Bullying, Sexual, and Dating Violence Trajectories From Early to Late Adolescence

This basic research project will fill a critical research gap, as no studies to date have simultaneously considered all three forms of violence using a developmentally-sensitive design. Approximately 1,200 students who were part of the University of Illinois Study of Bullying and Sexual Violence (funded by CDC) will be further assessed during Spring 2012 and 2013. Sixth and 7th grade students came from four public middle schools in one school district in Central Illinois, and the sample is both ethnically and economically diverse (31.5% White, 60.4% Black, 2.6% Asian, 5.1% Hispanic, .4% Native American; 69.3% considered low-income). These students have completed surveys over three years (with retention rates around 90-95%) that assessed bullying attitudes and behaviors, frequency of sexual harassment victimization and perpetration, and measures of proposed risk (e.g., anger, attitudes toward violence, substance use, family violence, neighborhood violence, peer support for violence, cyberbullying) and protective factors (e.g., school belonging, social support, parental monitoring, empathy, caring). Students will complete similar measures as they progress into high school, along with additional measures on dating violence attitudes and behaviors. Ultimately, these findings will identify early precursors to late adolescent sexual violence and dating violence and will significantly advance our understanding of the development of these behaviors to inform prevention programs.

ca/ncf