Dating violence is a deleterious relational dynamic that affects around one-third of adolescents. It is well documented that dating violence can persist over time, occurring within the same relationship or across multiple relationships. Self-esteem could be a key factor in understanding the mechanisms of violence continuity, potentially acting as a protective factor during adolescence. Exploring its role in the continuity of dating violence and the potential differences based on whether the violence occurs within the same relationship or across different relationships could inform interventions aimed at preventing repetitive violence and revictimization by multiple partners. This study aimed to (1) examine the association between dating violence measured at two distinct time points, (2) investigate the moderating role of self-esteem in this association, and (3) explore potential variations in the protective role of self-esteem based on whether the violence reoccurred within the same relationship or across different relationships. Sex differences were also examined. A subsample of 1,018 adolescents who reported being involved in a dating relationship at two time points completed self-reported questionnaires. A moderation analysis revealed that dating violence at Time 1 predicted dating violence at Time 2 (6 months later) for both boys and girls. Among girls, self-esteem acted as a protective factor when considering the effect of partner change. Hence, girls who experienced dating violence victimization at Time 1 but had higher self-esteem were more inclined to engage in a subsequent relationship devoid of dating violence at Time 2. However, self-esteem did not emerge as a significant protective factor among boys. Self-esteem appears to be a pivotal factor in promoting engagement in subsequent positive relationships following experiences of dating violence among girls. These findings offer valuable insight that can inform preventive measures and interventions, ultimately contributing to healthier relationship dynamics and improving the well-being of dating violence victims during adolescence.

中文翻译：

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约会暴力连续性：自尊对多个伴侣再次受害的保护作用


约会暴力是一种有害的关系动态，影响着大约三分之一的青少年。有据可查的是，约会暴力会随着时间的推移而持续存在，发生在同一段关系中或跨多段关系。自尊可能是理解暴力连续机制的关键因素，可能在青春期起到保护因素的作用。探索其在约会暴力连续性中的作用，以及基于暴力是发生在同一关系内还是不同关系中的潜在差异，可以为旨在防止重复暴力和多个伴侣再次受害的干预措施提供信息。本研究旨在 （1） 检查在两个不同时间点测量的约会暴力之间的关联，（2） 调查自尊在这种关联中的调节作用，以及 （3） 根据暴力是在同一关系中还是在不同关系中再次发生，探索自尊保护作用的潜在变化。还检查了性别差异。1,018 名青少年的子样本报告在两个时间点参与了约会关系，他们完成了自我报告的问卷。一项调节分析显示，时间 1 的约会暴力预测了男孩和女孩在时间 2（6 个月后）的约会暴力。在女孩中，在考虑更换伴侣的影响时，自尊起到保护因素的作用。因此，在时间 1 经历过约会暴力受害但自尊心较高的女孩更倾向于在时间 2 参与没有约会暴力的后续关系。然而，自尊并没有成为男孩的重要保护因素。 在女孩经历约会暴力后，自尊似乎是促进参与后续积极关系的关键因素。这些发现提供了有价值的见解，可以为预防措施和干预措施提供信息，最终有助于更健康的关系动态并改善青少年时期约会暴力受害者的福祉。