Searching for specificity in teen dating violence and distress: A network analytic approach

Govender, Theemeshni

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129779 Copy

Description

Title

Searching for specificity in teen dating violence and distress: A network analytic approach

Author(s)

Govender, Theemeshni

Issue Date

2025-05-07

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Cohen, Joseph R.

Committee Member(s)

Briley , Ava

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• teen dating violence
• network analysis
• adolescence

Abstract

Methodological norms inhibit our ability to understand the nature and correlates of teen dating violence. This includes examining teen dating violence subtypes, such as physical and psychological perpetration and victimization, and mental health correlates in isolation. Further, continued reliance on latent conceptualizations may obscure patterns of specificity within teen dating violence and between violent acts and mental health sequelae. In response, we leveraged a network analytic approach to explore how experiences of physical and psychological teen dating violence victimization and perpetration relate to different forms of psychopathology in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. A sample of 584 adolescents (Mage=15; 51.03% male; 32.08% Hispanic; 28.47% Black; 19.90% White; 15.27% Multiracial) from southeast Texas (n=507) and a midwestern state (n=77) completed surveys at baseline and 1-year follow up assessing teen dating violence, posttraumatic stress, depressive symptoms, and substance use. Network features, including edge strength, centrality, and stability were investigated. Acts of teen dating violence were largely bidirectional, as opposed to reflecting distinct patterns of perpetration and victimization. There was little evidence that specific teen dating violence acts were uniquely related to distinct forms of psychopathology. Networks, which were stable over time, generalized across gender and racial/ethnic identity. Highlighting the bidirectional nature of teen dating violence, our findings outline specific acts for prevention programs to target and reinforce potential issues of distinguishing between perpetrators and victims when working with adolescents.

Graduation Semester

2025-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129779

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Theemeshni Govender

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