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A Three-Step Latent Class Analysis to Identify How Different Patterns of Teen Dating Violence and Psychosocial Factors Influence Mental Health

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Abstract

Although multiple forms (i.e., physical, threatening, psychological, sexual, and relational abuse) and patterns (i.e., perpetration and victimization) of violence can co-occur, most existing research examines these experiences individually. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate: (1) homogenous subgroups based on victimization and perpetration of multiple forms of teen dating violence; (2) predictors of membership in these subgroups; and (3) mental health consequences associated with membership in each subgroup. Nine hundred eighteen adolescents in the 9th or 10th grade at seven public high schools in Texas participated in the survey (56 % female, White: 30 %, Hispanic: 32 %, African American: 29 %, others: 9 %). A three-step latent class analysis was employed. Five latent teen dating violence classes were identified: (1) nonviolence; (2) emotional/verbal abuse; (3) forced sexual contact; (4) psychological + physical violence; and (5) psychological abuse. Females, African Americans, and youth who had higher acceptance of couple violence scores and whose parents had less education were more likely to members of dating violence classes compared with the nonviolence class. Adolescents who experienced multiple types of dating violence reported greater mental health concerns. Prevention programs may benefit by identifying the homogenous subgroups of teen dating violence and targeting adolescent teen dating violence accordingly.

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Funding

This research was supported by Award Number K23HD059916 (PI: Temple) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) and 2012-WG-BX-0005 (PI: Temple) from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NICHD or NIJ.

Authors’ Contributions

HJC conceived of the study, participated in its design and interpretation of the data, performed the statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript; RW participated in interpretation of the data and helped to draft the manuscript; JT conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, interpretation of the data and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Missouri, 501 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Hye Jeong Choi

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Rebecca Weston

  3. Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, University of Texas at Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA

    Jeff R. Temple

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  1. Hye Jeong Choi
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  2. Rebecca Weston
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Correspondence to Hye Jeong Choi.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Choi, H.J., Weston, R. & Temple, J.R. A Three-Step Latent Class Analysis to Identify How Different Patterns of Teen Dating Violence and Psychosocial Factors Influence Mental Health. J Youth Adolescence 46, 854–866 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0570-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0570-7

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