Introduction

Among 10 to 24 year-olds, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans;

the second leading cause of death for Hispanics; and the third leading cause of death for

Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indians and Alaska Natives (Center for Disease Control &

Prevention, 2009). Youth violence across various communities is now one of the most reported

news segments nowadays. It was in 2000, an estimated 199 000 youth homicides (9.2 per 100

000 population) occurred globally or an average of 565 children, adolescents and young adults

between the ages of 10 and29 years die each day as a result of interpersonal violence (CDC).

Numerous studies indicate that significant percentage of the world-wide youth violence is

products of physical dating aggression. In the United State, teen dating violence is now taken as

a serious problem as about 10% of student nationwide report to being physically hurt by a

boyfriend or girlfriend in 12 months (CDC, 2008). Also, violent behaviors of a psychological

and physical nature in dating relationships were analyzed in Spanish university students with

results indicating a high prevalence of both kind of aggression in interpersonal relationships.

These results were said to be similar to those obtained in other studies with American sample

(Ricas, Gomez, Leary, Lozano, 2007). A Dunedin study, a Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and

Development Study on partner violence from the longitudinal of a representative birth cohort of

1,037 New Zealand men and women born between April 1, 1972, and March 31, 1973, came up

with findings that partner violence is strongly linked to cohabitation at a young age and juvenile

aggression (Caspi, 1999). Within the South-East Asia, the World Health Organization Identified

Intimate partner violence and a major health problem due to studies that reported up to 50% of

women at least 15 years of age who are victims of their partners (World Health Organization:

Regional Office for Southeast Asia). As to studies conducted with the country, resources for such
are very much scarce thus strengthening the motivation to continue with this research within the

local vicinity.

Mentioned earlier, a study done among Spanish university students indicated a high

prevalence of aggression in interpersonal relationships. Their study also revealed important

differences between the sexes specifically, violent psychological and physical aggression were

significantly higher in women though consequences of physical aggression were worse for the

women’s health (Ricas, Gomez, Leary, Lozano, 2007). Contrary to the Spanish study, a research

was done among Canadian adolescents wherein male and female participant attitudes toward

dating aggression did not vary by the gender of the perpetrator (Williams, Craig, Pepler, Laporte,

2008). This research now aims to establish which among the contradicting studies is best

relevant among the local youth.

Patterned from the previously mentioned research of “Risk Models of Dating Aggression

Across Different Adolescent Relationships”, it’s authors have identified a strong link between

accepting attitudes, peer aggression, and delinquency as precursors to aggression. However, this

study is limited to establishing adolescents’ delinquency as a factor affecting physical aggression

in their dating relationships.

Objectives of the Study

The objectives for this research aim to explore (1) gender as a predictor for dating

aggression and; (2) delinquency and it’s effect to one’s being a perpetrator to dating aggression.
Definition of terms

Using the World Book Dictionary, aggression is ”an unprovoked attack” of any kind; in

psychiatric textbooks, it is a hostile or destructive behavior or outlook particularly caused by

frustration (Antai- Otong, D., 2008) and it usually includes anger which is an emotional response

to perceived frustration of desires or needs (Mohr, W. 2006). Aggression may manifest as verbal

aggression or physical aggression, or both against objects, people, or self with a potential toward

destruction or intent to cause harm. Psychological aggression is the type that manifest usually as

verbal causing emotional or mental harm such insults while physical aggression the expression

of hostility through physical harm such as hitting, In contrast, violence is marked only by

threatened or actual physical force against a person or group (Mohr, W. 2006) or a more extreme

form of physical aggression (Berkowitz, L.) and generates high energy in both the survivor and

perpetrator (Antai- Otong, D., 2008). In this study, physical aggression and violence is taken as

the same and focus for the research.

Operatively, Dating Aggression is refers to the display of physically aggressive behavior

that includes actions like hitting, slapping, pushing, or beating among two people involved in an

intimate/ romantic relationship – a very close acquaintance with deep familiarity and interaction

at a very personal or most private level. Furthermore this research is focused on participating

adolescents as perpetrators rather than victims. In an assault, hostility violence, and aggression,

elements include not only the harmful act but also a perpetrator – the one inflicting the harm or

destruction; and a victim – the one receiving the hostility, or inflicted pain or destruction.

Another variable considered in the study is delinquent behavior used as the condition or

habit of behaving unlawfully (The Worldbook Dictionary), illegally, or against social norms.
 To further justify and explain the aggressive behavior, this study uses Karen Horney’s

interpersonal social theory. Horney’s key concept was that of basic anxiety, the feeling of

isolation and helplessness in a potentially hostile world (Antai- Otong, D., 2008). She explains

aggressive and delinquent behavior as a coping mechanism for the state of anxiousness or a

means to protect the little security they have. As do most Psychoanalysts, personal conflicts or

anxieties are brought about by “unmet needs”. For Horney, these unmet needs are satisfaction

and security that causes neurotic conflicts being basic anxiety and/or basic hostility. In dealing

with these conflicts, people relate to each other and cope in one of three ways: (1) they move

toward others, seeking love, support, and cooperation; (2) the can move away from others, trying

to be independent and self-sufficient; ior (3) they can move against other, being competitive,

critical, and domineering (Antai- Otong, D., 2008). Horney’s theory applies is such a way that

the perpetrator may have unmet needs of either satisfaction or security, or both eventually

causing them to have feelings of anxiety or hostility driven by frustration. Erik Erikson ‘s satges

of development is one way of illustrating the proposed unmet needs by presenting the

developmental task of an adolescent being “Identity vs Role confusion” or “Intimacy vs

Isolation”. Both tasks are considered since the target respondents for the study are at the

boundary between late adolescence and young adulthood. The accomplishment of “Identity” and

“Intimacy”, according to Erikson, facilitate effective mental growth and development (Potts &

Mandlecco, 2002). This is also in accordance to Horney fro she defined mental wellness being

achieved through: (1) having love and nurture; (2) acceptance of oneself and; (3) being able to

achieve balance in utilizing the 3 modes for coping with experienced conflicts. However, for the

adolescents in this study, insecurities and anxiety develop from either feelings of isolation, or

frustration from role confusion, or both. Unable to cope effectively, they utilize only two modes
for coping particularly “moving towards” an intimate partner initially projecting acts of

compliance and dependence but eventually “moving against” his/ her partner and eliciting acts of

aggression, delinquency, or even anti-social behavior. On one study, the have explored a

number of intrapersonal variables have been linked with relationship

violence. Low self-esteem was found to discriminate between males initiating

dating violence and their non-violent controls, but this pattern was not

significant for females (O’Keefe 1997). Also from the same study, they

viewed that from a social learning theory perspective, skill deficits, such as

poor problem solving abilities, difficulty managing anger and communicating

feelings would increase the likelihood of resorting to violence to solve

problems (O’Keefe 1997).. This supports Horney’s suggestion that aggressive

behavior rouses from feelings of insecurity or dissatisfaction by oneself.

With the few researches on teen dating aggression shared in support of this study, it is

established that dating aggression is a growing security threat among nations. As part of the

health care team, in collaboration with other agencies such as the Social Welfare Development

and academic institutions, nurses play a role in developing strategies to promote healthy

relationships. attempt suicide. Victims may also carry the patterns of violence into future

relationships (CDC, 2008). One of the most consistent and strongest factors

associated with inflicting violence against a dating partner is the belief that it

is acceptable to use violence (Malik et al., 1997; O’Keefe, 1997; Tontodonato

& Crew, 1992).

 Saint Louis University

College of Nursing - Graduate School Program

Research: Factors Affecting Dating Aggression among Adolescnets

(Introduction)

Submitted to:

Mrs. Elizabeth Bautista

Submitted by:

Ms. Julie Ruth Tingda