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Abstract
The healthy messages parents convey to their adolescents about risk behaviors may be related to better adolescent outcomes. Few studies have examined the types of messages or strategies caregivers use to discuss dating violence with their early adolescents. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 African American maternal caregivers of early adolescent girls. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and coded using an emergent process. Themes in dating violence conversations focused on the meaning of love, identifying red flags in relationships, and what to do when involved in a problem dating situation. Caregivers used teachable moments (e.g., watching a TV show) to start conversations, weaved dating violence topics into conversations about other sensitive topics, or included their young daughter in conversations with older siblings. The results of this study highlight strategies that can be implemented in family-based prevention programming and also the importance of helping caregivers communicate their values and expectations.
Keywords dating violence, parenting, communication, minority
References
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Author Biographies
Rosalie Corona is an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research focuses on health promotion in African American and Latino families. She has also been involved in the development and evaluation of family-based prevention programs.
Melissa M. Gomes is a nurse practitioner interested in adolescent health promotion and risk reduction. She has a particular interest in understanding and preventing youth aggression.
Michell Pope is a doctoral student in the Health Psychology Program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where she also received her bachelor of science degree in psychology. Her research interests focus on minority adolescent health and parent-child communication surrounding health-related attitudes and behaviors.
Carla Shaffer is a postdoctoral fellow at the Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development at Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research interests include improving parent-adolescent communication about sensitive topics in racial/ethnic minority families.
Anna Yaros is a postdoctoral fellow at the Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research interests are in risk and protective factors for youth aggression. She is interested in social cognitive risk factors, hostile attribution bias, and the role of parents in child development.
