Premium
Perceived barriers, relationship quality, and informal mentors: Adolescents' preference for disclosing about dating violence
Author(s) -
Mapes Ayla. R.,
Cavell Timothy A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.22666
Subject(s) - psychology , quality (philosophy) , dating violence , preference , perception , self disclosure , clinical psychology , social psychology , human factors and ergonomics , developmental psychology , poison control , domestic violence , medicine , environmental health , philosophy , epistemology , neuroscience , economics , microeconomics
Abstract This study examined associations among adolescents' likelihood of disclosure about dating violence, perceptions of barriers to disclosure, and quality of the relationship with various sources of support. Data were gathered from 152 students in a southern high school. Results indicated youth perceived fewer barriers to disclosing to mentors compared with friends and parents, and youth reported highest relationships quality with informal mentors. However, youth indicated highest likelihood of disclosure to friends, followed by informal mentors and parents. Both relationship quality and perceived barriers to disclosure about dating violence were associated with likelihood of disclosure to friends and parents, but only relationship quality was related to likelihood of disclosure to informal mentors. Current findings (a) suggest adolescents' preferences for disclosing about dating violence are influenced by perceived barriers and relationship quality with sources of support and (b) highlight the promise of informal mentors as an additional resource for adolescents.