137. The Role of Refusal Self-Efficacy as a Mediator in Predicting Association Between Dating Violence and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study

Adolescence is a critical stage for sexual development that coincides with the onset of dating relationships and the debut of sexual behavior, and teen dating violence (TDV) is prevalent in many of these relationships. While cross-sectional studies have shown that TDV victimization is linked to sexual risk behavior (SRB), the pathway between these variables is not well-understood. To address this knowledge gap, we explore the mediating role of self-efficacy to refuse sex in the longitudinal relationship between physical TDV victimization and subsequent SRB among adolescents.
Source: Journal of Adolescent Health - Category: Child Development Authors: Source Type: research