Understanding the help seeking behaviour of teenagers who experience relationship abuse (dating violence) from a feminist intersectional approach.

This presentation aims to raise issues related to teenage relationship abuse (TRA-dating violence) and help seeking behaviour from an intersectional approach. Even though teenage relationship abuse has been raised as an issue since the 80’s there is still an absence of an intersectional theoretical conceptualization of TRA. Existing conceptualizations are based on incorrect assumptions of sameness of teenagers experiences of TRA which ignore the unique developmental stages of teenagers as well as youth’s diverse lived experiences due to their sexual orientation, ethnicity, class, disability as well as other structural divisions. TRA exists in a social context of inequalities. For the individual survivor, this social context is created not only through romantic relationships, but also through relationships with families, peers, friends, classmates and others. Their experiences are constructed through these relationships which form part of the social context into which TRA needs to be analysed. The analytical framework of intersectionality can provide a framework of understanding how these lived experiences are enacted and negotiated contextually. Emphasis will be given to the help seeking behaviour of diverse youths. This presentation will explore the diverse lived experiences contextually. Methods and Findings: This presentation is based on a research project in Northern Ireland currently underway, thus, it will offer a preliminary conceptualisation of TRA from an intersectional approach. The findings will be contextualized taking into account the high rate of homophobia that exists in Northern Ireland amongst other things. Conclusion/Recommendation: Intersectionality needs to be the analytical framework through which teenagers’ relationship’s experience are analysed since the lived experiences of LGTB, BME and disabled youth cannot be analysed apart from the structural divisions, social location and the context they are experienced. This presentation argues that the intersectional approach of theorizing is congruent and contributes to anti-oppressive social work practice.

Tolerance towards dating violence in Spanish adolescents

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Prevalence, risk factors, and problems associated with dating violence: A literature review

The physical, psychological and sexual violence among the couples of adolescents and young adults that are not married neither cohabiting (well-known generally as “dating violence”), has been object of a vast number of investigations in the last two decades that show a high prevalence inside the adolescent and juvenile population. The objective of this work was to carry out an analysis of the literature in connection with the prevalence, risk factors and difficulties associated with this partner violence type. This analysis allowed to elaborate an outline of the factors that could favor the acts of violence, including the previous experiences of victimization inside and outside the family, the acceptance of the violence toward the couple, and the relationship with pairs that have exercised this form of violence.

Sexting, psychological distress and dating violence among adolescents and young adults

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Is dating violence associated with substance use and sexual risk behaviors among urban, minority, middle school youth

Background. One in 4 adolescents reports some form of dating violence each year. Dating violence among high school adolescents has been linked with several morbidity issues. However, the association between dating violence and sexual risk and/or substance use among young adolescents has rarely been studied.^ Methods. Research hypotheses were tested using a secondary data analysis from a HIV, STI, pregnancy prevention intervention study for urban middle school students.^ Results. At baseline, 21% of youth reported experiencing physical ADV victimization, 48.2% reported non-physical victimization, and 52.6% report any victimization. After adjusting for race/ethnicity, gender, and age ever having sex, alcohol use, and illicit drug use were significantly associated with several forms of ADV.^ Conclusions. Dating violence appears to be associated with early initiation of sexual behavior, as well as alcohol and drug use. Few interventions address ADV among middle school youth. Early interventions that prevent dating violence are needed. ^

The Need for School-Based Teen Dating Violence Prevention

Schools have several competing demands, and often suffer from inefficient access to needed resources. Thus, the addition of any program into an already overtaxed school system must be met with convincing evidence that 1) a need or problem exists and is relevant to the education of students, 2) the problem is amenable to change, and 3) addressing the problem is in the best interest of educators and students. The purpose of the present paper is to present a case for inclusion of teen dating violence prevention programs in middle and high schools. We also discuss a recent survey of 219 employees of a suburban school district in southeast Texas. Specifically, we examined their perceived need for and appropriateness of a school-based dating violence prevention program. The anonymous internet-based survey revealed that a majority of participants believed that teen dating violence was a problem, 19% reported having observed an instance of teen dating violence, and 82% believed school to be an appropriate outlet for the implementation of a dating violence prevention program.

Building an Evidence-Based Approach to Address Dating Violence Prevention

Purpose: To discuss the approach and recommendations related to the adoption of school based curriculum for violence prevention. Findings: Preliminary assessments suggest that middle and high school youth experience a variety of forms of violence in social and dating relationships. Such experiences have negative academic, behavioral and emotional consequences. Conclusions: The authors have clearly illuminated the need for addressing the phenomenon of dating violence. The field could benefit from more robust evidenced-based investigations that substantiate that interventions have an impact beyond attitudinal changes toward the behavior. Such academic endeavors will provide a platform to validate the inclusion of such information in a school based curriculum as act as a call for action for broad based interventions.

Violência nas relações de namoro de adolescentes em situação de acolhimento institucional: um olhar da enfermagem

Esta pesquisa tem como objeto de estudo a violência nas relações de namoro de adolescentes em situação de acolhimento. Objetivos: identificar as características das relações de namoro das adolescentes em situação de acolhimento; analisar as vivências da violência nas relações de namoro das adolescentes em situação de acolhimento; descrever as repercussões da violência na vivência das adolescentes. Estudo qualitativo, descritivo e exploratório, tendo como cenário de pesquisa uma unidade pública municipal de acolhimento para adolescentes, localizado na Zona Norte do município do Rio de Janeiro. Os dados foram coletados no período de março a maio de 2014, após a aprovação pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. O estudo foi realizado com sete adolescentes que residem na unidade de acolhimento, com idades de 12 a 18 anos e que responderam a entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados foram analisados através da técnica de análise de conteúdo tendo emergido três categorias: Características das relações de namoro na perspectiva das adolescentes; A violência nas relações afetivas de adolescentes em situação de acolhimento; repercussões da violência nas relações de namoro das adolescentes. Ao analisarmos as características das relações de namoro na perspectiva das adolescentes, as jovens apontaram suas percepções sobre as características referentes ao comportamento masculino e do parceiro. Algumas percepções são associadas ao comportamento do parceiro com carinho, cumplicidade, apoio e amor. E outras aos comportamentos de mentira, excesso de ciúme e agressividade, a não escolha do parceiro certo, entre outras. Em relação à percepção sobre suas relações afetivas, as adolescentes apontaram ser necessário conhecer primeiro o parceiro, ter uma relação sem briga e sem discussão; expressaram atitudes de submissão, omissão, desilusão amorosa, desvalorização do parceiro, desgaste por desvalorização e não gostar de conversar com o parceiro sobre o relacionamento. Os tipos de violência mais comumente vivenciados e indicados pelas adolescentes em suas relações de namoro foram: violência física e sexual; violência patrimonial; e violência psicológica, verbal e moral. As adolescentes apontaram que tais violências nas relações de namoro trazem repercussões à sua saúde, tais como: repercussão à saúde mental, sentimentos como a autopercepção desvalorizada, um ceticismo, impotência, insegurança e medo. Contudo, cabe destacar que algumas adolescentes em situação de acolhimento, em função das adversidades e história de vida, também apontaram certo grau de resiliência diante das violências vivenciadas. Considerando essa primeira aproximação da realidade das relações de namoro das adolescentes em situação de acolhimento verifica-se a necessidade de ações de cuidado no atendimento à essa clientela. As unidades de acolhimento são cenários facilitadores para ações educativas e de cuidado junto à população de adolescentes, o que facilita a construção de medidas de promoção à saúde sexual e reprodutiva de adolescentes. A enfermagem ao reconhecer que o cuidar constitui um processo dialético entre o indivíduo e o cuidador, mas que também é influenciado histórico e socialmente, tem papel fundamental na proposição de ações de enfretamento à violência nas relações de namoro das adolescentes em serviços de acolhimento.

Vivências amorosas em adolescentes

Dissertação apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Psicologia, ramo de Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde

Violência no namoro e consumos de substâncias em jovens estudantes universitários

Dissertação apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Criminologia

Young teenagers' experiences of domestic abuse

This article reports on the first findings from the Boys to Men Research Project. In total, 1143 pupils aged 13–14 years completed a questionnaire to assess their experiences of domestic abuse as victims, witnesses and perpetrators. Overall, 45% of pupils who had been in a dating relationship reported having been victimised, 25% having perpetrated it, with the only difference in rates of victimisation and perpetration between boys and girls being in relation to sexual victimisation. Of the whole sample, 34% reported having witnessed it in their own family. There was a relationship between victimisation and perpetration with the vast majority of perpetrators (92%) also reporting experiencing abuse from a boyfriend/girlfriend. There was also a relationship between experiencing abuse and help seeking from adults, with those who have been victimised less likely to say they would seek help if they were hit by a partner than those who had yet to experience any abuse. The relationship between help seeking and experiences of abuse is further complicated by gender, with girls twice as likely to seek help than boys, but with girls who have previously hit a partner among the most reticent group. The paper concludes with highlighting the implications of these findings for those undertaking preventative work in schools.

You the man

A one-man show addressing dating violence and sexual assault

Interpersonal Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress and Depression

Dating aggression is common among emerging adults, and women who experience aggression from a dating partner are at risk for elevated depression and posttraumatic stress (Dutton et al., 2006). Although some women end their relationships as a result of aggression, other women remain committed to their partner, and aggression tends to escalate over time. The current study explored the role that depression and posttraumatic stress play in ending aggressive dating relationships as well as changes in these symptoms after ending such a relationship. The current study also sought to identify factors predictive of individual differences in emerging adults' commitment to their aggressive dating relationships. A sample of 148 emerging adult women currently in an aggressive dating relationship completed questionnaires about themselves and their relationship; measures of rejection sensitivity, self-worth, and romantic relational style were included as predictors of the Investment Model variables (e.g., investment, satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and commitment; Rusbult, 1980). Two assessments were completed six months apart. Neither depression nor posttraumatic stress predicted ending an aggressive relationship. However, ending an aggressive relationship was associated with experiencing less physical aggression, which mediated reductions in posttraumatic stress. A more avoidant romantic style indirectly predicted commitment through relationship satisfaction and investment. Both commitment and rejection sensitivity significantly predicted continuing an aggressive relationship six months later.

Relatório de Estágio – Sexualidade na Adolescência

O seguinte relatório permitiu-nos reflectir e descrever as nossas actividades ao longo do estágio que realizámos de 14 de Fevereiro a 30 de Junho de 2011. Este teve duas intervenções: uma na Escola Mouzinho da silveira, cujo objectivo era contribuir para uma sexualidade saudável dos adolescentes do 8º ao 10º ano e para uma turma de CEF, num total de 264 adolescentes. A segunda intervenção foi realizada na ESSP cuja intervenção foi no âmbito da promoção da saúde e da ESSP, dos cursos lá ministrados para os alunos de 9º e 12º anos da área Ciências e Tecnologia num total de 317 adolescentes, informando-os das oportunidades que Portalegre oferece de forma a evitar a desertificação das cidades do interior. A educação para a saúde e a educação sexual merecem particular atenção por parte da sociedade e a escola, integrando estratégias de promoção da saúde sexual, no desenvolvimento curricular, favorecendo a articulação com a família, parceiros locais e como as unidades de saúde no âmbito da actividade de saúde escolar. Foi por esse motivo pedida colaboração a ESSP. Neste contexto realizámos um diagnóstico de situação o qual serviu de base para o nosso projecto de Estagio e para este relatório. Seguimos a metodologia do planeamento em saúde com base no diagnóstico de situação, tendo sido abordados os seguintes temas: sexualidade, papéis de género, homossexualidade, gravidez na adolescência, IST, métodos contraceptivos e violência no namoro