Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature and characteristics of adolescent females' dating relationships, including any experiences of abuse. The research question to be answered was what are the characteristics of adolescent dating relationships? Answering this research question, using grounded theory methods, contributes to nursing knowledge about adolescent women's perceptions of factors and influences that foster non-abusive relationships and those factors and influences that support abusive relationships. The many health problems existing as the result of violence are of concern to nursing. Knowledge about dating violence in the adolescent population is limited and based mostly on findings from survey research. A grounded theory approach was used to generate substantive theory about this phenomenon. The relational statements, grounded in the data, were used to construct a theory explaining the factors and influences that support non-abusive relationships and those factors and influences that support abusive relationships, according to the perceptions of adolescent women participants. Teens have a wide interpretation of the definition of dating, however female adolescents overwhelmingly agreed on these seven stages of dating; group dating, talking and exchanging, group-couple dating, dating outside the group, re-entering the group as a couple, breaking up, and reintroducing the self into the group. The circle is the central factor affecting female adolescents' potential for risk or harm in dating relationships. The circle, consisting of two interacting same sex peer groups, provides structure as the teen navigates the dating course. The circle provides experience and is experiencing and creating meaning for the teen over time. Norms and rules are created within the circle and are shared by the members of the circle, leading to an increased level of safety from those not sharing these norms, rules, and values. The findings from this study provide the basis for focused assessments of risks for adolescent women in dating relationships and interventions for women at risk. This study also provides the basis for studying adolescent males' perceptions of dating experiences.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 3053660; ProQuest document ID: 304798656. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Sharyl E. Toscano, PhD, MS, BS, RN-CPN, Professor - University of Alaska, Anchorage

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Grounded Theory

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Adolescents, Teenage Dating, Relationships, Safety

Advisors

Hawkins, Joellen

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

Boston College

Degree Year

2002

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2023-05-18

Full Text of Presentation

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