Cross-gender Violence Perpetration and Victimization Among Early Adolescents and Associations with Attitudes Toward Dating Conflict

Byline: Michael Windle (1), Sylvie Mrug (2) Keywords: Dating violence; Disruptive behaviors; Gender differences; Peer deviance; Parenting Abstract: This study examined gender differences in cross-gender violence perpetration and victimization (ranging from mild, e.g., push, to severe, e.g., assault with a knife or gun) and attitudes toward dating conflict, among an urban sample of 601 early adolescents (78% African-American). Comparisons across gender groups for cross-gender (e.g., female-to-male) violence perpetration and victimization indicated higher levels of perpetration for girls and higher levels of victimization for boys. Girls also reported higher levels of verbal and physical violence toward partners with regard to attitudes toward dating conflict. A path model was specified and indicated that cross-gender violence perpetration, harsh parenting, peer deviance, low family income, and neighborhood hazards accounted for significant variation in attitudes toward dating conflict. Findings were discussed regarding the need to identify developmental precursors of dating violence in early adolescence and to focus prevention efforts on components (e.g., social skills, coping strategies) necessary to prevent the onset and escalation of adolescent dating violence. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Room 520, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA (2) Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 415 Campbell Hall, Birmingham, AL, USA Article History: Registration Date: 02/08/2008 Received Date: 19/06/2008 Accepted Date: 01/08/2008 Online Date: 19/08/2008