The Impact of Teen Dating Violence and Violent Attitudes on Mental Health Among Bisexual Youth

Abstract

The present study investigated the prevalence of dating violence and mental health symptoms among bisexual youth. Participants completed surveys that measured three types (physical, psychological, and sexual) of dating violence and three types of mental health symptoms (depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and conduct disorder). Correlations revealed positive associations between sexual, physical, and psychological dating violence victimization among bisexual adolescents. Multiple regressions identified a connection between violent beliefs about a partner and experiencing violence with negative mental health symptoms. The results of the present study indicate that for bisexual teenagers who encountered dating violence, engaging in controlling behaviors and justifying violence against both boys and girls are notable indicators of adverse mental health outcomes. Mental health practitioners should be aware of the possible mental health symptoms among bisexual dating violence victims.