Citation
Warner, Tara D.; Warner, David F.; & Kuhl, Danielle C. (2015). Too soon, too fast, or both? Dating debut and relationship progression among victims of adolescent street violence. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology. Washington, DC.Abstract
In addition to detrimental effects on adolescent health and well-being, youth violent victimization (YVV) is linked to several role transitions that mark a precocious exit from adolescence and premature entry into adulthood (Hagan and Foster 2001; Haynie et al. 2009). A study by Kuhl and colleagues (2012) found that YVV also leads to early coresidential union formation (cohabitation, and especially marriage), which itself is associated with several negative outcomes (socioeconomic and behavioral). It remains unknown, however, why victims of youth violence enter early unions. The current study uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and event history analysis to explore whether youth victims form precocious coresidential unions (a) because they begin dating at earlier ages than nonvictimized peers, (b) because their relationships progress at an elevated speed, moving swiftly from dating to cohabitation (or marriage), or (c) both (early debut and fast progression). We add to the “precocious exits” literature by explicating the processes driving early union formation among victims of violence in adolescence. Preliminary analyses indicate that youth victims begin dating at younger ages than nonvictims, but once dating, victim’s relationships progress to cohabitation no faster than do relationships among nonvictims.Reference Type
Conference proceedingBook Title
Annual Meeting of the American Society of CriminologyAuthor(s)
Warner, Tara D.Warner, David F.
Kuhl, Danielle C.