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Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Sandra M. Stith and Amber Vennum / Ending a college dating relationship is common as college coeds begin trying on romantic relationships for size. Ending the relationship because the relationship has become violent can add more complexities to an already unpleasant task. This study was an attempt to better understand the stay/leave decisions for college women who were victims of dating violence and whether or not these decisions differed for college women who were involved in violent versus non-violent dating relationships. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the factors that influenced the likelihood of female college students’ dating relationships to end using Choice and Lamke’s (1999) two-part decision-making model. In summary, victims reported greater relationship distress, less attraction towards someone other than their partner, less relationship safety, lower relationship efficacy, less social support, and fewer good friends than non-victims. Results also indicated that college women’s consideration of “Will I be better off?” was more important in the decision to leave a dating relationship than their perception of “Can I do it?” In addition, results from Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) modeling found that, while victims believed they were more likely to be better off leaving their violent, dating partners, they felt less able to actually leave the relationship than their non-victim counterparts. MIMIC modeling also found that being a victim or not of dating violence did not predict breakup directly. These findings have important implications for prevention and treatment of dating violence and can be used to further the research in the area of dating violence, college students, and stay/leave decisions.

The role of pregnant adolescents as perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) is not well understood. Socioecological factors associated with IPV (physical assault and injury, and psychological aggression) perpetrated by pregnant adolescents and the association between IPV and attitudes toward the use of physical punishment to discipline children were examined among 246 pregnant adolescents. Pregnant adolescents were more likely to report perpetrating both physical assault (24%) and psychological aggression (52.7%) than being the recipient (12.2% and 38.6%, respectively) and having been physically injured (7%) than inflicting injury (4.1%). Risk factors for perpetrating physical assault included prior assault by partner, being African American, exposure to community violence, being in trouble with the police, and multiple lifetime drug use. IPV perpetrators had more favorable attitudes toward the use of physical punishment. Interventions should address IPV and parenting attitudes in young couples to maximize the health and safety of both mother and unborn child.

Teen dating violence is more prevalent among African Americans than any other racial group in the United States leading to serious health consequences for victims. However, limited data exists on how African American adolescents' attitudes and perceptions regarding dating violence are formed, and whether they are influenced by family members. The purpose of this nonexperimental correlational study was to determine whether nonverbal or verbal communication from family members predicted adolescents' attitudes and perceptions toward dating violence. Survey data from 84 African American men and women ages 18 to 24 were collected using the Normative Beliefs About Aggression Scale, the Acceptance of Couple Violence Scale, the Revised Family Communication Patterns Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. Although past studies have shown that communication related to dating violence is important because it is essential to adolescents understanding and finding ways of coping with violence, this study could not confirm that conversation orientation, conformity orientation, discussion of dating violence, conversation types, facial expressions, hand gestures, and direct verbal communication were significant predictors of approval of aggression. In future research, conducting a mixed methods study or using a larger age range could provide more understanding about adolescents' attitudes and perceptions related to dating violence. Additionally, research on behaviors outside of the modes of communication measured in this study, is warranted. This study contributes to social change by helping to fill a gap in the research literature pertaining to African American teen dating violence and attitudes toward approval of aggression. Future researchers can use the results of this study to help formulate new research on this topic.

Intimate Partner Violence continues to be a significant social problem in South Africa, requiring a systematised and effective response at multiple levels. The organisation at the centre of this research offers crisis intervention to victims of intimate partner violence, providing basic psychological support, legal information and referrals. The volunteer crisis interventionists are exposed to numerous in-depth accounts of violent and distressing victimisation, making them more vulnerable to vicarious traumatisation. Through this work, their prior assumptions about personal safety, the trustworthiness of other people, and basic justice in the world, are challenged. The challenge to these assumptions increases the likelihood of countertransference victim blaming responses, as it is often easier to hold the client responsible for the tragic event than for the support worker to transform their own assumptions about safety and justice. This victim blaming response is supported by the dominant patriarchal ideology which frequently seeks to maintain the systems of oppression, excusing the perpetrator and placing responsibility on the victim. It was therefore clear that in order to do this work effectively, volunteers needed to be trained to identify their countertransference reactions and emotional responses, as well as undergo a critical re-assessment of their ideas relating to intimate partner violence and victimisation. Using an Intervention Research paradigm, this research designed and developed a training programme based on transformative learning theory, moving away from traditional information models of training to a focus on emotional skills and critical self-insight. The phases of the intervention refined the intervention in order to ensure that the research objectives were met and that the programme could be easily replicated. The evaluation of each phase showed an increased capacity for critical insight, and evidence for a transformative shift in the trainees understanding and approach to intimate partner violence.

Bakgrund: Världshälsoorganisationen, WHO klassar våld i nära relation som ett globalt folkhälsoproblem som drabbar mer än en tredjedel av kvinnor runt om i världen. Trots att mycket forskning pekar på att kvinnor i åldern 16-24 är en särskilt utsatt grupp för våld i nära relation, är våld som förekommer i ungas parrelationer relativt ouppmärksammat i Sverige. Forskning visar vidare att unga ofta har en bristfällig kunskap i att definiera vilka beteenden som är lämpliga och våldsamma i en parrelation. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att kvantitativt undersöka förekomst av våld i ungas parrelationer samt genom fokusgrupper att undersöka unga tjejers attityder till våld i ungas parrelationer. Metod: För att undersöka förekomst av våld i ungas parrelationer användes tvärsnittsdata från en nationell kartläggning om våld mot barn. För att undersöka de unga tjejernas attityder till våld i ungas parrelationer användes en kvalitativ ansats och åtta tjejer i åldrarna 15-16 intervjuades i tre fokusgrupper. Intervjuerna spelades in, transkriberades och analyserades därefter genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Resultaten från den kvantitativa undersökningen visade att det är vanligare att tjejer både är offer och förövare gällande fysiskt våld i sina parrelationer. Totalt uppgav 2,5 procent av tjejerna att de hade blivit slagna av en partner och respektive 1,1 procent av tjejerna uppgav att de hade slagit en partner. Motsvarande siffror för pojkarna var 0,9 procent respektive 0,2 procent. Resultaten visade också att tjejer i större utsträckning utsätts för sexuellt och fysiskt våld som kräver sjukvård i sina parrelationer än pojkar.Analysen av intervjumaterialet resulterade i två kategorier: Attityd och definition och vidare kategorin ”Möjligheter och utmaningar för stöd”. Kategorin ”Attityd och definition” lyfter de unga tjejernas definitioner av olika våldstyper samt vilka situationer de betraktar som förmildrande för att använda våld i en parrelation. Kategorin ”Möjligheter och utmaningar för stöd” lyfter olika arenor unga söker sig till för att få stöd om de mår dåligt i sina parrelationer samt olika utmaningar som försvårar hjälpsökande ur en destruktiv parrelation. / Background: World Health Organization, WHO lists intimate partner violence as a global health problem affecting about a third of women around the world. Despite that a lot of research show that women in the ages of 16-24 are particularly vulnerable of being exposed to intimate partner violence, intimate partner violence that occur in adolescent relationships is relatively unattended in Sweden. Further research has shown that adolescent’s often lack knowledge about what constitutes appropriate and abusive behaviors in an intimate relationship. Aim: The aim of the study was to quantitatively examine the prevalence of dating violence among adolescent’s and by focus groups examine young girls attitudes towards dating violence among adolescent’s. Method: In order to examine prevalence of dating violence among adolescent’s cross-sectional data from a national survey about violence against children was used. To examine the young girl’s attitudes towards dating violence among adolescents a qualitative approach was used and eight girls aged 15-16 was interviewed using three focus groups. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and later analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Results: The results from the quantitative analysis showed that it is more common that girls are victims and perpetrators of physical violence in their intimate relationships. Totally 2,5 percent of the girls in the study had been hit by a partner and 1,1 percent of the girls reported that they had used physical violence against a partner. Corresponding numbers regarding the boys were 0,9 and 0,2 percent. The results also showed that girls to a greater extent are exposed to sexual and physical violence requiring health care in their intimate relationships than boys.The qualitative content analysis resulted in two categories: “Attitude and definition” and “Possibilities and challenger for support”. The category “Attitude and definition” raises the young girl’s definitions of different types of violence and which situations they consider to be mitigating for using violence in a relationship. The category “Possibilities and challenges for support” raise different arenas young girl’s reach for in order to get support if they feel bad in their relationships and also different challenges that prevent help searching from a destructive relationship.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The study investigated the phenomena of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in women in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumulanga, South Africa in order to develop coping guidelines. This is because, one in every four, or a quarter (25%) of all women in South Africa, are assaulted by their partners every week. The study adopted a qualitative approach utilising an exploratory, hermeneutic phenomenological research design. A non-probability sample of ten women, who were victims of IPV, was used. The theoretical framework for the study was Afrocentric theory. This framework was used so that the investigation was underpinned by truly African concepts. The study was conducted at Victim Empowerment Programmes in Mkhuhlu and Acornhoek, Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga Province. Semi-structured interviews were used as data collection instruments and analaysed using thematic analysis (TA). The following themes and sub-themes emerged out of the data: Theme 1: Understandings of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); Theme 2: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) experienced by participants; Theme 3: Reasons for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); Sub-theme 3.1: Alcohol as a facilitator of IPV; Sub-theme 3.2: Early parenthood as a facilitator of IPV; Sub-theme 3.3: Poverty as a facilitator of IPV and Sub-theme 3.4: Observed behaviour as a facilitator for IPV; Theme 4: The role of lobola/culture in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); Theme 5: What makes participants stay in abusive relationships (marriages) and Theme 6: Steps, or interventions, taken by participants in order to cope with Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Based on these findings it was recommended that a study of male perceptions towards IPV, and a nationwide study or studies on IPV, be carried out under the auspices of the Department of Social Development (DoS) and/or the Department of Health (DoH) with the help of relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Coping guidelines for women victims of IPV were developed out of the research findings.

The lifetime prevalence of alcohol in the United States is 8% and lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use is about 2-3%. Substance use is common among adolescents and polysubstance use is becoming a public health threat. The prevalence of adolescent physical dating violence was 8.2%, the prevalence of adolescent sexual violence was also 8.2% while the prevalence of dual adolescent physical and sexual violence was 2.6%. Compared to those who used only single substances, adolescents who did not use any substance were 60% less likely (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.24 – 0.74) to experience physical dating violence, 50% less likely (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.31 – 0.66) to experience sexual dating violence and 70% less likely (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.16– 0.69) to have experienced both physical and sexual dating violence. The prevalence of adolescent criminal arrests was 17.2%. Adolescents who combined select illicit drugs with alcohol were 1.7 times more likely to be arrested (OR = 1.66 ,95% CI = 1.49 – 1.85). Adolescents who used both select illicit drugs and marijuana were 1.5 times (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.46 – 1.65) more likely to be arrested than those who used only select illicit drugs. Also, adolescents who used all three substances (select illicit drugs, alcohol and marijuana) were 1.6 times (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.50 – 1.75) more likely to be arrested than those who used only select illicit drugs. The prevalence of weapon-related injuries was 7.4%. Adolescents who did not use substances were 50% less likely (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.29 – 0.75, p The odds of dating violence, criminal arrests and weapon-related were higher with polysubstance use than with either mono-substance or no substance use. Therefore, prevention of substance use may be beneficial in reducing these public health concerns.

Thesis (M.A. (Criminology and Criminal Justice)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / This study intended to explore Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) against women in the Seshego Zone 1 area, which is situated in the Polokwane Municipality of the Limpopo Province. The different types of IPV against women, the prevalence of IPV against women, the causes of IPV against women, the reasons for not reporting IPV against women, as well as the available measures taken to combat this scourge guided this study. This study followed a qualitative research approach, where 17 participants were purposively selected, and this was coupled with snowball sampling. Face-to-face in depth semi-structured interviews were utilised to collect data to explore the IPV against women. The collected data was analysed by means of Inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA). The responses were audio recorded and written down to add value to the study findings. Themes and sub-themes were solicited from the participants’ verbatim expressions. This study established that the rate of IPV against women cases are high and has been increasing during the period of study because the victims are not taken seriously when reporting. It was also confirmed that jealousy and poverty are the major causes of IPV against women in the area. The victims often fail to seek support and do not report to the police when the violence takes place. It was also evident that most people seem to lack exposure on the issues of IPV against women and the lack of economic and employment opportunities in the area hinder women empowerment against violence and this should be urgently addressed. This study recommends that the local police should learn to take the cases of IPV against women seriously so that the rate of violence can decrease and the victims of IPV against women should be able to identify the signs and prevalence of this practice to effectively prevent it. Moreover, the victims should be encouraged to report cases to the police, and they must demand progress reports on the cases. As a result, the women continue to suffer due to violence in the study area. Moreover, this study suggests that there must be local support groups for women who experience violence in the community to help in detailing the consequences of IPV against women. This should be aided by various awareness campaigns to alert men that IPV against women is a criminal offence, and it is punishable. The government should also support women to start small businesses to reduce full dependence on their partners, thereby reducing the risks of IPV.

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