Keywords
Physical violence
Adolescence
Boys
Intervention
How to Cite
Abstract
Objectives: Although most literature on physical dating violence (physical DV) focuses on victimization among girls, boys are also at risk. This study aims to document the romantic experiences of boys who have experienced physical DV.
Method: In the Youth Romantic Pathways Survey, 1,701 boys reported having been in a romantic relationship in the past year. Among them, 184 boys had experienced at least one episode of physical DV and responded to an open-ended question inviting them to describe the most difficult experience they had in a romantic relationship. A qualitative analysis was conducted based on the responses, and was complemented by correlational and mean comparison analyses.
Results: Five conceptual categories emerged, detailing relational (n = 39) or sexual difficulties (n = 9), romantic breakups (n = 47), experiences of infidelity (n = 57), or physical DV (n = 19). Thirteen participants reported no difficult events. Only 15 participants mentioned a DV event, and three reported experiencing physical DV. The analyses revealed that the higher a participant’s tolerance for violence, the more they experienced different forms of DV.
Implications: The collected testimonies highlight multiple sources of distress in their romantic relationships, in addition to physical DV. These findings underscore the importance of helping boys develop their resilience skills, recognize different forms of DV, and support them in seeking help.
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