PEDIATRICS Vol. 107 No. 5 May 2001, p. e72

ELECTRONIC ARTICLE:
Dating Violence and the Sexual Health of Black Adolescent Females

Received May 17, 2000; accepted Dec 11, 2000.

Gina M. Wingood^*, , Ralph J. DiClemente^{*, , §}, Donna Hubbard McCree^*, , Kathy Harrington, and Susan L. Davies

From the ^* Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia;  Emory/Atlanta Center for AIDS Research, Atlanta, Georgia; ^§ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; and  Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.

Objective.  This study examines the association between having a history of dating violence and the sexual health of adolescent females.

Methods.  Black adolescent females (n = 522) completed a survey that assessed dating violence, defined as ever having a physically abusive boyfriend, and an interview that assessed sexual behaviors.

Results.  Dating violence was reported by 18.4% of adolescents (n = 96). Adolescents with a history of dating violence were, in the past 6 months, 2.8 times more likely to have a sexually transmitted disease, 2.8 times more likely to have nonmonogamous male partners, and half as likely to use condoms consistently. Furthermore, adolescents with a history of dating violence were significantly more likely to fear the perceived consequences of negotiating condom use (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8); fear talking with their partner about pregnancy prevention (OR = 2.6); have a higher perceived risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease (OR = 2.1); perceive less control over their sexuality (OR = 2.4); have peer norms nonsupportive of using condoms (OR = 3.1); and have norms nonsupportive of having a healthy relationship (OR = 2.1).

Conclusions.  Adolescents who have experienced dating violence are more likely to exhibit a spectrum of unhealthy sexual behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and norms.  Key words:  dating violence, sexual behaviors, pregnancy.

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