ISSN 1756-6657
Journal of Health and Social Care Improvement 2021 Oct: Issue 4 Vol 1
A mixed-methods study assessing the relationship satisfaction and the mental health outcomes of perpetration and victimisation in Cyber Dating Abuse (CDA) among 18–20-year-olds Harpreet Mattu, ProfDoc Counselling Psychology student University of Wolverhampton H.Mattu@wlv.ac.uk
Cyber Dating Abuse (CDA) is defined as a form of digital abuse which occurs within romantic relationships and is conceptualised as multiple abusive behaviours such as surveillance (Bennett et al., 2011), control, harassment, threats (Zweig et al., 2014), humiliation (Hinduja & Patchin, 2011), hacking (Lucero et al., 2014), and revenge porn (Flach & Deslandes, 2017). CDA has been described as a multidimensional construct as it involves various typologies of abuse (Bennett et al., 2011). Due to the strenuous demands of modern life and a decrease in mobility, online dating has gained enormous popularity among 18-25-yearolds (Frazzetto, 2010). Individuals are moving away from traditional methods of socialisation and opting for more practical methods (Finkel et al., 2012) that allows both instant connections and personal mobility (Lutz & Ranzini, 2017). These developments have formed new avenues for dating youth to socialise; Zweig et al. (2014) found a significant percentage of online daters have experienced or perpetrated cyber-monitoring, cyberstalking, and other abusive behaviours. Those who have been victim to Child Domestic Abuse (CDA) are at risk of developing mental health difficulties (Eshelman & Levendosky, 2012) and low self-esteem (Göncü & Sümer, 2011). There is
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a growing body of evidence that states victims have low-levels of relationship satisfaction, while perpetrators have higher levels (Lancaster et al., 2019). However, research has suggested, young people may be prone to misinterpret CDA because of the distorted perception they have of love (Sharpe & Taylor, 1999) and it is more discreet than physical abuse (Temple et al., 2016). These unique characteristics can cause a discrepancy in the levels of relationship satisfaction for both victims and perpetrators of CDA, making CDA more detrimental than other types of dating abuse. This literature review explores the levels of relationship satisfaction and mental health implications of victims and perpetrators in CDA within the existing literature, whilst highlighting the study’s rationale. Several studies have found an alarming number of college students who have been involved in some form of CDA in their relationships. Burke et al. (2011) found 50% out of a sample of 804 college students, had experience of CDA. Caridade et al. (2020) conducted a systematic review and reported the rates of victimisation and perpetration within young adults are, 92% and 94%. Similar findings were reported by Stonard et al. (2015), Brown & Hegarty (2018), and Peskin et al. (2017). Although
