title: Violence in young adolescents' relationships: a path model.
abstract: A structural equation model based on social cognitive theory was used to predict relationship violence from young adolescents' knowledge, self-efficacy, attitudes, and alternative conflict strategies (n = 143 male and 147 female grade 7-9 students). A direct causal effect was supported for violence-tolerant attitudes and psychologically aggressive (escalation/blame) strategies on physical violence against dating partners and friends. Knowledge and self-efficacy contributed to using reasoning-based strategies, but this reduced violence only in boys' friendships. Knowledge reduced violence-tolerant attitudes, thus reducing escalation/ blame and physical violence. Attitudes toward male and female dating violence (ATMDV and ATFDV) were indicators of general attitudes toward violence among non-dating students but ATFDV affected physical violence and ATMDV affected psychological aggression for both dating boys and girls.
authors.affiliation: University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. w.josephson@uwinnipeg.ca
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.forename: Jocelyn B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Proulx
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003068:Coercion; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires