OVERVIEW

The study attempts to compare the extent and form of dating violence experienced by black, Hispanic, and white college students. Also, reports of observed parental violence are compared among these groups. Finally, sex differences and types of abuse are considered.

BACKGROUND

Literature on physical abuse includes studies of college students. (Bogal-Albritten & Albritten. [1985]. The hidden victims: Courtship violence among college students. Journal of College Student Personnel, 26, 201-104; Laner & Thompson. [1982]. Abuse and aggression in courting couples. Deviant Behavior, 3, 229-244; Makepeace. [1981]. Courtship violence among college students. Family Relations, 30, 97-102.) The difference that race and ethnicity make in the incidence and nature of dating abuse found on college campuses has not been adequately studied. Studies that have compared premarital and marital violence by race and ethnicity are both limited and somewhat contradictory. (Cazenave & Straus. [1979]. Race, class, network embeddedness and family violences. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 10, 280-299; Lane & Gwartney-Gibbs. [1985]. Violence in the context of dating and sex. Journal of Family Issues, 6, 45-59; Plass & Gessner. [1983]. Violence in courtship relations: A southern sample. Free Inquiry in Creative Sociology, 11, 198-202.)

DESIGN

A questionnaire was given to students in some undergraduate class at a medium-sized Southwestern urban university. Of the 885 students responding, 98 minority students, 64 blacks and 34 Hispanics were compared with a randomly selected group of 130 white students. The measures of intimate violence used in the analysis were drawn from 25 items developed by Stacey & Shupe. ([1982]. The family secret: Domestic violence in America. Boston: Beacon Press) The first 12 items focused on dominance and possessiveness in the most recent dating relationships. The next 13 questions asked respondents about the use of physical force in this relationship. Past exposure to family violence was also measured, using two yes-no questions in addition to the Stacey & Shupe scale.

FINDINGS

Possessiveness, the form of emotional abuse labeled "rejection," and sexual pressure all similarly occurred among black, white, and Hispanic students. The use of physical force—like pushing, slapping, or hitting with an object—was reported least often by Hispanics and most often by blacks, although the differences were small. No statistically significant relationships between any specific types of abuse and race were found. However, when comparing previous exposure to parental violence, a statistically significant number of whites reported no violence, while the numbers of incidences among blacks and Hispanics were similar. The major difference between the latter two groups, however, was the pattern of parental violence. For Hispanics it was most likely to be "father only" violence, while both parents were involved for blacks. Cross tabulation of abuse by sex showed that male students were more likely than female students to report their partner as being possessive, rejecting, sexually pressuring, and moderately physically forceful.

CONCLUSIONS

Experiences of possessiveness or rejection are so common that it might be concluded that they are simply characteristics of dating relationships. Sexual pressure is also a very common experience. These experiences are not particularly violent, but dating behaviors are not too different from physical battering and sexual assault. These data indicate that possessiveness, rejection, sexual pressure, physical force, serious consequences, and forced sex are interrelated. Those students reporting that their partners used physical force also report high levels of possessiveness and rejection.

Past studies suggesting that courtship violence differences between racial groups were reflections of the violence or lack of violence within a subculture oversimplified their conclusions. In this study, the similarities by race are more striking than any differences—in spite of the fact that a significantly higher percentage of the black and Hispanic participants had been exposed to violence between parents.

Sexual pressure or use of physical force does not always occur in the context of a violent, battering relationship, nor does it always lead to sexual assault. Understanding this is helpful in interpreting this study’s findings with respect to sex differences. No information was available in this study about the respondent’s own behavior. The men who report that their partners are possessive, rejecting, sexual pressuring, physically forceful, may not be less abusive than their own dating partners. Other studies of courtship violence have indicated that women as well as men have used some form of physical force against their dating partner. Modeling is not a contributing factor. There was no relationship between sex and past exposure to parental violence. Those who had experienced abuse in their family were, however, more likely to abuse partners while dating.

IMPLICATIONS

1. Abusive behavior within intimate relationships must be seen in broader terms. In this study, "abusive behavior" included emotional abuse; such as possessiveness, rejection, efforts to control, monitoring of activities, and belittling; use of physical force such as threats of violence, pushing, hitting with the hand or object, choking, and assault with a weapon; and abusive sexual behavior such as sexual pressure and forced sex.
2. Prevailing "lesser" forms of abusive behavior might be considered as warning signs of a potentially violent relationship.
3. More information needs to be available to faculty, staff, youth leaders, and students concerning who is apt to be abused by whom and the reasons behind such behavior.
4. Proactive counseling and educational programming are important for counteracting widespread sexual pressure. This is especially important for helping college students.
5. Educational efforts need to emphasize that abusive behavior in dating relationships is experienced by students of varied racial and ethnic backgrounds.
6. The context and meaning of experienced abuse needs consideration in educational programs and counseling. Female victimization is a reality; women are more likely to be repeatedly physically abused. Men do not typically regard aggressive behaviors by their partners—such as slapping, pushing, or sexual pressuring—as physically threatening.

James A. Arringdale cCYS