Variation in late adolescents' reports of dating violence perpetration: a dyadic analysis.

This study begins to fill the methodological gap in the dating violence literature by using hierarchical linear modeling to: (a) examine whether partners agree on reports of their experiences with violence in their relationship; and (b) identify factors that may explain differences in these reports. Data from the Relationship Dimensions Survey, a survey given to 214 late adolescent dating couples were utilized. Results indicated that there was significant variation in the report of dating violence perpetration and in the gender effect across couples, but not within couples. These differences were explained by individual- and relationship-related characteristics, including physical abuse from a parent during childhood, and for males' perpetration only, whether they drank alcohol. Implications for violence prevention are discussed.