Measuring Sex Differences in Violence Victimization and Perpetration Within Date and Same-Sex Peer Relationships

• NCJ Number: 237083
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2008 Pages: 1120-1138
• Author(s): Monica H. Swahn; Thomas R. Simon; Ileana Arias; Robert M. Bossarte
• Date Published: August 2008
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examines sex differences in the patterns of repeated perpetration and victimization of physical violence and psychological aggression within dating relationships and same-sex peer relationships.

Abstract

Data were obtained from the Youth Violence Survey: Linkages among Different Forms of Violence, conducted in 2004, and administered to all public school students enrolled in grades 7, 9, 11 and 12 (N = 4,131) in a high-risk school district. Analyses of adolescents who dated in the past year (n = 2,888) show that girls are significantly more likely than boys to report physical violence and psychological aggression perpetration within dating relationships. However, boys are significantly more likely than girls to report physically injuring a date. Boys are also significantly more likely than girls to report physical violence victimization and perpetration within same-sex peer relationships. Implications and directions for future research are discussed. (Published Abstract)