Title

The Interplay of Self-Esteem in the Relationship Between Sexual Dating Violence and Self-Silencing in Adolescent Girls.

Authors

Fortin, Laurie; Jean-Thorn, Arianne; Allard-Cobetto, Pénélope; Théorêt, Valérie; Hebert, Martine

Abstract

Several repercussions have been linked to teen dating violence, including self-silencing. Self-silencing refers to an excessive worry about the partner's needs and opinions, which can lead to neglecting one's well-being. However, the mechanisms by which dating violence, especially sexual victimization, affects self-silencing are understudied. Moreover, studies have identified sexual victimization by an intimate partner as one of the most critical factors affecting youth's self-esteem development, which may explain this relationship. The present study aimed to explore the possible mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between sexual teen dating violence and self-silencing. Adolescents were recruited from a one-stage stratified cluster sample of 34 high schools inQuebec, Canada. Adolescents completed measures on sexual dating violence and self-esteem at Wave 1 and self-silencing in their relationship at Wave 2, 6 months later. Analyses were conducted on 2,489 adolescent girls (M = 15.48 years, SD =.95) who participated in Wave 2 and reported being in a dating relationship in the last 6 months. Results of the path analysis indicated that self-esteem acted as a mediator in the relationship between sexual teen dating violence and self-silencing. This study helps better understand the processes underlying self-silencing behaviors in adolescent victims of sexual dating violence. The results highlight a potential target for intervention to inhibit the development of self-silencing in adolescent girls experiencing sexual dating violence.

Subjects

CANADA; VICTIMS; HIGH schools; SEX crimes; INTIMATE partner violence; PATH analysis (Statistics); TEENAGERS' conduct of life; WOMEN'S health; SELF-perception; DATING violence; WELL-being; ADOLESCENCE

Publication

Partner Abuse, 2024, Vol 15, Issue 4, p511

ISSN

1946-6560

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1891/PA-2023-0061