The Influence of Family Violence and Attitudes Toward Help-Seeking on Adolescentsu27 Intent to Seek Help for Intimate Partner Aggression

摘要

Adolescentsu27 exposure to interparental violence and adolescentsu27 perceptions of parentsu27 attitudes towards help-seeking were investigated to determine whether these two factors have an influence on adolescentsu27 intent to seek help for their own dating violence. Participants were 234 high school and undergraduate females ranging in age from 16 to 19 years old. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their level of exposure to violence between their parents as well as perceptions of how parents feel about seeking help for problems. Adolescentsu27 own attitudes about help seeking, experiences of child abuse, perceived stigma regarding help-seeking, and severity of dating violence were also measured. Positive help-seeking attitudes predicted greater intent to seek help among university females whereas exposure to interparental violence predicted greater intent among high school females. Findings from this study will add to the understanding of barriers to seeking help for dating violence in adolescence, and may inform the development of intervention programs.