Project TDV x 3 - An Integrative Data Analysis

Teen dating violence (TDV) affects an alarming number of adolescents in romantic or dating relationships (Niolon et al., 2015), with sexual minority youth (SMY) at the greatest risk for TDV (Petit et al., 2021). Yet, most available measures of TDV and related risk factors (e.g., attitudes about violence) have been developed for and validated with heterosexual youth only. Similarly, frequently used theories identifying youth at risk for TDV perpetration (e.g., intergenerational transmission of violence framework) have not been tested for SMY. This three-article dissertation addresses these gaps by examining the equivalence of theories and measures foundational for TDV prevention programming leveraging advanced quantitative methods related to psychometric modeling and data aggregation. Article one examined the measurement equivalence of the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory (CADRI; Wolfe et al., 2001) across heterosexual and SMY. Article two investigated differential item functioning of acceptance of dating violence items across heterosexual and SMY. Article three examined the relationship between exposure to family violence and TDV perpetration, and the extent to which relational violence accepting attitudes mediate this association across studies and among heterosexual and SMY. Findings draw attention to and challenge heteronormativity in dating violence research via the use of novel advanced quantitative methods and implications for future research and practice are discussed within a social-justice oriented framework for quantitative research.