Familial and Individual Risk Markers for Physical and Psychological Dating Violence Perpetration and Victimization Among College Students

Dating violence (DV) is a prominent problem among college students that can result in harmful physical and mental health outcomes. Though much research has focused on physical DV, fewer studies have examined psychological DV. As such, the current paper compared early/familial risk markers (e.g., child physical abuse, witnessing parental violence, and maternal relationship quality) and individual risk markers (e.g., alcohol use, marijuana and prescription drug use) for physical and psychological DV among college students. Data were gathered at two large public universities using pencil and paper surveys (N = 1,482). Bivariate results revealed more risk markers for men (e.g., more child physical abuse, more frequent drinking, more close friends who drink and more marijuana and prescription drug use) compared to women. Multivariate results showed that familial risk markers were generally most important for explaining physical DV victimization and perpetration whereas individual risk markers were more salient for explaining psychological DV victimization and perpetration. Findings highlight the contribution of both early/familial and individual risk markers for understanding psychological and physical DV victimization and perpetration among college students.