Technology-facilitated abuse in relationships: Victimisation patterns and impact in young people

Abstract

Research into technology-facilitated abuse in relationships (TAR) focuses predominantly on TAR prevalence and correlates. This study examines TAR impact (fear/distress), and multi-dimensional patterns of youth TAR victimisation. Using the 30-item TAR Scale (measuring the dimensions of Humiliation, Monitoring and Control, Sexual Coercion and Threats) we surveyed 527 youth (46.5% men, 52.8% women, 0.7% transgender/non-binary/agender) aged 16–24 years. The Multi-dimensional Humiliation Pattern, experienced by young men more than young women, had the highest impact of the patterns. The Multi-dimensional Sexual Coercion Pattern, experienced by young women more than young men, had a medium impact. The Multi-dimensional Monitoring, Control and Threats Pattern displayed gender equivalence and minimal impact. There were no significant differences between genders on impact of all Multi-dimensional TAR Patterns. However, for some individual behaviors in the Humiliation and Threats dimensions, young women reported greater impact than young men. We demonstrate that reporting of individual TAR behaviors, without examining multi-dimensional patterns of victimisation and impact, can result in erroneous reporting of TAR and obscure its gendered nature. These findings deepen the understanding of TAR as a phenomenon revealing an individual's overall experience of multiple dimensions of TAR, highlighting important directions for further research.<br/ ><br/ >Keywords: Digital dating abuse, Impact, Fear, Distress<br/ >Victimisation, Humiliation