“They’ll Always Find a Way to Get to You”: Technology Use in Adolescent Romantic Relationships and Its Role in Dating Violence and Abuse

Abstract

Electronic communication technology (ECT), such as mobile phones and online communication tools, is widely used by adolescents; however, the availability of such tools may have both positive and negative impacts within the context of romantic relationships. While an established literature has documented the nature, prevalence, and impact of traditional forms of adolescent dating violence and abuse (ADVA), limited empirical investigation has focused on the role of ECT in ADVA or what shall be termed technology-assisted adolescent dating violence and abuse (TAADVA) and how adolescents perceive the impact of TAADVA relative to ADVA. In this article, the authors explore the role ECT plays in adolescent romantic relationships and psychologically abusive and controlling ADVA behaviors and its perceived impact. An opportunity sample of 52 adolescents (22 males and 30 females) between the ages of 12 and 18 years participated in the study. One all-female and seven mixed-gendered semi-structured focus groups were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to identify three superordinate themes, including (a) perceived healthy versus unhealthy communication, (b) perceived monitoring and controlling communication, and (c) perceived impact of technology-assisted abuse compared with that in person. While ECTs had a positive impact on the development and maintenance of adolescent romantic relationships, such tools also provided a new avenue for unhealthy, harassment, monitoring, and controlling behaviors within these relationships. ECT was also perceived to provide unique impacts in terms of making TAADVA seem both less harmful and more harmful than ADVA experienced in person. Adolescents’ perceptions and experiences of ECT in romantic relationships and TAADVA may also vary be gender. Implications of the findings are discussed, and recommendations are made for future research.

Relations among Romantic Myths, Offline Dating Violence Victimization and Cyber Dating Violence Victimization in Adolescents

“…Their frequent use of the communication technologies in their romantic relationships increases the possibility of expressing affection to their partners and being linked to them [9,10]. However, these technologies can also be used to stalk, harass and control current or former partners [7,8,[11][12][13][14][15]. It is estimated that between 12% and 56% of adolescents have experienced cyber dating violence victimization [16].…”

“…Cyber DV victimization is considered qualitatively different from victimization via offline dating violence because victims of such violence can be constantly attacked and feel unable to escape the situation [4,5,7,8,12]. Easy access to victims, lack of geographical boundaries and the rapid dissemination of victims' denigrating or humiliating information are characteristics of this type of violence that make victims feel increasingly helpless, which negatively impacts their well-being [4,[6][7][8]11,13,[24][25][26]. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) allow prejudicial information and images about victims to quickly spread to a very large audience, constant monitoring of their activity on social networks, and contact with them anytime and from anywhere [14,19,27].…”

Understanding and contextualizing teen dating violence

“…19 A qualitative study with adolescents aged 12 to 18 years in the UK sought to explore the role of the use of technologies in their intimacy relationships. 20 These technologies can have a positive impact on the development and maintenance of relationships, but can provide a new pathway for unhealthy behaviors. They may also be perceived as less harmful than violence "in person".…”

“…They may also be perceived as less harmful than violence "in person". 20 Another US study with university students indicates that violence in intimate relationships lived in digital media is part of other violence. 21 In this sense, it alerts to the importance of describing these violence in the social contexts where they are experienced, in order to perceive where online experiences function as a "portent" of future violence.…”

Adolescents’ perceptions of digital media’s potential to elicit jealousy, conflict and monitoring behaviors within romantic relationships

“…This enables young people to control and monitor their partners more easily and with fewer restrictions (Van Ouytsel, Ponnet, et al, 2018). Qualitative research has also found that it is common for teenagers to share passwords at the beginning of a romantic relationship, as a sign of trust and commitment (Baker & Carreño, 2016;Bevan, 2017;Lucero et al, 2014), or that romantic partners demand each other's passwords (Stonard, Bowen, Walker, & Price, 2017). This can be an additional risk factor for online monitoring.…”