This article discusses a study that explored the extent and nature of high school students' dating violence. It examines, from the perspectives of both female and male students, the impact of abuse on students' emotionality, how abuse is perceived, disclosure of the violence, and relationship consequences. Types of violence investigated included emotional violence, sexual coercion and physical violence. A New Zealand sample of senior high school students (200 females and 173 male), aged 16 to 18 years, answered a questionnaire that contained both open-ended and forced-choice items relating to violence and its consequences. The questionnaire was developed from qualitative data gathered from focus group discussions with the students. In terms of gender the findings showed significant differences in the aftermath of violence, particularly where sexual coercion was concerned. Gender similarity was found in the extent of violence. Most students had experienced violence with only a small proportion avoiding it altogether. This was particularly so with emotional abuse. Physical violence was reported the least frequently. Disclosure of the three types of abuse was predominantly reported to friends, but the extent to which this occurred was much less for sexual coercion and physical violence than for emotional violence. There was a tendency for male students to feel less bothered by violence which was in contrast to female students. Limitations of the study, the context of future research, and implications for prevention, are discussed.

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Journal of Family Violence 15 (1) March 2000 : 23-36