Unique and Cumulative Effects of Intimate Partner Cybervictimization Types on Alcohol use in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults

The use of modern technology has inadvertently created newer platforms for intimate partner victimization to take place. The present study investigated (i) whether psychological, sexual, and stalking intimate partner cybervictimization (cyber IPV) types were uniquely associated with alcohol use, and (ii) whether there were additive effect of cyber IPV types on alcohol use, after controlling for histories of childhood maltreatment types, face-to-face intimate partner victimization among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) emerging adults. Participants were 277 self-identifying LGB individuals in the age range of 18-29 years (M = 25.39, SD = 2.77; 16.6% lesbian, 25.6% gay, 43% bisexual women). Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing cyber IPV types, namely, psychological, sexual, and stalking, five forms of childhood maltreatment, face-to-face IPV types (i.e., physical, psychological, and sexual) and alcohol use. Findings indicated that 29.2% (n = 81) endorsed all three type of cyber IPV. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that only sexual cyber IPV was uniquely associated with alcohol use. In support of the cumulative risk hypothesis, those with exposure to three types of cyber IPV were more likely to have greater alcohol use compared to those with exposure to any one type of cyber IPV. Findings indicate that cyber IPV can lead to behavioral health challenges, such as an increase in alcohol use among LGB emerging adults. Findings call for interventions focusing on generating awareness regarding the ill-effects of cyber IPV, and for mental health professionals to develop treatment programs to aid in the wellbeing of the victim

Cyber Dating Abuse Among Emerging Adult Latina Women

This dissertation examines the experience of cyber dating abuse victimization among Latina women in emerging adulthood. There is particular emphasis on investigating the relationship between cyber dating abuse victimization and risk and protective factors. Study one implemented a strength-based approach to investigating culturally relevant factors against cyber dating abuse victimization. The relationship between acculturation and familial social support varied based on the subtypes of abuse. Specifically, the best fitting pathways in the structural equation model indicated that Latinx cultural orientation was protective against sexual cyber dating abuse victimization, and this relationship was mediated by family support. Study two focused on examining the relationship between cyber dating abuse victimization and later experience of mental health symptoms and overall wellbeing, as well as polyvictimization. A longitudinal design was implemented with a three-month lag to test these relationships among a sample of Latina emerging adults. Findings indicated no relationship with these health outcomes. The existence of polyvictimization was supported by this study. Cyber dating abuse victimization increased likelihood of later in-person abuse. Findings highlight important considerations for violence prevention efforts

Unique, Additive, and Interactive Effects of Types of Intimate Partner Cybervictimization on Depression in Hispanic Emerging Adults

The advent of modern technology has inadvertently created newer avenues for intimate partner victimization (IPV) to transpire. This study investigated (a) whether psychological, sexual, and stalking intimate partner cybervictimization (cyber IPV) types were uniquely associated with depression and whether there were (b) additive and (c) interactive effects of cyber IPV types on depression, after controlling for face-to-face IPV among Hispanic emerging adults. Participants were 903 Hispanic emerging adults in the age range of 18 to 29 years (M = 20.68, SD = 2.42; 74% female) attending a public university in South Texas. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing cyber IPV types (psychological, sexual, and stalking), face-to-face IPV types (physical, psychological, and sexual), and depression. Results indicated that nearly three-fourths (73%) of the sample endorsed at least one type of cyber IPV. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that psychological and sexual cyber IPV was uniquely associated with depression. An accumulating effect (additive effect model) of the three types of cyber IPV on depression was also found. Interaction effect model analysis yielded no significant effects. Findings reveal the detrimental effect of cyber IPV on mental health and calls for institutions and clinicians to develop preventive and treatment programs to aid victim-survivors

Cyber Intimate Partner Victimization and Its Association with Depression and Alcohol Use Among Hispanic Emerging Adults: Identifying Protective Factors

The advent of modern technology has inadvertently created newer avenues for intimate partner victimization (IPV) to transpire. This study investigated whether among Hispanic emerging adults psychological, sexual, and stalking intimate partner cybervictimization (cyber IPV) types were uniquely associated with depression and alcohol use; whether there were additive effects of cyber IPV types on depression and alcohol use; and to test whether cognitive reappraisal, self-compassion, and flourishing served as protective factors by moderating the unique effect of each cyber IPV type and the effect of cyber IPV multi-victimization on depression and alcohol use. Participants were 1,129 Hispanic emerging adults in the age range of 18 to 29 years (M = 20.53, SD = 2.44; 72.5% female) attending the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Findings indicated that nearly 73% of the sample endorsed at least one type of cyber IPV. Multiple regression analysis showed that psychological, sexual and stalking cyber IPV were uniquely associated with depression and that psychological and sexual cyber IPV were uniquely associated with alcohol use. Additive models showed that exposure to one type of cyber IPV and exposure to three types of cyber IPV were associated to depression. Only exposure to three types of cyber IPV was associated with alcohol use. Cognitive reappraisal and flourishing were identified as protective factors, but their protective role depended on the association between cyber IPV type and depression and alcohol use

Patterns of childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence, emotion dysregulation, and mental health symptoms among lesbian, gay, and bisexual emerging adults: A three-step latent class approach

Background: Childhood abuse and neglect (CAN) and intimate partner violence victimization (IPV) is prevalent among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals (LGB). Identification of distinct patterns of childhood and adult victimization, including technology-mediated and face-to-face IPV, and their cumulative relations to mental/behavioral health challenges, among LGB people is needed to facilitate identification of at-risk individuals. Objective: Using latent class analysis, we first sought to identify patterns of lifetime interpersonal victimization, primarily five types of CAN and IPV in LGB emerging adults. Second, we examined if LGB-status and race/ethnicity predicted classmembership; third, we assessed differences between the latent classes on emotion dysregulation, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and alcohol use. Participants: Participants were 288 LGB adults between 18-29 years (M = 25.35, SD = 2.76; 41.7% gay/lesbian) recruited via Amazon MTurk. Methods and Results: The 3-step LCA identified five-latent classes: high victimization, childhood emotional abuse and neglect, cybervictimization, adult face-to-face IPV, and lower victimization. People of color (including Hispanics) were more likely to be in the high victimization class, and bisexual individuals, especially bisexual women, in the childhood emotional abuse and neglect class. High victimization and childhood emotional abuse and neglect classes had elevated emotion dysregulation levels and depression and anxiety symptoms, and the high victimization class reported the highest levels of alcohol use. Conclusion: Findings suggest a detrimental effect of cumulative interpersonal victimization on emotion dysregulation and the mental/behavioral health of LGB emerging adults, with bisexuals and LGB-people of color at heightened risk of cumulative victimization and of related mental/behavioral health challenges

Latent Classes of Bidirectional Face-to-Face and Cyber Intimate Partner Violence Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Emerging Adults: The Role of Minority Stressors

The rates of intimate partner violence have been found to be higher among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals when compared with heterosexual populations. However, lesser is known about the impact of specific minority stressors experienced by LGB populations on their face-to-face intimate partner violence (IPV) and cyber IPV experiences. Using a three-step latent class approach, the present study investigated (i) the latent classes of self-reported types of face-to-face IPV and cyber IPV perpetration and victimization and (ii) their associations with LGB distal and proximal minority stressors (i.e., vicarious trauma, discrimination, family rejection, and LGB-identity disclosure). Participants were 288 LGB emerging adults in the age range of 18-29 years (bisexual: n = 168, gay: n = 72, and lesbian: n = 48). Findings showed the presence of four latent classes, namely, face-to-face IPV (n = 32; 37.5% gay, 18.8% lesbian, and 43.8% bisexual individuals), cyber IPV (n = 66; 33.3% gay, 12.1% lesbian, and 54.5% bisexual individuals), psychological and stalking cyber IPV (n = 89; 15.7% gay, 15.7% lesbian, and 68.5% bisexual individuals), and low IPV (n = 101; 23.8% gay, 19.8% lesbian, and 56.4% bisexual individuals). Furthermore, multinomial logistic regressions indicated that greater exposure to the minority stressors such as exposure to heterosexism, namely, discrimination and harassment, rejection from one\u27s family of origin, and exposure to vicarious trauma, as well as a lower degree of LGB-identity disclosure, largely predicted latent classes with greater probabilities of IPV exposure, namely, cyber IPV, face-to-face IPV classes, and psychological and stalking cyber IPV. Findings suggest the importance of addressing the role of minority stressors in IPV interventions and the creation of competent LGB-related services and training modules for clinicians

Victimization, Stress, and Psychological Well-being: An Analysis of the 2009 Canadian Victimization Survey

This study addresses several methodological and theoretical gaps in extant literature that has examined victimization and its correlation with resultant mental health outcomes. The 2009 Canadian GSS Victimization [cycle 23] survey, comprising of 19,422 participants aged 15 years or older, was used to examine: (1) the extent to which different forms of victimization are related to stress, psychological well-being (i.e., self-report mental health and life satisfaction), and substance abuse behavior; (2) whether stress acts as a mediator in the relationship between victimization and mental health outcome measures; (3) if low total household income moderates the association between victimization and mental health. It was found that several types of victimization significantly predicted greater levels of stress, poorer self-report mental health and lower levels of life satisfaction, as well as greater odds of engaging in alcohol and drug use behavior. It was also determined that perceived stress mediates (either fully or partially) the relationship between some forms of victimization and psychological well-being (i.e., measurement of self-report mental health and life satisfaction, but not substance abuse). Although very limited support is found for the third hypothesis, it was determined that low THI modifies the association between physical/sexual assault and life satisfaction to predict a stronger negative correlation, compared to the main effect; low THI modifies the association between personal victimization and high alcohol use to predict a stronger positive correlation. Agnew’s General Strain Theory (1992), Pearlin’s Stress Process (1981), and the causation hypothesis are used to inform the discussion of results. Future research/policy directions are discussed

Protective Factors against Dating Violence Perpetration and Victimization

Dating violence is a prominent problem among college students that can result in harmful physical and mental health outcomes. To date, much research has focused on risk factors, but less is known about protective factors that may decrease the likelihood of dating violence. As such, the current paper examines protective factors (e.g. religion, positive parental relationships) against perpetrating and/or experiencing dating violence and whether these protective factors operate similarly for both perpetration and victimization. Data were gathered in 2013-2014 at two large public universities using pencil and paper surveys (N = 1482). Bivariate results revealed that women have more protective factors than men. Multivariate results showed that religious attendance, lower entitlement, more positive maternal relationship quality, and having more close friends with lower rates of drinking were all protective against dating violence perpetration and victimization. Additionally, lower respondent drinking was also protective against both dating violence perpetration and victimization. These findings highlight the importance of positive friendships as protective factors against dating violence victimization and perpetration. Finally, current study findings also emphasize that abstaining from alcohol is protective against dating violence victimization and perpetration. Advisor: Kimberly A. Tyle

Witnessing Parental Violence and Cyber IPV Perpetration in Hispanic Emerging Adults: The Mediating Role of Attitudes Toward IPV

Recent studies indicate that the perpetration of intimate partner violence via cyberspaces (cyber IPV), namely, psychological aggression, sexual aggression, and cyberstalking is high among emerging adults. However, little is known of the risk factors that lead to cyber IPV and far lesser within Hispanic adults. Based on the intergenerational transmission of violence hypothesis, the present study examined the indirect effect of witnessing parental violence during childhood on the three types of cyber IPV through attitudes condoning IPV in Hispanic men and women, separately. Participants were 1,136 Hispanic emerging adults in the age range of 18-29 years (M = 20.53 years, SD = 2.42; 72.5% women, 88% Mexican descent). Over half of the participants (54.2%) witnessed at least one instance of parental violence during childhood. In contrast to women, men were more likely to hold attitudes accepting of IPV and perpetrate cyber sexual IPV, whereas women were more likely to report cyberstalking perpetration. Men and women with exposure to mother-to-father violence held attitudes justifying IPV that was associated with perpetrating the three cyber IPV types in adulthood (women: Brange = .016-.036; men: Brange = .016-.024). No significant gender differences were found in the associations of mother-to-father WPV and father-to-mother WPV on the three types of cyber IPV perpetration. These findings are discussed in the context of Hispanic culture, which has specific implications for cyber IPV intervention strategies