Prevalence and correlates of dating violence in a national sample of adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
Dating violence is an important but understudied public health concern in adolescents. This study sought to examine the lifetime prevalence of serious forms of dating violence in 12- to 17- year-olds, risk and protective factors associated with dating violence, and the relation between dating violence and mental health.


METHODS
A nationally representative sample of adolescents (N = 3,614) completed a telephone-based interview that assessed serious forms of dating violence (i.e., sexual assault, physical assault, and/or drug/alcohol-facilitated rape perpetrated by a girlfriend, boyfriend, or other dating partner).


RESULTS
Prevalence of dating violence was 1.6% (2.7% of girls, 0.6% of boys), equating to approximately 400,000 adolescents in the U.S. population. Risk factors included older age, female sex, experience of other potentially traumatic events, and experience of recent life stressors. Findings also suggested that dating violence is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive episode after controlling for demographic variables, other traumatic stressors, and stressful events.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that dating violence is a significant public health problem in adolescent populations that should be addressed through early detection, prevention, and intervention.
Wolitzky-Taylor
Kate B
KB
The authors are with the Medical University of South Carolina. Electronic address: kwolitzky@mail.utexas.edu.
Ruggiero
Kenneth J
KJ
The authors are with the Medical University of South Carolina.
Danielson
Carla Kmett
CK
The authors are with the Medical University of South Carolina.
Resnick
Heidi S
HS
The authors are with the Medical University of South Carolina.
Hanson
Rochelle F
RF
The authors are with the Medical University of South Carolina.
Smith
Daniel W
DW
The authors are with the Medical University of South Carolina.
Saunders
Benjamin E
BE
The authors are with the Medical University of South Carolina.
Kilpatrick
Dean G
DG
The authors are with the Medical University of South Carolina.
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012940:Social Problems / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*