Prevalence and characteristics of dating violence among school-aged adolescents in Portugal

Beserra, Maria Aparecida; Leitão, Maria Neto da Cruz; Fabião, Joana Alice da Silva Amaro de Oliveira; Dixe, Maria dos Anjos Coelho Rodrigues; Veríssimo, Cristina Maria Figueira; Ferriani, Maria das Graças Carvalho

doi:10.5935/1414-8145.20160024

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RESEARCH • Esc. Anna Nery 20 (1) • Jan-Mar 2016 • https://doi.org/10.5935/1414-8145.20160024 copy

Prevalence and characteristics of dating violence among school-aged adolescents in Portugal

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objectives:

To identify the prevalence of dating violence among adolescents and discuss the association between the violent behaviors and the variables: age, gender and length of dating relationship.

Methods:

Epidemiological cross-sectional study. Sample: 1,268 male and female students, aged 16-24 years, enrolled in Portuguese secondary schools. Data were collected through questionnaires including sociodemographic data and data on dating violence victimization and perpetration behaviors.

Results:

5.9% of the adolescents were involved in dating violence situations. Both genders used physical violence. Males were the greatest perpetrators and victims of psychological violence.

Conclusion:

A similar pattern of violence was found between genders in some behaviors, such as: hair pulling, choking, throwing objects, slapping, kicking, head-banging, and pushing. Therefore, further studies are needed to understand which factors influence the differences and similarities of dating violence.

Keywords:
adolescence; adolescent behavior; violence

		Nº	%	Minimum	Maximum	Mean	SD
Gender	F	806	63.6
Gender	M	462	36.4
Length of dating relationship/months				1	100	11.33	11.30
Age				14	19	16.53	1.16
Situation of violence	Yes	75	5.9
Situation of violence	No	1,193	94.1

Perpetration victimization
Variables		No		Yes		p	No		Yes		p
Variables		Nº	%	Nº	%	p	Nº	%	Nº	%	p
Blackmail behaviors	F	678	86.7	104	12.9	0.60	649	81.7	145	18.3	0.47
Blackmail behaviors	M	388	87.8	54	12.2	0.60	371	82.8	77	17.2	0.47
Negative comments about personal image	F	722	92.1	62	7.9	0.04	694	87.1	103	12.9	0.58
Negative comments about personal image	M	392	88.3	52	11.7	0.04	392	87.7	55	12.3	0.58
Threatening postures and gestures	F	753	96.2	30	3.8	0.58	727	91.2	70	8.8	0.73
Threatening postures and gestures	M	420	95.0	22	5.0	0.58	411	91.9	36	8.1	0.73
Stalking at school	F	773	98.8	9	1.2	0.00	762	95.7	34	4.3	0.99
Stalking at school	M	420	24.0	94.6	5.4	0.00	427	96.2	17	3.8	0.99
Invasion of privacy	F	672	86.0	109	14.0	0.56	640	80.4	156	19.6	0.32
Invasion of privacy	M	385	86.9	58	13.1	0.56	370	83.1	75	16.9	0.32
Judging, correcting and criticizing	F.	521	66.4	264	33.6	0.36	513	64.4	284	35.6	0.25
Judging, correcting and criticizing	M	280	63.5	161	36.5	0.36	271	60.8	175	39.2	0.25
Hair pulling	F	770	98.6	11	1.4	0.00	782	98.1	15	1.9	0.00
Hair pulling	M	419	95.0	22	5.0	0.00	425	94.9	23	5.1	0.00
Slapping	F	705	90.2	77	9.8	0.04	755	94.8	41	5.2	0.00
Slapping	M	415	93.5	29	6.5	0.04	393	88.1	53	11.9	0.00
Chocking	F	779	99.7	2	0.3	0.00	780	97.9	17	2.1	0.27
Chocking	M	428	96.8	14	3.2	0.00	433	96.7	15	3.3	0.27
Throwing objects at another person	F	769	98.5	12	1.5	0.01	775	97.5	20	2.5	0.00
Throwing objects at another person	M	424	95.9	18	4.1	0.01	415	93.3	30	6.7	0.00
Kicking or head-banging	F	774	99.0	8	1.0	0.13	786	98.6	11	1.4	0.08
Kicking or head-banging	M	432	97.5	11	2.5	0.13	430	96.8	14	3.2	0.08
Pushing	F	768	98.2	14	1.8	0.12	755	94.0	42	5.3	0.73
Pushing	M	426	96.6	15	3.4	0.12	423	95.1	22	4.9	0.73
Preventing contact with other people	F	720	90.5	80	10.2	0.50	654	82.3	141	17.7	0.01
Preventing contact with other people	M	400	40.0	9.1	9.5	0.50	386	86.9	58	13.1	0.01
Yelling or threatening to instill fear	F	750	95.9	15	3.4	0.55	720	90.5	76	9.5	0.02
Yelling or threatening to instill fear	M	425	96.6	27	6.1	0.55	425	95.5	20	4.5	0.02
Insulting, or making defamatory or humiliating statements to "hurt"	F	755	96.7	26	3.3	0.34	719	90.2	78	9.8	0.02
	M	420	95.5	20	4.5	0.34	769	96.5	28	3.5	0.02
Forcing sexual actions against consent	F	777	99.4	5	0.6	0.10	430	96.8	14	3.2	0.66
Forcing sexual actions against consent	M	434	98.2	8	1.8	0.10	769	96.6	27	3.4	0.66
Pressure for unwanted sexual activity	F	779	99.6	3	0.4	0.00	432	96.9	14	3.1	0.65
Pressure for unwanted sexual activity	M	423	95.9	18	4.1	0.00	751	94.7	42	5.3	0.65
Attempt of physical contact with sexual connotation	F	764	98.1	15	1.9	0.00	413	93.4	29	6.6	0.47
Attempt of physical contact with sexual connotation	M	410	93.2	30	6.8	0.00	649	81.7	145	18.3	0.47

Behaviors by gender		Victimization/age						Perpetration/age
		Does not have that behavior		Has that behavior				Does not have that behavior		Has that behavior
		Mean	SD	Mean	SD	t	p	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	t	p
Blackmail behaviors	F	16.5	1.2	16.9	1.3	-3.47	0.00	16.5	1.2	16.9	1.1	-2.94	.00
Blackmail behaviors	M	16.7	1.4	16.7	1.3	0.04	0.96	16.7	1.3	16.8	1.5	-0.74	.45
Negative comments about personal image	F	16.5	1.2	16.9	1.3	-2.82	0.00	16.5	1.2	17.0	1.2	-3.31	.00
Negative comments about personal image	M	16.7	1.4	16.6	1.3	0.27	0.78	16.7	1.4	16.8	1.4	-0.56	.57
Threatening postures and gestures	F	16.6	1.3	16.8	1.4	-1.63	0.10	16.6	1.3	16.8	1.5	-0.72	0.46
Threatening postures and gestures	M	16.7	1.4	16.9	1.6	-0.89	0.37	16.7	1.4	16.9	1.2	-0.40	0.68
Stalking at school	F	16.6	1.3	16.4	0.9	0.69	0.48	16.6	1.3	16.7	1.1	-0.16	0.87
Stalking at school	M	16.7	1.4	17.0	1.7	-0.84	0.39	16.8	1.4	16.5	1.2	0.83	0.40
Invasion of privacy	F	16.6	1.3	16.5	1.2	0.59	0.55	16.6	1.3	16.7	1.2	-1.28	0.19
Invasion of privacy	M	16.6	1.3	17.0	1.4	-2.40	0.01	16.7	1.4	16.8	1.2	-0.50	0.61
Judging, correcting and criticizing	F	16.4	1.2	16.8	1.3	-3.47	0.00	6.4	1.2	16.8	1.3	-3.35	0.00
Judging, correcting and criticizing	M	16.6	1.3	16.9	1.4	-2.67	0.00	16.5	1.3	17.0	1.4	-3.49	0.00
Hair pulling	F	16.6	1.3	16.9	1.4	-0.76	0.44	16.6	1.3	16.0	1.4	1.46	0.14
Hair pulling	M	16.7	1.4	16.8	1.4	-0.14	0.88	16.7	1.4	16.5	1.3	0.84	0.39
Slapping	F	16.6	1.3	16.9	1.5	-1.32	0.18	16.6	1.3	16.9	1.5	-1.84	0.06
Slapping	M	16.7	1.4	17.0	1.4	-1.59	0.11	16.7	1.4	16.9	1.5	-0.63	0.52
Chocking	F	16.6	1.3	16.7	1.1	-0.17	0.86	16.6	1.3	17.0	1.4	-0.45	0.65
Chocking	M	16.8	1.4	16.4	1.0	0.92	0.35	16.8	1.4	16.3	1.1	1.10	0.26
Throwing objects at another person	F	16.6	1.3	16.8	1.3	-0.85	0.39	16.5	1.2	17.3	1.4	-2.03	0.04
Throwing objects at another person	M	16.7	1.4	17.0	1.6	-0.87	0.38	16.7	1.4	16.9	1.6	-.63	0.52
Kicking or head-banging	F	16.6	1.3	17.2	1.4	-1.54	0.12	16.6	1.3	17.2	1.6	-1.48	0.13
Kicking or head-banging	M	16.8	1.4	16.5	1.1	0.73	0.46	16.8	1.4	16.2	1.2	1.31	0.18
Pushing	F	16.6	1.3	16.9	1.4	-1.51	0.13	16.6	1.3	16.6	1.2	0.06	0.95
Pushing	M	16.8	1.4	16.6	1.3	0.55	0.57	16.8	1.4	16.4	1.2	0.93	0.35
Preventing contact with other people	F	16.5	1.2	16.9	1.3	-3.09	0.00	16.6	1.3	16.8	1.2	-1.45	0.14
Preventing contact with other people	M	16.7	1.4	16.7	1.4	0.14	0.88	16.7	1.4	16.9	1.4	-0.92	0.35
Yelling or threatening to instill fear	F	16.6	1.2	16.9	1.4	-2.71	0.00	16.5	1.2	17.2	1.4	-3.00	0.00
Yelling or threatening to instill fear	M	16.7	1.4	16.4	1.3	1.09	0.27	16.7	1.4	16.8	1.4	-.24	0.80
Insulting, or making defamatory or humiliating statements to "hurt"	F	16.6	1.3	16.8	1.3	-1.35	0.17	16.6	1.3	16.6	1.2	-0.15	0.87
	M	16.8	1.4	16.5	1.4	0.97	0.33	16.7	1.4	16.7	1.4	0.06	0.94
Forcing sexual actions against consent	F	16.6	1.3	16.7	1.6	-0.55	0.58	16.6	1.3	17.0	1.6	-0.71	0.47
Forcing sexual actions against consent	M	16.8	1.4	16.2	1.3	1.32	0.18	16.7	1.4	16.8	1.3	-0.03	0.97
Pressure for unwanted sexual activity	F	16.6	1.3	16.8	1.8	-1.02	0.30	16.6	1.3	16.7	0.6	-0.09	0.92
Pressure for unwanted sexual activity	M	16.8	1.4	16.5	1.3	0.72	0.47	16.7	1.4	16.6	1.1	0.43	0.66
Attempt of physical contact with sexual connotation	F	16.6	1.3	16.4	1.4	0.80	0.42	16.6	1.3	16.7	1.4	-0.23	0.81
Attempt of physical contact with sexual connotation	M	16.8	1.4	16.6	1.8	0.36	0.71	16.7	1.4	16.8	1.6	-0.12	0.89

Behaviors by gender		Victimization/Length of dating relationship						Perpetration/Length of dating relationship
		Does not have that behavior		Has that behavior				Does not have that behavior		Has that behavior
		Mean	SD	Mean	SD	t	p	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	t	p
Blackmail behaviors	F	12.0	11.9	14.5	13.9	-2.21	0.02	12.1	12.2	15.5	12.8	-2.64	0.00
Blackmail behaviors	M	10.0	11.1	10.4	9.4	-0.29	0.76	9.7	10.7	13.5	11.3	-2.41	0.01
Negative comments about personal image	F	12.1	11.9	14.9	14.6	-2.23	0.02	12.2	12.1	16.2	14.0	-2.48	0.01
Negative comments about personal image	M	9.6	9.6	14.1	17.1	-2.87	0.00	9.7	9.6	13.6	17.5	-2.48	0.01
Threatening postures and gestures	F	12.2	12.0	15.6	14.9	-2.23	0.02	12.1	11.8	22.4	20.0	-4.63	0.00
Threatening postures and gestures	M	9.8	10.5	13.0	14.4	-1.65	0.09	9.7	9.9	19.2	22.5	-3.84	0.00
Stalking at school	F	12.5	12.3	16.6	16.9	-0.99	0.32	12.5	12.3	16.6	16.9	-.993	0.32
Stalking at school	M	9.8	9.5	16.2	24.3	-2.83	0.00	9.8	9.5	16.2	24.3	-2.83	0.00
Invasion of privacy	F	12.7	12.5	11.6	11.6	0.95	0.34	12.1	12.0	15.4	13.9	-2.58	0.01
Invasion of privacy	M	9.1	9.6	13.8	11.0	-3.83	0.00	9.5	9.9	14.5	15.6	-3.27	0.00
Judging, correcting and criticizing	F	11.5	11.2	14.0	13.8	-2.72	0.00	11.2	11.1	15.0	14.1	-4.17	0.00
Judging, correcting and criticizing	M	9.4	10.4	11.2	11.4	-1.79	0.07	9.2	10.1	11.7	12.0	-2.33	0.02
Hair pulling	F	12.4	12.3	13.3	8.7	-0.26	0.79	12.4	12.3	20.3	13.6	-1.90	0.05
Hair pulling	M	10.0	10.5	12.4	16.2	-1.04	0.29	9.7	9.5	19.0	25.4	-3.83	0.00
Slapping	F	12.4	12.3	13.5	11.8	-0.53	0.59	12.2	12.1	15.2	13.9	-2.08	0.03
Slapping	M	9.6	9.3	14.2	18.3	-2.92	0.00	9.7	9.5	16.3	22.2	-3.17	0.00
Chocking	F	12.4	12.3	14.5	10.2	-0.67	0.49	12.5	12.3	28.5	10.6	-1.82	0.06
Chocking	M	9.9	10.0	14.7	27.2	-1.56	0.11	9.8	9.6	23.2	30.0	-4.45	0.00
Throwing objects at another person	F	12.3	12.2	15.1	12.1	-0.97	0.32	12.3	11.9	27.6	23.1	-4.48	0.00
Throwing objects at another person	M	9.7	9.5	16.2	21.8	-3.17	0.00	9.9	10.1	16.1	22.7	-2.37	0.01
Kicking or head-banging	F	12.4	12.3	16.2	14.1	-0.95	0.34	12.5	12.3	11.7	10.6	0.18	0.85
Kicking or head-banging	M	9.8	10.0	17.6	26.4	-2.58	0.01	9.8	9.6	23.5	32.6	-4.17	0.00
Pushing	F	12.4	12.4	12.9	11.0	-0.22	0.81	12.5	12.4	12.2	8.9	0.10	0.92
Pushing	M	9.7	9.5	18.2	25.0	-3.53	0.00	9.9	10.2	15.5	24.1	-1.93	0.05
Preventing contact with other people	F	12.2	11.8	13.5	13.9	-1.13	0.25	12.0	11.9	16.7	14.7	-3.22	0.00
Preventing contact with other people	M	10.0	10.3	10.5	14.1	-.314	0.75	9.6	9.7	15.6	18.6	-3.40	0.00
Yelling or threatening to instill fear	F	12.3	12.1	14.2	13.9	-1.30	0.19	12.2	11.8	20.4	19.0	-3.86	0.00
Yelling or threatening to instill fear	M	10.0	10.5	12.0	16.4	-0.80	0.42	9.8	9.6	20.4	28.7	-3.74	0.00
Insulting, or making defamatory or humiliating statements to "hurt"	F	12.6	12.4	11.4	10.8	0.75	0.45	12.5	12.4	13.1	11.8	-0.25	0.79
	M	9.7	9.6	14.5	22.8	-2.17	0.03	9.7	9.5	19.2	24.8	0.06	0.00
Forcing sexual actions against consent	F	12.6	12.4	9.6	9.9	1.28	0.20	12.5	12.3	18.8	11.1	-1.13	0.25
Forcing sexual actions against consent	M	9.9	10.4	10.3	10.7	-0.11	0.91	9.9	10.1	21.8	32.7	-3.08	0.00
Pressure for unwanted sexual activity	F	12.6	12.4	8.4	9.2	1.86	.06	12.5	12.3	18.3	15.3	-0.81	.41
Pressure for unwanted sexual activity	M	9.6	9.5	24.6	30.1	-5.00	.00	9.7	9.6	19.8	26.5	-3.87	.00
Attempt of physical contact with sexual connotation	F	12.7	12.4	9.2	10.4	1.81	.06	12.5	12.3	15.2	13.4	-0.84	.39
Attempt of physical contact with sexual connotation	M	10.1	10.8	9.7	12.5	0.18	.85	9.8	9.9	13.8	19.9	-1.93	.05

	Female				Male
	Age		Length of dating relationship		Age		Length of dating relationship
	r	p	r	p	r	p	r	p
Number of victimization behaviors (0-18)	.104^ Pearson correlation coefficients (r).	.004^* * Significant correlation at p < 0.01;	.040	.267	.035	.471	.051	.288
Number of perpetration behaviors (0-18)	.125^ Pearson correlation coefficients (r).	.001^* * Significant correlation at p < 0.01;	.188^ Pearson correlation coefficients (r).	.000^* * Significant correlation at p < 0.01;	.027	.582	.282^ Pearson correlation coefficients (r).	.000^* * Significant correlation at p < 0.01;

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[1] Corresponding author: Maria Aparecida Beserra. E-mail: mcidabeserra@ig.com.br