Off- and Online Heterosexual Dating Violence, Perceived Attachment to Parents and Peers and Suicide Risk in Young Women

Abstract

[EN]Dating violence (DV) is a public health problem among young people, especiallywomen. It involves violent acts towards one’s partner and occurs face-to-face (offline) or throughthe Internet (online). Offline DV is linked to suicidal ideation and attachment to parents and peers.Fewer studies analyze the psychological and social consequences of online DV. This study tests thelink between young women’s DV victimization (off- and online), suicide risk (SR), and parent andpeer support in a sample of young Spanish females (N = 1227) (Mage=19, SD = 2.82; range = 13–28).Results confirm that compared to non-victims off- and online DV increase suicidal thoughts andattempts. This effect is stronger for victims of both types of DV (thoughts: OR offline DV = 3.11;CI95% 2.06, 4.69; OR online DV = 2.37; CI95% 1.69, 3.32; OR off-online DV = 4.19 CI95% 2.44, 7.17)(attempts: OR offline DV = 4.02; CI95% 1.83, 8.81; OR online DV = 3.69; CI95% 1.96, 7.01; OR off-onlineDV = 10.55 CI95% 2.56, 44.43). Mediation and moderation models were used to assess the effect ofperceived attachment of parents and friends in DV victims and SR. Mediation analyses indicatedthat perceived attachment and proximity to parents and peers reduces the impact of DV on SR.Moderation analyses showed that a high level of perceived peer attachment reduces the effect ofoffline DV on SR. Regarding off-online DV, a high level of perceived parent attachment mitigatessuicide risk. Loneliness, lack of care from loved ones, and thwarted belongingness increase suicidalthoughts in DV victims. Peers and parents’ proximity may prevent risk behaviors in DV victims