Ten-year trends in physical dating violence victimization among US adolescent females.

BACKGROUND The study provides 10-year trend data on the psychosocial correlates of physical dating violence (PDV) victimization among females who participated in the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys of US high school students between1999 and 2009. METHODS The dependent variable was PDV. Independent variables included 4 dimensions: violence, suicide, substance use, and sexual risk behavior. Unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were examined followed by multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Approximately 1 in 10 girls experience PDV annually. PDV among adolescent females is a persistent public health problem despite concerted research and intervention efforts. PDV is associated with a set of psychosocial risk factors, particularly sad/hopeless feelings, suicidal ideation, and physical fighting. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal research is needed to improve understanding of the directionality of effects. Efforts need to concentrate on how best to make inroads in terms of primary and secondary prevention.