Teen Dating Violence and the Acceptability of a Safety Decision Aid: Perspectives of Puerto Rican Youth

Abstract

Introduction:

The purpose of this study was to describe Puerto Rican adolescents’ perspectives about an application “app” to prevent further injury from teen dating violence (TDV).

Methods:

We conducted three semistructured focus group interviews.

Results:

Participants (N = 16) were 14–20 years old. Most (63%) were not currently in a relationship; three participants reported a history of TDV, and seven reported that they “did not know” whether they had ever experienced TDV. We identified four themes: (a) clarifying dating violence, (b) psychological abuse–the reality of TDV, (c) silence around dating violence, and (d) youth need a different tool. Adolescents thought that the app was beneficial for educating the user about dating violence behaviors. They also identified that the app should be modified to better suit adolescents, in part by, focusing more on psychological abuse and using other visuals to relay information rather than text. Adolescents also questioned the utility of the app as a bystander because TDV is often concealed and not discussed.

Conclusion:

Puerto Rican adolescents in our study expressed the need for information that could be presented in a more concise and dynamic format and highlighted the cultural barriers of silence around issues of dating violence.

Keywords

adolescent health violence Latino populations technology

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Alvarez

Lameiras-Fernandez

Holliday

C. N.

Sabri

Campbell

(2018). Latina and Caribbean immigrant women’s experiences with intimate partner violence: A story of ambivalent sexism. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518777006

Ashley

O. S.

Foshee

V. A.

(2005). Adolescent help-seeking for dating violence: Prevalence, sociodemographic correlates, and sources of help. Journal of Adolescent Health, 36(1), 25–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2003.12.014

Bandura

Walters

R. H.

(1977). Social learning theory (Vol. 1). Prentice Hall.

Banyard

V. L.

Moynihan

M. M.

Plante

E. G.

(2007). Sexual violence prevention through bystander education: An experimental evaluation. Journal of Community Psychology, 35(4), 463–481. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20159

Black

B. M.

Tolman

R. M.

Callahan

Saunders

D. G.

Weisz

A. N.

(2008). When will adolescents tell someone about dating violence victimization? Violence Against Women, 14(7), 741–758. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801208320248

Black

D. S.

Sussman

Unger

J. B.

(2010). A further look at the intergenerational transmission of violence: Witnessing interparental violence in emerging adulthood. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25(6), 1022–1042. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260509340539

Campbell

J. C.

Webster

D. W.

Glass

(2009). The danger assessment: Validation of a lethality risk assessment instrument for intimate partner femicide. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24(4), 653–674. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260508317180

Centers for Disease Control. (2019). Youth online: High school YRBS—Puerto Rico 2019 results. https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=PR

Choi

H. J.

Weston

Temple

J. R.

(2017). A three-step latent class analysis to identify how different patterns of teen dating violence and psychosocial factors influence mental health. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46(4), 854–866. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0570-7

10.

Cohen

J. R.

Shorey

R. C.

Menon

S. V.

Temple

J. R.

(2018). Predicting teen dating violence perpetration. Pediatrics, 141(4), e20172790. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-2790

11.

Corbin

Strauss

(2014). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (4th ed.). Sage.

12.

Creswell

J. W.

Poth

C. N.

(2016). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.

13.

Debnam

K. J.

Kumodzi

(2019). Adolescent perceptions of an interactive mobile application to respond to teen dating violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518821455

14.

De La Rue

Polanin

J. R.

Espelage

D. L.

Pigott

T. D.

(2017). A meta-analysis of schoolbased interventions aimed to prevent or reduce violence in teen dating relationships. Review of Educational Research, 87(1), 7–34. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654316632061

15.

De La Rue

Polanin

J. R.

Espelage

D. L.

Pigott

T. D.

Wilson

S. J.

Grant

(2014). School-based interventions to reduce dating and sexual violence: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 10(1), 1–110. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654316632061

16.

Del Toro

V. R.

(2012). Ataduras en las dos costillas: Reflexiones e investigaciones sobre los asuntos, problemas y retos de las mujeres [Ties on both ribs: Reflections and research on women's issues, problems and challenges]. Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología (Puerto Rican Journal of Psychology) , 23(1), 9–30.

17.

Díaz

K. M.

(2010). Nivel de conocimiento de patrones de conductas violentas y relaciones de maltrato en el noviazgo de feminas adolescentes de 14-18 años de escuela superior [Level of knowledge about patterns of violent behaviors and abusive relationships in dating relationships of high school adolescent girls 14 - 18 years old]. Programa Graduado de la Escuela de Psicologia School of Psychology Graduate Program, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (Recinto Metropolitano).

18.

Exner-Cortens

Eckenrode

Rothman

(2013). Longitudinal associations between teen dating violence victimization and adverse health outcomes. Pediatrics, 131(1), 71–78. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-1029

19.

Fellmeth

G. L.

Heffernan

Nurse

Habibula

Sethi

(2013). Educational and skills-based interventions for preventing relationship and dating violence in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 9(1), i-124. https://doi.org/10.4073/csr.2013.14

20.

Foshee

V. A.

Reyes

H. L. M.

Ennett

S. T.

Suchindran

Mathias

J. P.

Karriker-Jaffe

K. J.

Bauman

K. E.

Benefield

T. S.

(2011). Risk and protective factors distinguishing profiles of adolescent peer and dating violence perpetration. Journal of Adolescent Health, 48(4), 344–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.07.030

21.

Fraser

M. W.

Galinsky

M. J.

(2010). Steps in intervention research: Designing and developing social programs. Research on Social Work Practice, 20(5), 459–466. https://doi.org/0.1177/1049731509358424

22.

Gallopin

Leigh

(2009). Teen perceptions of dating violence, help-seeking, and the role of schools. The Prevention Researcher, 16(1), 17–21. https://doi.org/10.1037/e515092009-004

23.

Garthe

R. C.

Sullivan

T. N.

McDaniel

M. A.

(2017). A meta-analytic review of peer risk factors and adolescent dating violence. Psychology of Violence, 7(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000040

24.

Gigantesco

Palumbo

Zadworna-Cies

Cascavilla

Del Re

Kossakowska

(2019). An international study of middle school students’ preferences about digital interactive education activities for promoting psychological well-being and mental health. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 55(2), 108–117.

25.

Glass

N. E.

Clough

Case

Hanson

Barnes-Hoyt

Waterbury

Alhusen

Ehrensaft

Grace

K. T.

Perrin

(2015). A safety app to respond to dating violence for college women and their friends: The myPlan study randomized controlled trial protocol. BioMed Central Public Health, 15(1), 871. https://doi.org//10.1186/s12889-015-2191-6

26.

Glass

N. E.

Perrin

N. A.

Hanson

G. C.

Bloom

T. L.

Messing

J. T.

Clough

A. S.

Campbell

J. C.

Gielen

A. C.

Case

Eden

K. B.

(2017). The longitudinal impact of an internet safety decision aid for abused women. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 52(5), 606–615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2016.12.014

27.

Gorman-Smith

Tolan

P. H.

Sheidow

A. J.

Henry

D. B.

(2001). Partner violence and street violence among urban adolescents: Do the same family factors relate? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 11(3), 273–295. https://doi.org/10.1111/1532-7795.00013

28.

Hecker

B. L.

Ajzen

(1983). Improving the prediction of health behavior: An approach based on the theory of reasoned action. Academic Psychology Bulletin, 5(1), 11–19.

29.

Jouriles

E. N.

Mueller

Rosenfield

McDonald

Dodson

M. C.

(2012). Teens’ experiences of harsh parenting and exposure to severe intimate partner violence: Adding insult to injury in predicting teen dating violence. Psychology of Violence, 2(2), 125. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027264

30.

Kann

McManus

Harris

W. A.

Shanklin

S. L.

Flint

K. H.

Queen

Lowry

Chyen

Whittle

Thornton

Lim

Bradford

Yamakawa

Leon

Brener

Ethier

K. A.

(2018). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2017. MMWR. Surveillance Summaries, 67(8), 1–114. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6708a1

31.

Karlsson

M. E.

Temple

J. R.

Weston

V. D.

(2016). Witnessing interparental violence and acceptance of dating violence as predictors for teen dating violence victimization. Violence Against Women, 22(5), 625–646. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215605920

32.

Kast

N. R.

Eisenberg

M. E.

Sieving

R. E.

(2016). The role of parent communication and connectedness in dating violence victimization among Latino adolescents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31(10), 1932–1955. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515570750

33.

Kervin

Obinna

(2010). Youth action strategies in the primary prevention of teen dating violence. Journal of Family Social Work, 13(4), 362–374. https://doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2010.492499

34.

Liang

Goodman

Tummala-Narra

Weintraub

(2005). A theoretical framework for understanding help-seeking processes among survivors of intimate partner violence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 36(1–2), 71–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-005-6233-6

35.

Malhotra

Gonzalez-Guarda

R. M.

Mitchell

E. M.

(2015). A review of teen dating violence prevention research: What about Hispanic youth? Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 16(4), 444–465. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838014537903

36.

Malik

Sorenson

S. B.

Aneshensel

C. S.

(1997). Community and dating violence among adolescents: Perpetration and victimization. Journal of adolescent health, 21(5), 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(97)00143-2

37.

Niolon

P. H.

Taylor

B. G.

Latzman

N. E.

Vivolo-Kantor

A. M.

Valle

L. A.

Tharp

A. T.

(2016). Lessons learned in evaluating a multisite, comprehensive teen dating violence prevention strategy: Design and challenges of the evaluation of dating matters: Strategies to promote healthy teen relationships. Psychology of violence, 6(3), 452. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000043

38.

Niolon

P. H.

Vivolo-Kantor

A. M.

Tracy

A. J.

Latzman

N. E.

Little

T. D.

DeGue

Lang

K. M.

Estefan

L. F.

Ghazarian

S. R.

McIntosh

W. L. K.

Taylor

Johnson

L. L.

Kuoh

Burton

Fortson

Mumford

E. A.

Nelson

S. C.

Joseph

Valle

L. A.

Tharp

A. T.

(2019). An RCT of dating matters: Effects on teen dating violence and relationship behaviors. American journal of preventive medicine, 57(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.02.022

39.

O’Campo

B. W.

Shelley

G. A.

Jaycox

L. H.

(2007). Latino teens talk about help seeking and help giving in relation to dating violence. Violence Against Women, 13(2), 172–189. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801206296982

40.

Oficina de La Procuradora de las Mujeres [Women's Advocate Office] (2018). Incidentes vs Muertes Reportadas Por Violencia Domestica desde el 2010 al 2018 [Incidents vs reported deaths from domestic violence from 2010 to 2018]. http://www.mujer.pr.gov/Estadísticas/ViolenciaDomestica/IncidentesvsMuertesVD2010-2018.pdf

41.

Policia de Puerto Rico [Puerto Rico Police]. (2016). Estadísticas de Violencia Doméstica [Statistics on domestic violence]. https://policia.pr.gov/estadisticas-de-violencia-domestica/

42.

Ranney

M. L.

Choo

E. K.

Spirito

Mello

M. J.

(2013). Adolescents’ preference for technology-based emergency department behavioral interventions: Does it depend on risky behaviors? Pediatric Emergency Care, 29(4), 475–481. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0b013e31828a322f

43.

Reen

G. K.

Muirhead

Langdon

D. W.

(2019). Usability of health information websites designed for adolescents: Systematic review, neurodevelopmental model, and design brief. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(4), e11584. https://doi.org/10.2196/11584

44.

Reyes

H. L. M.

Foshee

V. A.

Chen

M. S.

Ennett

S. T.

(2017). Patterns of dating violence victimization and perpetration among Latino youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46(8), 1727–1742. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0621-0

45.

Sabina

Cuevas

C. A.

Cotignola-Pickens

H. M.

(2016). Longitudinal dating violence victimization among Latino teens: Rates, risk factors, and cultural influences. Journal of Adolescence, 47, 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.11.003

46.

Sancassiani

Pintus

Holte

Paulus

Moro

M. F.

Cossu

Angermeyer

M. C.

Carta

M. G.

Lindert

(2015). Enhancing the emotional and social skills of the youth to promote their wellbeing and positive development: A systematic review of universal school-based randomized controlled trials. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health: CP & EMH, 11(Suppl. 1 M2), 21. https://doi.org/10.2174/1745017901511010021

47.

Sandelowski

(2010). What’s in a name? Qualitative description revisited. Research in Nursing & Health, 33(1), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.20362

48.

Schnurr

M. P.

Lohman

B. J.

(2008). How much does school matter? An examination of adolescent dating violence perpetration. Journal of youth and adolescence, 37(3), 266–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9246-7

49.

Schwandt

T. A.

Lincoln

Y. S.

Guba

E. G.

(2007). Judging interpretations: But is it rigorous? Trustworthiness and authenticity in naturalistic evaluation. New Directions for Evaluation, 2007(114), 11–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/ev.223

50.

Sosa-Rubi

S. G.

Saavedra-Avendano

Piras

Van Buren

S. J.

Bautista-Arredondo

(2017). True love: Effectiveness of a school-based program to reduce dating violence among adolescents in Mexico City. Prevention science, 18(7), 804–817. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0718-4

51.

Tharp

A. T.

(2012). Dating matters™: The next generation of teen dating violence prevention. Prevention Science, 13(4), 398–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-012-0307-0

52.

Van Nes

Abma

Jonsson

Deeg

(2010). Language differences in qualitative research: Is meaning lost in translation? European Journal of Ageing, 7(4), 313–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-010-0168-y

53.

Vargas-Ramos

(2018). Political crisis, migration and electoral behavior in Puerto Rico. Centro Journal, 30(3), 279–312.

54.

Villafañe-Santiago

Á.

Serra-Taylor

Jiménez-Chafey

M. I.

Irizarry-Robles

C. Y.

(2019). Family and intimate partner violence among Puerto Rican university students. Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología (Puerto Rican Journal of Psychology) , 30(1), 70–81.

55.

Weisz

A. N.

Black

B. M.

(2009). Help-seeking and help-giving for teen dating violence. The Prevention Researcher, 16(1), 12–17.

56.

Wellings

Branigan

Mitchell

(2000). Discomfort, discord and discontinuity as data: Using focus groups to research sensitive topics. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 2(3), 255–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/136910500422241

57.

Widom

C. S.

Wilson

H. W.

(2015). Intergenerational transmission of violence. In Lindert

Levav

(Eds.), Violence and mental health (pp. 27–45). Springer.

58.

Wolfe

D. A.

Crooks

Jaffe

Chiodo

Hughes

Ellis

Stitt

Donner

(2009). A school-based program to prevent adolescent dating violence: A cluster randomized trial. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 163(8), 692–699. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.69

59.

Ybarra

M. L.

Espelage

D. L.

Langhinrichsen-Rohling

Korchmaros

J. D.

(2016). Lifetime prevalence rates and overlap of physical, psychological, and sexual dating abuse perpetration and victimization in a national sample of youth. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(5), 1083–1099. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0748-9