Longitudinal trajectories of romantic relational victimization and associations with mastery across adolescence to young adulthood

Relational forms of romantic victimization characterized by attempts to ignore, exclude, or covertly manipulate a romantic partner is an understudied and often overlooked form of intimate partner violence. While cross sectional research demonstrates associations with mental health difficulties, longitudinal patterns of romantic relational victimization (RRV) independent of physical forms of aggression have received relatively less attention, particularly with regards to how patterns of RRV change over the course of adolescence to young adulthood. The current study identifies longitudinal trajectories of RRV in a sample of adolescents (ages 12–18) followed biennially across 10 years ( N = 532). We also assessed how changes in youths’ perceptions of personal mastery and control (i.e., environmental mastery) relate to differences in youths’ longitudinal trajectories of RRV as developmental gains in these competencies may mitigate RRV. Findings from growth mixture models revealed three patterns of RRV characterized by low stable levels across adolescence and young adulthood (87.4%); an adolescent limited trajectory where RRV peaks in adolescence and declines into young adulthood (9.4%); and a young adulthood limited trajectory where RRV increases during young adulthood (3.2%). Our results show that diminished environmental mastery at both life stages was associated with higher rates of victimization. Moreover, the change in mastery over time was also associated with victimization. Trajectories were also associated with relational worries and additional forms of victimization, offering insight into poly-victimization and its negative effects. Our findings reveal heterogeneous patterns of RRV during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood that are differentially related to changes in youths’ development of mastery and control. These findings offer potential targets for prevention.