TY - JOUR PY - 2014// TI - Cyber dating abuse among teens using school-based health centers JO - Pediatrics A1 - Dick, Rebecca N. A1 - McCauley, Heather L. A1 - Jones, Kelley A. A1 - Tancredi, Daniel J. A1 - Goldstein, Sandi A1 - Blackburn, Samantha A1 - Monasterio, Erica A1 - James, Lisa A1 - Silverman, Jay G. A1 - Miller, Elizabeth SP - e1560 EP - 7 VL - 134 IS - 6 N2 - OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of cyber dating abuse among youth aged 14 to 19 years seeking care at school-based health centers and associations with other forms of adolescent relationship abuse (ARA), sexual violence, and reproductive and sexual health indicators.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the 2012-2013 school year (participant n = 1008). Associations between cyber dating abuse and study outcomes were assessed via logistic regression models for clustered survey data.

RESULTS: Past 3-month cyber dating abuse was reported by 41.4% of this clinic-based sample. More female than male participants reported cyber dating abuse victimization (44.6% vs 31.0%). Compared with no exposure, low- ("a few times") and high-frequency ("once or twice a month" or more) cyber dating abuse were significantly associated with physical or sexual ARA (low: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-4.4; high: aOR 5.4, 95% CI 4.0-7.5) and nonpartner sexual assault (low: aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.5; high: aOR 4.1, 95% CI 2.8-5.9). Analysis with female participants found an association between cyber dating abuse exposure and contraceptive nonuse (low: aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.7; high: aOR 4.1, 95% CI 2.0-8.4) and reproductive coercion (low: aOR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.2; high: aOR 5.7, 95% CI 2.8-11.6).

CONCLUSIONS: Cyber dating abuse is common and associated with ARA and sexual assault in an adolescent clinic-based sample. The associations of cyber dating abuse with sexual behavior and pregnancy risk behaviors suggest a need to integrate ARA education and harm reduction counseling into sexual health assessments in clinical settings.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0031-4005 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-0537 ID - ref1 ER -