Teens' Experiences of Harsh Parenting and Exposure to Severe Intimate Partner Violence: Adding Insult to Injury in Predicting Teen Dating Violence

Objective: The present study examines whether teens' experiences of harsh parenting and exposure to severe intimate partner violence (IPV) each contribute to the prediction of dating violence perpetration, and whether youth trauma symptoms mediate these hypothesized associations. Method: Participants were 88 teens (45 females) and their mothers; families were recruited from the juvenile justice system. At baseline, mothers reported on severe IPV with any current or former male partner, and teens reported on their experiences of harsh parenting and trauma symptoms. Teens reported on their dating violence perpetration in telephone interviews conducted over 3 months following the baseline assessment. Results: Teens' exposure to severe IPV and recent harsh parenting were both positively associated with teen dating violence perpetration while controlling for the effects of the other. Harsh parenting was related to general and anger-related trauma symptoms, and trauma symptoms mediated the association between harsh parenting and teen dating violence perpetration. Trauma symptoms did not mediate the association between teens' exposure to severe IPV and teen dating violence perpetration. Adolescent sex moderated some of the documented associations, with stronger associations emerging for females. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a broad assessment of family aggression and violence should be considered when investigating links between youth exposure to family violence and teen dating violence perpetration.