The Influence of Dating Violence on Condom Use within Romantic Relationships among Adolescents

Yasamin Kusunoki, University of California, Los Angeles

A growing literature demonstrates both short and long term consequences of intimate partner violence among teens. These include higher rates of psychological distress as well as higher rates of adverse reproductive health outcomes. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this paper seeks to explain variation in condom use within adolescent romantic relationship by examining the influences of individual and relationship factors, particularly dating violence. First, we will provide descriptive statistics of the sample of adolescents and relationships. Second, we will examine the proportions of boys and girls who report dating violence victimization as well as the proportion of relationships within which intimate partner violence occurred. Lastly, we will utilize a multilevel approach to investigate the influences of relationship violence on condom use. We hypothesize that adolescents who have experienced dating violence in a relationship are less likely to have ever used a condom in that relationship.