Youth's Experiences of Cyber Violence in Intimate Relationships: A Matter of Love and Trust.

Adolescents and young adults are particularly at risk of experiencing or perpetrating cyber dating violence (CDV) in their romantic relationships. However, it remains difficult to understand the motivations behind tolerating or perpetrating CDV in romantic relationships. Romantic attachment and beliefs may be an interesting avenue to explore among youth victims of CDV. The current study aims to 1) document the association between romantic attachment and CDV victimization and perpetration while controlling for age, gender and other forms of DV, and 2) explore beliefs youth attribute to the use of technology in their romantic relationships. A total of 332 self-identified heterosexual youth, with an age range of 14 to 25 years old, completed a survey. A subgroup of 14 youth who reported experiencing cyber dating violence also participated in a semi-structured interview. Logistic regressions were used to assess the contribution of romantic attachment (anxious and avoidant) to each form of CDV (stalking, psychological and sexual CDV) followed by a thematic analysis exploring beliefs about the use of technology in romantic relationships. Anxious attachment significantly predicted psychological CDV as well as stalking victimization and perpetration. Avoidant attachment significantly predicted psychological CDV victimization and perpetration as well as sexual CDV victimization. In their narratives, youth reported that controlling, monitoring, harassing behaviors, especially credentials sharing, constitute proof of love and trust rather than manifestations of CDV. The results support the relevance of developing tailored interventions based on attachment and romantic beliefs, which appears to be a promising avenue for preventing various forms of DV.

Adapting Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention Interventions to Victims of Child Sexual Abuse.

Considering the increased risk of revictimization, adolescents who have experienced child sexual abuse (CSA) are a priority subpopulation for the prevention of dating violence. Yet, intervention programs often focus on psychological symptomology associated with CSA; few tackle issues specific to relational violence. Addressing the relational traumatization of adolescents with a history of CSA is essential to prevent their revictimization. Given specific CSA sequelae related to intimacy and engagement in sexual behaviors, there is a need for tailoring interventions to boy and girl survivors. A case study of a group intervention designed for adolescent girls with a history of CSA was conducted. The context adaptation, based on intervention mapping proposed by Bartholomew and colleagues, served as a theoretical framework. Four steps were taken to ensure that the intervention addressed CSA youth needs: (a) needs assessment, (b) analysis of the conceptual framework of the original program, (c) selection of interventions and developing new interventions, and (d) validation with a committee of practitioners. This approach provided an understanding of risk factors and intervention priorities using the problem logic model. The original program was enhanced by adding four interventions addressing the prevention of dating violence. These interventions were then validated by practitioners before implementation in the setting. The approach underscores the relevance of understanding the needs of the clientele and of adopting a collaborative approach to ensure the proposed interventions are relevant.

A Typological Analysis of Help-Seeking Profiles in Youth and Associations with Victimization.

The need for autonomy and independence in adolescence is so fundamental that it can be difficult for youth to seek help when they experience difficulties. To date, few studies have documented profiles of help-seeking behavior according to victimization, gender, and perceived social support among adolescents and emerging adults. The aims of the study were to: (1) identify distinct help-seeking profiles according to gender, victimization experiences and perceived social support, and (2) illustrate the distinct profiles in light of the help-seeking experiences of participants. A total of 397 youth aged 14 to 25 years old completed a questionnaire; a subsample of 100 youth also participate in an individual semi-structured interview. Questions on dating violence and a history of child sexual abuse, help-seeking strategies, and perceived social support were administered. A significant proportion of respondents experienced child sexual abuse and reported dating violence experiences. Four clusters highlighting the diversity of help-seeking profiles among youth were identified: (1) Friend-oriented help-seekers; (2) Proactive help-seekers; (3) Formal help seekers; (4) Self-reliant youth. The results suggest that youth are more likely to rely on their friends for help and less likely to seek help from formal resources. Girls are more proactive than boys in help-seeking. Youth victims of psychological and physical dating violence are more likely to be classified in the self-reliant group while youth with a history of child sexual abuse were found in greater proportion in the friend-oriented group. Results underscore that perceived social support is associated with help-seeking behavior, and highlight the importance of addressing the reluctance of youth to reach for informal help, especially in youth who experienced dating violence. This study also underlines the relevance of bystander interventions to support youth who experienced dating violence or child sexual abuse.

"When You're in a Relationship, You Say No, but Your Partner Insists": Sexual Dating Violence and Ambiguity Among Girls and Young Women.

Sexual dating violence (DV) is highly prevalent and associated with deleterious outcomes. Unfortunately, this form of violence remains poorly understood. Furthermore, the measures used to assess sexual DV may not account for the various manifestations of sexual DV, which limits our understanding of this problem. This study aimed to (a) explore how girls and young women describe their experiences of sexual DV and (b) explore whether the taxonomy on intimate partner sexual violence developed by Bagwell-Gray and colleagues could be applicable to girls and young women's experiences of sexual DV. A total of 71 adolescent girls and young women who identified themselves as heterosexual were recruited. Sexual DV was assessed using an adapted version of the Sexual Experiences Survey, followed by a semistructured interview. Findings revealed that 29.6% of participants reported sexual DV victimization in the past 12 months. A direct content analysis was performed based on the taxonomy of Bagwell-Gray and colleagues. Four manifestations of sexual DV were illustrated from the youth's narratives: (a) sexual coercion, (b) sexual assault, (c) sexual abuse, and (d) forced sexual activities. Our results underscore the ambiguity of sexual consent and definition of sexual DV among adolescent girls and young women. This research further supports the necessity to develop and implement prevention programs that specifically target sexual DV in this population.

Meeting the needs of adolescent and emerging adult victims of sexual violence in their romantic relationships: A mixed methods study exploring barriers to help-seeking.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dating violence is highly prevalent within the context of intimate relationships but this form of violence remains understudied among teenagers and emerging adults. OBJECTIVES: To identify the specific needs of adolescents and emerging adults who reported sexual dating violence, this study aimed to document the: 1) prevalence of sexual DV; 2) perceived social support and help-seeking strategies; 3) facilitating factors and barriers. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A total 396 heterosexual youths and emerging adults (aged 14-25) participated in this study focussing on issues associated with romantic and sexual relationships, including experiences of victimization and help-seeking strategies. METHODS: This analysis relied on a mixed methods design. Sexual dating violence in the last 12 months was assessed using an adapted version of the Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss et al., 2007). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a subsample of 100 youths and emerging adults. RESULTS: Close to 30% of participants reported having experienced at least one episode of sexual dating violence in the past year. Participants could count on a friend and/or a parent but girls were more likely to seek help compared to boys. Effect sizes were moderate to small. Several barriers were identified, including, having to disclose intimate aspects of their personal life to a stranger. CONCLUSION: Given ambiguities regarding sexual consent and sexual violence within the context of an intimate relationship, victims expressed reluctance to get formal support. These findings support the relevance of exploring barriers and facilitators to help-seeking to improve access to services for adolescents and emerging adults who report sexual DV.