Assessing Risks and Potential Protective Factors of Dating Violence Perpetration and Victimization

Dating violence is prevalent among college students. While past studies have used multiple theories to explain risks for dating violence perpetration and victimization, the literature on dating violence remains disjointed, using only one or two theoretical perspectives in their models of dating violence. In this study, I examine dating violence perpetration and victimization from four key theoretical perspectives: the background-situational model of dating violence, social learning theory, attachment theory, and the antisocial orientation perspective. Analyses demonstrated that elements of all four theoretical perspectives were associated with dating violence perpetration and victimization. In addition, religiosity and maternal relationship quality were important protective factors against dating violence. Implications of the study findings on practice and future research are discussed. Advisor: Kimberly A. Tyle