SUMMARY
Until recently, the problem of teen dating violence in the Republic of Croatia has not been the issue for social research initiatives. Only in 2004, we conducted an action research which showed that 60% of adolescents have experienced some kind of relationship violence, and that 43% of young people acted violently in their relationships.
In 2007, we carried out a more comprehensive research with the goal of exploring prevalence rates, forms, reasons, consequences, as well as the risk factors for teen dating violence. The aim of this research was to improve the understanding of the needs and problems young people face in the context of teen dating violence, and to inform creation and implementation of quality and effective school-based education and prevention programs. 1014 students, aged 16-19, from 42 secondary schools in the Republic of Croatia participated in the research.
Most of the surveyed young people already had some dating experience, and many of them consider teen dating violence to be a serious problem. For some respondents, the knowledge about partnership violence is a part of their everyday interactions and social networks: around third of youth socialize within peer groups, which include friends in a violent relationship, and every fifth young person is first-hand familiar with someone who is involved in a violent relationship.
More than two thirds of adolescents reported experiencing some form of violent behavior form their partner, and a little less than half of adolescents stated that they were at least once violent towards their partner. Generally, the results show that the prevalence of teen dating violence varies according to the forms of violent behaviors. The observed patterns indicate that the most common forms of dating violence are those by which young people try to dominate and control their partners - excessive jealousy, possessive and controlling behavior, accusations and emotional blackmails. Sexual violence and physical aggression are present to a less extent.
Partner's excessive jealous behavior is the experience which characterized the relationships of more than half of respondents. In addition, a quarter of young people have experienced violent behaviors motivated by jealousy which are instrumental for establishing and maintaining control and dominance in a relationship. It is indicative that considerable proportion of adolescents does not recognize these behaviors as violent, while for some youth this is also true for sexual and physical forms of dating violence. Lack of awareness and ignorance of violent behaviors, as well as the belief that some forms of violence are a 'normal' part of every relationship, could lead to young people's tolerance of risky and violent relationships, and could mean that they cannot find enough reasons to end this kind of relationship. While jealousy was recognized by most of adolescents as the main reason for the perpetration of dating violence, at the same time, large number of respondents consider jealousy to be a way of showing love, and not the form of dominance and control in a relationship. Besides jealousy, young people were often violent to their partner because of the fear of breaking up, and violent behaviors were also motivated by the partner's 'provocation', as well as by communication problems.
Identified risk factors related to victimization, but also to perpetration of emotional/psychological forms of teen dating violence include: lower self-respect, frequent alcohol consumption, witnessing/experiencing family violence, acceptance of traditional gender stereotypes, permissive attitudes towards the use of violence, communication problems in relationship, and influence of peers and media. It is also worth mentioning that about the half of adolescents reported being both the victim and the perpetrator of dating violence.
In relation to sex/gender dimension of the problem, girls tend to be both the victims and perpetrators of emotional/psychological forms of dating violence in the significantly larger proportion, while boys tend to be exclusively perpetrators of sexual violence towards their partner in the significantly larger proportion. In addition, boys tend to approve of traditional and sexist attitudes about gender roles in the significantly larger proportion, as well as the attitudes which justify the use of violence in particular situations, and tend to be more ignorant about recognizing certain behaviors as the violent ones.
While both boys and girls experience dating violence, feelings and reactions stated by respondents as the consequences of partner's violent behavior clearly show that teen dating violence is not a gender neutral problem. For girls, the consequences are considerably more negative and more serious, and, for them, experienced violence results more in the feelings of hurt, sadness, insecurity, fear, shame, guilt, and uneasiness. Boys, on the other hand, reported that after the violent episode in a relationship they were more indifferent and unconcerned, and that they found the violent situation 'to be funny'.
Fear, shame, lack of awareness, distrust, and the lack of relevant information and resources, are the main reasons why adolescents mainly try to solve the problem of dating violence by themselves, and rely on their own capacities and skills to eventually end the violent relationship, and most often do not decide to report violence to adults, nor seek help and advice outside a peer group. Considering the reactions to a hypothetical situation of a physical dating violence, the answers given by respondents show that extremely low number of adolescents would decide to contact relevant persons and institutions/organizations, as well as to report violence, and ask for help and support.
Around three quarters of the surveyed students reported that there are no programs or activities related to the prevention of teen dating violence in their schools. Research results point to the following needs for the education and prevention of teen dating violence: raising awareness about, and the recognition of emotional/psychological forms of violence and the warning signs for a violent relationship; change of attitudes about violence and gender stereotypes, understanding of the dynamics of power and control in adolescents? relationship; development and strengthening of self-respect and self-confidence, communication skills, and problem solving skills as the aspects of healthy and non-violent relationships; raising awareness and promotion of sex/gender equality and the right to live without violence as a basic human right; raising awareness about the influence of peers and media; additional education for relevant social actors; anonymity, confidence and expertise; encouraging, counseling and support for teen dating violence victims; informing about mechanisms and resources for reporting teen dating violence; as well as psychological-social work with perpetrators of teen dating violence.
