related behavior, risk, and protective factors for violence outcomes. The importance of screening for violence involvement in the primary care setting and examples of online resources to support providers in advocating, assessing, and intervening on behalf of youth are also reviewed. The article draws attention to bullying and dating/relationship violence, not as new forms of violence-related behavior, but as behaviors with health outcomes that have recently received increased attention.

The impacts of marriage, cohabitation and dating relationships on weekly self-reported physical activity in Germany: a 19-year longitudinal study.

Despite the increasing number of non-marital romantic relationships in developed countries, little is known about their effects on health-related behaviors. This paper examined the impact of relationship status (single, dating, cohabiting or married) on physical activity. Three possible mechanisms underlying this association were discussed: social control and support by the partner, time restrictions and the release from the marriage market. Data were obtained from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP), a random sample of individuals living in private households in Germany. Both random-effects and fixed-effects logit models were estimated. The random-effects analyses referred to 30,201 individuals and the fixed-effects analyses referred to 11,568 individuals who were observed for up to 19 years. After adjusting for age, measurement period and the presence of children, fixed-effects estimates showed reduced physical activity for each type of relationship for both men and women. The effects were strongest for married couples and weakest for dating couples, and remained similar after controlling for discretionary time. However, the effects found partly depended on age: for men, the negative impacts of cohabitation and marriage on physical activity became weaker with increasing age and shifted to positive impacts. For women, the negative effect of marriage on physical activity also decreased but stayed negative into old age. The results suggest that the release from the marriage market may cause the negative effects of relationships on physical activity. Social support and social control may play a role in older age, whereas the amount of discretionary time seems to be of minor importance for explaining relationship effects on physical activity. If the results will be validated by other studies there will be valuable implications for health promotion programs.