Individual, Peer, and Family Factors Influencing Urban African American Adolescents’ Responses to Problem Dating Situations

Abstract

A clear understanding of factors influencing adolescents' responses to problem dating situations is needed to guide efforts to promote healthy dating relationships and address issues such as emotional distress, conflict, and violence in dating contexts. This study used qualitative methods guided by a socio-ecological model to identify factors at the individual-level and those within adolescents' peer and family relationships that influenced their use of specific strategies (active, avoidant, supportseeking, or aggressive) in response to problem dating situations. Interviews were conducted with 38 African American middle and high school students in an urban public school system. Participants identified nine themes that would make it easier for them to engage in their best response strategies to deal with problem dating situations. These included four individual-level factors (e.g., individual characteristics and adolescents' confidence in their ability to address dating problems), three peer factors (e.g., supportive advice from peers), and two family factors (e.g., support, advice, and messages about dating relationships from family members). Nine themes were identified that would make it harder for adolescents to engage in these responses including three individual-level factors (e.g., difficulty in regulating anger, anxiety, and sadness in dealing with dating problems), four peer factors (e.g., peer instigated conflict among dating partners), and two family factors (e.g., family involvement in adolescents' dating relationships). The results inform prevention efforts that focus on promoting healthy dating relationships during adolescence.

Relationship Contexts as Sources of Socialization: An Exploration of Intimate Partner Violence Experiences of Economically Disadvantaged African American Adolescents

“…Moreover, exposure to IPV in the intimate relationships of parents and peers has been found to be significantly associated with IPV among adolescents (Arriaga & Foshee, 2004;Sullivan, Masho, Helms, Erwin, Farrell, & Taylor, 2012). Despite this valuable research however, the scope of IPV socialization may be different among economically disadvantaged African American adolescents.…”

“…A better understanding of the relationship contexts adolescents see is critical for efforts to respond to the social and health needs of this population through development of culturally sensitive programming to strengthen prevention, intervention, and policy efforts to reduce rates of IPV and promote healthy adolescent dating relationships (BentGoodley, 2007;Sullivan et al, 2012). For instance, if these adolescents experience IPV among extended family members and siblings, interventions might focus on these additional contexts rather than only parents and peers as relationship models.…”

Influência dos Pares e Educação por Pares na Prevenção à Violência no Namoro

“…Sullivan et al (2012) identificaram os fatores que influenciam as respostas dos adolescentes diante de situações de problema no namoro, considerando aspectos individuais, familiares e relativos aos pares, ao entrevistar 38 jovens, 23 meninas e 15 meninos. Os autores argumentam que esses diferentes fatores podem servir de suporte e/ou barreiras, tornando mais fácil ou mais difícil a resolução de problemas no namoro.…”

“…No que tange os fatores relacionados aos pares, os adolescentes abordaram o aconselhamento de apoio dos pares, a vontade dos pares para se envolver em problemas de namoro e a observação das relações de namoro dos pares. Na esfera familiar, observou-se suporte, conselhos e mensagens sobre relacionamentos de membros da família, os quais são tidos como modelos para os adolescentes (Sullivan et al, 2012).…”

“…A influên-cia dos pares se fez presente em mensagens confusas ou conselhos não apoiadores, conflitos entre parceiros no namoro instigados por pares, agressão baseada nos pares, normas de namoro dos pares e modelos de relações de namoro. No que diz respeito à família, os adolescentes evidenciaram a percepção de falta de apoio ou aconselhamentos inúteis de membros da família, além do envolvimento familiar nas relações de namoro (Sullivan et al, 2012).…”