Exploring Cyber-Based Dating Aggression during Adolescence using Ecological Momentary Assessment
Date
2019-05-29
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Abstract
This study examined Cyber-Based Dating Aggression (CBDA) using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). CBDA was defined as intentional harmful behaviour through communication technology within a dating relationship that a romantic partner wants to avoid (Attewell & Fritz, 2010; Corcoran, Guckin, & Prentice, 2015; Piitz & Fritz, 2009). EMA is characterized by repeated measurements of a specific event as participants go about their daily lives (Hektner, Schmidt, & Csikszentmihalyi, 2007). The final sample included 52 participants, five of whom indicated they experienced CBDA over the three-week data collection period. Three incidents of sexting, two incidents of a privacy breach, and one incident of control were reported. Participants who experienced CBDA reported that it had little to no negative effect on their relationship satisfaction. Written responses related to the behavioural reactions of participants who experienced CBDA were also collected; most responses included some type of positive communication with their partner, with other reactions including substance use or doing nothing. As there are few studies exploring online dating aggression during adolescence, this study contributed to a growing area of research by attempting to employ a real-time data collection strategy (EMA) with a small sample of older adolescents. Given the small sample size, inferential statistical analysis was not possible, and the study is largely descriptive in nature, limiting generalizability to the larger population.
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adolescents, romantic relationships, technology, cyber-based dating aggression, ecological momentary assessment
Citation
Willan, V. (2019). Exploring Cyber-Based Dating Aggression during Adolescence using Ecological Momentary Assessment (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.