A Test of General Strain Theory on Teen Dating Violence Perpetration

One of the most substantial health issues still prevalent among adolescents is teen dating violence. Research indicates that up to 60% of teens report some form of aggression or violence in their relationship. While a number of studies have reported risk markers correlated with this social problem, few studies have tested the applicability of Agnew’s general strain theory on teen dating violence. Therefore, the goal of the current study is to examine Agnew’s general strain theory and teen dating violence perpetration. More specifically, this study aims to determine which, if at all, of the three stressors (the failure to achieve positively valued goals, the removal of positively valued stimuli, and the presentation of negative stimuli) predicted teen dating violence, while also determining if negative emotions mediate the relationship between the three stressors and teen dating violence. A subset of data obtained from the Technology, Teen Dating Violence and Abuse, and Bullying in Three States ( n = 1,940) showed support for the theory. Results show that negative emotions (anger, depression, and anxiety) arose from two of the three stressors. Analyses from logistic regression models demonstrated that all three stressors did predict teen dating violence. The study’s overall contributions and limitations will be discussed.