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Anger Control and Acceptance of Violence as Mediators in the Relationship between Exposure to Interparental Conflict and Dating Violence Perpetration in Mexican Adolescents

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Abstract

Dating violence is a prevalent problem in high school students. Previous research has found that anger expression styles and acceptance of violence beliefs mediate the relationship between experiencing family violence and dating violence perpetration. Few studies have examined the intergenerational transmission of violence theory in predicting dating violence in Mexican teens. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among exposure to interparental violence, anger expression, acceptance of violence beliefs, and perpetration of teen dating violence in Mexican teens. Surveys were administered to 204 high school students (aged 15 to 17) from Monterrey, Mexico. Regression analyses revealed that anger control and acceptance of violence beliefs, mediated the relationship between interparental conflict and dating violence perpetration. These results support the use of family-based interventions that challenge acceptance of violence beliefs and teach anger control techniques in Mexican teens.

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Acknowledgments

The project was funded by a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) program (5 T37 MD001442-10). In addition, the authors wish to acknowledge help from Dr. Robert Pozos, Manuel Angeles, M.S. at San Diego State University, Marina Duque Mora, M.A. and Dr. Javier De Leon Cantú from the Universidad Autonóma de Nuevo León, as well as, Director Felipe Garza Garcia, Directora María Conceptión Ruíz Martínez, and María Chao Soto.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Amy Clarey & Emilio C. Ulloa

  2. Child and Family Development, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Audrey Hokoda

  3. San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile, San Diego, CA, 92182-4502, USA

    Audrey Hokoda

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  1. Amy Clarey
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  2. Audrey Hokoda
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  3. Emilio C. Ulloa
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Correspondence to Audrey Hokoda.

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Clarey, A., Hokoda, A. & Ulloa, E.C. Anger Control and Acceptance of Violence as Mediators in the Relationship between Exposure to Interparental Conflict and Dating Violence Perpetration in Mexican Adolescents. J Fam Viol 25, 619–625 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-010-9315-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-010-9315-7

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