Date of Award

2009

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Clinical.

Supervisor

Fritz, Patti (Psychology)

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Adolescents' exposure to interparental violence and adolescents' perceptions of parents' attitudes towards help-seeking were investigated to determine whether these two factors have an influence on adolescents' intent to seek help for their own dating violence. Participants were 234 high school and undergraduate females ranging in age from 16 to 19 years old. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their level of exposure to violence between their parents as well as perceptions of how parents feel about seeking help for problems. Adolescents' own attitudes about help seeking, experiences of child abuse, perceived stigma regarding help-seeking, and severity of dating violence were also measured. Positive help-seeking attitudes predicted greater intent to seek help among university females whereas exposure to interparental violence predicted greater intent among high school females. Findings from this study will add to the understanding of barriers to seeking help for dating violence in adolescence, and may inform the development of intervention programs.

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