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Can Posting be a Catalyst for Dating Violence? Social Media Behaviors and Physical Interactions

Matsangidou, Maria, Otterbacher, Jahna (2018) Can Posting be a Catalyst for Dating Violence? Social Media Behaviors and Physical Interactions. Violence and Gender, 5 (3). pp. 182-190. ISSN 2326-7836. (doi:10.1089/vio.2017.0051) (KAR id:67626)

Abstract

Although Social Media can fuel jealousy between romantic partners, by providing a convenient and socially acceptable means of monitoring one another’s online behavior, little has been written about the possible role of Social Media in Dating Violence. We examine if and how Social Media behaviors fuel victimization during physical interactions. In addition, we consider if and how one’s partner in a physical relationship attempts to manipulate his or her Social Media behaviors. We car- ried out parallel questionnaires using the Dating Violence Questionnaire (DVQ), using both the un- altered version of the instrument as well as one in which questions were adapted to the Social Me- dia setting (e.g., “Has your partner beaten you as a consequence of something you said or did on social media?”). Participants (n = 144), were equally selected from both genders, in a counterbal- anced experimental design. We assigned half of the participants (n =72) to the Control group, who were administered the unaltered instrument, and half to the Social Media group. Similar rates of Dating Violence were reported by both groups. Respondents in the Social Media group reported experiencing physical, sexual and psychological violence, because of something said or done on Social Media. We also found that physical interactions between the romantic partners affects and alters the Social Media behaviors; Social Media spaces were often monitored by one’s partner, and altered in response to the partner’s demands. Overall, those involved in stable relationships were less likely to have experienced victimization, with men reporting more victimization as compared to women. To conclude, up to 76% of respondents experienced some form of Dating Violence and up to 83% of respondents experienced some form of manipulation related to their Social Media use, demonstrating the significance of this phenomenon in the lives of today’s youth.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1089/vio.2017.0051
Uncontrolled keywords: Dating Violence · Social Media Behaviors · Physical Interactions · Victimization · Romantic Relationships
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Engineering and Digital Arts
Depositing User: Jim Ang
Date Deposited: 16 Jul 2018 15:09 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2022 23:33 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/67626 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Matsangidou, Maria.

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