Do Parenting Practices and Pro-social Peers Moderate the Association between Intimate Partner Violence Exposure and Teen Dating Violence?

OBJECTIVE: Teen dating violence (TDV) affects the lives of millions of adolescents each year. The current study examined the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure and TDV perpetration and victimization. In addition, positive parenting practices and pro-social peer relationships were examined as potential moderators of the association between IPV and TDV.

METHOD: Participants were 41 adolescents (ages 12-15) and their caregivers. Youth were currently or recently in an out-of-home placement due to maltreatment. Youth reported on their exposure to violence, involvement in TDV, and association with pro-social peers. Caregivers reported on their parenting practices.

RESULTS: There was a significant, positive association between IPV exposure and TDV victimization, but not between IPV and TDV perpetration. In addition, positive parenting practices and pro-social peer relationships moderated the association between IPV and TDV perpetration, such that there was a positive association between IPV exposure and TDV perpetration at lower, but not higher levels of these moderators. Similarly, there was a positive association between IPV exposure and TDV victimization at lower, but not higher levels of positive parenting practices.

CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance positive parenting practices and pro-social peers as key protective factors that may attenuate TDV involvement for high-risk adolescents.