Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Supervisor

Wells, Samantha L.

Abstract

Dating violence victimization is prevalent among all age groups yet most literature has focused on adolescents and young adults. The present study examined dating violence victimization among Canadians aged 15 years and older. The prevalence of dating violence victimization and its associated factors, as well as the sex differences in factors associated with dating violence victimization were assessed. Data were obtained from the General Social Survey, Cycle 28, 2014 (N = 12,119). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable statistics were used to assess the objectives. Dating violence victimization was reported by 4.1% of the total sample, 2.9% of males, and 5.3% of females. Social neighbourhood disorder was associated with an increased odds of dating violence victimization among the total sample (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.38 - 2.77) and among males (OR: 3.36, 95% CI: 2.04 - 5.52). The findings of the present study may have important implications for prevention and intervention initiatives.

Summary for Lay Audience

Previous research has focused on dating violence victimization that occurs during adolescence and young adulthood. However, dating violence victimization is not solely experienced by young people. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to look at dating violence victimization among a broader population of Canadians. Specifically, this study used information from the 2014 cycle of the General Social Survey, which had respondents from the ten provinces who were 15 years of age and older.

The study objectives were to examine the prevalence of dating violence victimization in Canada, as well as to identify important factors associated with dating violence victimization. The primary explanatory variables of interest were socio-economic characteristics and neighbourhood disorder indicators as these factors have been understudied in previous research. The other variables of interest included demographic characteristics, substance use, and childhood victimization, which have been explored in previous research. The study also assessed whether the prevalence of dating violence victimization and the factors associated with dating violence victimization were different for men and women.

Overall, it was estimated that 4.1% (95% CI: 3.8% - 4.5%) of Canadians experienced dating violence victimization in the previous 5 years, and the sex-specific results demonstrated that more women (5.3%, 95% CI: 4.7% - 5.9%) than men (2.9%, 95% CI: 2.5% - 3.3%) experienced dating violence victimization. In terms of factors associated with dating violence victimization, in unadjusted models we found that employment status, physical neighbourhood disorder and social neighbourhood disorder were the primary explanatory variables associated with dating violence victimization in the total sample. Sex, age, current marital status, heavy episodic drinking, cannabis use, illicit drug use, childhood physical assault and childhood sexual assault were also all individually associated with dating violence victimization.

In the adjusted models, social neighbourhood disorder remained associated with dating violence victimization controlling for demographic characteristics, substance use, and childhood victimization. However, when we compared factors associated with dating violence victimization for men and women, the association between social neighbourhood disorder and dating violence victimization was significantly different. Social neighbourhood disorder was associated with dating violence victimization among men but not among women.

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