Dating violence: a critical review of the literature

Abstract

The investigation of dating violence has previously been underrepresented in the interpersonal violence literature. Within the past 2 decades, however, researchers have significantly advanced our knowledge of the variables associated with dating violence. This critical article provides a comprehensive review of the current body of literature on dating aggression. Research on dating violence is presented, progressing from prevalence rates and types of violence to an exploration of victim and perpetrator characteristics. There is an emphasis on the necessity to establish a theoretical model of typology to allow investigation of the distinct subgroups of violent individuals. The deficits in the present body of literature are presented and include sampling methods, dependent measures, and data analyses. Finally, implications for future research and prevention are provided.