Relationship Violence and Condom Use among Young Adult Dating Relationships: The Context of Violence Severity, Frequency, and Perpetrator

Nicole R. Steward-Streng, Child Trends
Sabrina Nettles, Child Trends
Megan Barry, Child Trends

Understanding the multiple dimensions of relationship violence and their associations with condom use will help inform program efforts to reduce STDs and unintended pregnancy among young adults. This study extends previous research by using data on young adults’ dating relationships from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to assess male and female reports of both experiencing and perpetrating violence. We examine two measures of violence -- severity and an index of the relative frequency, severity, and perpetration of violence -- and their association with condom use. Twenty-two percent of female-reported relationships (15% of male-reported relationships) involved violence. Incorporating power dynamics and relationship turbulence approaches, we found that both males and females who reported relationship violence that resulted in injury and those who reported partner-intense violence had lower odds of condom use at last sex. Less severe violence, common couple violence, and respondent-initiated violence were not associated with condom use.