Parental responses to youths' reports of teen dating violence: Recommendations from parents and youth

Abstract

Parental responses to teen dating violence (TDV) can influence children's behaviors. This qualitative study presents findings from focus groups analyzing parental responses to TDV. Thirty‐one parents and 55 teens, recruited from local family service agencies located in southwestern part of the country, participated in separate focus groups that presented dating violence scenarios. Focus group results indicated that parents and teens both urge communication that included parents asking questions, educating the teen, sharing their personal experiences, and giving teens advice. Parental and teens' comments also focused on the importance of protecting teens, providing support for teens, refraining from overreacting and offering counseling services. Parents, more than teens, stressed the importance of educating teens; teens, more than parents, stressed the importance of parents supporting and providing comfort to teens while refraining from overreacting and yelling. Implications for programming with parents and future research are included.

Points of View of Chilean Adolescents about Asking for Help and Suggestions to Prevent Dating Violence Based on an Ecological Systems Theory

“…This study, which focused on adolescents and their environment, explored factors associated with seeking help and accepting it, as well as concrete suggestions Open Journal of Social Sciences for DV prevention strategies in multiple settings. The results show that the actions to be undertaken must therefore target several levels of intervention and favor multi-component programs; these suggestions by the participants of the current study are consistent with the recommendations resulting from other consulted studies (Black & Preble, 2016;Fox et al, 2014;Rothman et al, 2015;Rothman et al, 2019). In summary, the participants identified friends and parents as more common sources from whom to seek help than teachers and health professionals.…”

“…Prevention should be aimed at adolescents and people close to them (friends, parents, and teachers). Likewise, several studies raise the importance of intervening in the early stages and over the long-term, and focusing on children by providing content adapted to the age of the participants (Underwood & Rosen, 2009), as well as on the central role of parents in prevention (Black & Preble, 2016;Rothman, Miller, Terpeluk, Glauber, & Randel, 2011). In Open Journal of Social Sciences addition, all types of violence should be considered: psychological, physical, and sexual (Fox, Hale, & Gadd, 2014).…”

Who, When, How, and Why Bystanders Intervene in Physical and Psychological Teen Dating Violence

“…Moreover, this review did not include articles that described intervening behaviors by adults or parents. There is an emerging literature base regarding the role of parents in response to dating abuse that is also important for future bystander intervention development (Black & Preble, 2016). This review intentionally included studies that provided both qualitative and quantitative data as well as data collected pre- and postintervention.…”

Feasibility and Acceptability of Engaging Significant Adults in Youth Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention Work

“…Beyond the role of parents, youth who develop supportive relationships with other adults in their community such as through afterschool activities, show enhanced well-being (Oosterhoff et al, 2017). Specific to RSV, qualitative studies describe parents' concerns about dating violence, as well as both caregiver and youth perceptions of the need for more communication about RSV (Black & Preble, 2016;Corona et al, 2016;Gonzalez-Guarda et al, 2014). Parental support and positive relationship quality are protective factors for dating violence victimization and perpetration in recent meta-analyses (Spencer et al, 2020;Spencer et al, 2019).…”