Dating abuse via technology: The prevalence and correlates of breaking into a partner's cell phone or email among an emergency department-based sample of youth

Saturday, March 31, 2012: 9:50 AM-11:10 AM
Yerba Buena Salon 1-3 (San Francisco Marriott Marquis)
Speaker:
Emily F. Rothman, ScD, Boston University School of Public Health

PDF file

Presentation Format:
Scientific Program Report

Learning Objectives:
  1. Estimate the prevalence of date-stalking via technology in a sample of urban youth
  2. Describe correlates of "tech abuse"
  3. Discuss potential methods for reducing tech abuse and other forms of dating abuse in healthcare settings
Description:
This program reports the results of a cross-sectional survey on dating abuse. 465 youth ages 14-21 yrs. recruited from an urban emergency department reported dating abuse experiences. Approximately 42% of the sample reported either breaking into a partner's email or cell phone in the past year (i.e., perpetrating "tech abuse"), experiencing it as a victim, or both. Tech abuse perpetration was strongly associated with perpetrating physical and sexual violence.