Types of Aggressive Relationships in Adolescent Dating Violence

Abstract

Seven types of aggressive relationships in which adolescent dating violence occurs were identified in this qualitative study. Eighty-five young adults described 114 aggressive romantic relationships they had experienced as adolescents. Constant comparison analysis was used to create a typology from these data. The relationships were characterized by two main factors: the regularity and frequency of the aggression (i.e., the topography of the aggression) and the extent to which each partner initiated and engaged in aggressive acts (i.e., the directionality of the aggression). The aggressive relationships were identified as turbulent, maltreating, brawling, volatile, bickering, deprecating, and intrusive. The key characteristics of each type of relationship are described and exemplars are presented. Implications for theory construction and program development are discussed.

Keywords:

• constant comparison analysis
• emotional abuse
• physical violence
• sexual assault

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Injury Prevention Division [5R01CE001183], Donna S. Martsolf, Principal Investigator.