Iraqi American refugee youths' exposure to violence: relationship to attitudes and peers' perpetration of dating violence

Violence Against Women. 2013 Feb;19(2):202-21. doi: 10.1177/1077801213476456. Epub 2013 Feb 18.

Abstract

This exploratory study examines the relationships between exposure to violence in the community, school, home and dating relationships among Iraqi American youth. As Iraqi American youth are traditionally not allowed to date, dating violence measures focused on attitudes about and perceptions of abuse occurring in the relationships of friends. The number of friends known who were secretly dating was the most significant predictor of acceptability of dating violence and perceived prevalence of abuse. Youth who experienced child abuse perceived higher rates of dating violence among their peers. Findings highlight the complexities of prevention and intervention of teen dating violence within secretive relationships.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attitude*
  • Child
  • Child Abuse
  • Courtship* / ethnology
  • Culture*
  • Female
  • Friends
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Iraq
  • Male
  • Peer Group*
  • Perception*
  • Refugees
  • United States
  • Violence* / ethnology