Poster #39

Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Cyber-Dating Violence in the Romantic Relationships of Adolescent Girls

By: Aimee Wallace, M.Ac. Co-authored by Rachel Langevin, PhD, and Martine Hébert, PhD

Abstract:

Cyber-dating violence (cyber-DV) is increasingly prevalent in the romantic relationships of adolescents. Cyber-DV is a public health issue with harmful consequences for its victims. To reduce its prevalence and associated consequences, researchers are identifying risk and protective factors associated with cyber-DV at multiple levels of the individual's environment (e.g., individual, relationship, and community). The current study aimed at examining the influence of risk and protective factors associated with cyber-DV in adolescent girls' romantic relationships at multiple ecological levels (individual, relational, and community). 456 adolescent girls aged 14-18 years who were currently in a romantic relationship or had been in a romantic relationship in the previous year were recruited via social networks. At the individual level, age, ethnicity, dissociation, emotional regulation, post-traumatic stress, and resilience were measured. At the relational level, physical, verbal and emotional forms of dating violence, threats from an (ex)partner, and childhood sexual abuse were measured. At the community level, neighborhood material disadvantage, neighborhood social disadvantage, community resilience, and community support were measured. The data were analyzed using a three-step logistic regression. In step 1, clinical level of dissociative symptoms and higher emotional regulation scores are associated with cyber-DV in the romantic relationships of adolescent girls. In step 2, experiencing sexual, verbal, or emotional DV, and threats from an (ex)partner are associated with cyber-DV in the romantic relationships of adolescent girls. In step 3, verbal or emotional DV, sexual DV, threats from an (ex)current romantic partner, and living in neighborhoods with lower levels of social disadvantage are associated with cyber-DV in the romantic relationships of adolescent girls. Identifying sources of vulnerability and protection at multiple levels of the adolescents' environment will enable the development of interventions to reduce the risk of cyber-DV and its associated consequences in adolescence and, consequently, in their adult lives.

aimee wallace

My name is Aimée Wallace and I am in my last year of my Masters in Sexology (Research-Intervention Stream) at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). I completed my bachelor's degree in Psychology at McGill University. I am currently writing my thesis on the risk and protective factors associated with cyber-dating violence victimization in the romantic relationships of adolescent girls under the supervision of Dr. Martine Hébert (Équipe Violence Sexuelle et Santé Research Lab at UQAM) and Dr. Rachel Langevin (Resilience, Adversity and Childhood Trauma Research Lab at McGill University).

With Dr. Howard Steiger at the Eating Disorder Research Lab, I wrote my undergraduate research project entitled Eating Disorder-Focused Knowledge Exchange: A Qualitative Analysis of a Province-Wide Knowledge to Improve Care for Individuals with Eating Disorders. While completing my bachelor's in Psychology, I also got involved in various other research labs such as the Development, Resilience and Interpersonal Trauma Research Lab (DAIR) at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Nancy Heath, the McGill Mindfulness Research Lab under the supervision of Dr. Bassam Khoury and the Laboratoire d'études sure la violence et la sexualité under the supervision of Dr. Mylène Fernet. With these experiences, I have participated in writing 7 peer-reviewed articles and have presented my research findings at 6 conference presentations.

I have also volunteered with vulnerable populations throughout my undergrad and continue to work in the field. More specifically, I volunteered at Batshaw Youth Protection Agency and at the McGill Eating Disorder Support Center. I am also currently working at two shelters (Auberge Shalom and Auberge Transition) for women and children victims of conjugal violence in the province of Québec, Canada.

My ultimate goal is to be a clinical sex therapist and work with victims of violence, particularly sexual violence. Moreover, throughout my career, I would like to conduct research on the risks and protective factors associated with sexual violence to help prevent and intervene effectively to reduce its prevalence and associated consequences on its victims.