Dating-Partner Violence Has Implications for Self-Harm

The International Dating Violence Study surveyed 15,927 university students in 21 countries. Two questionnaires — one eliciting students’ experiences as perpetrators or victims of dating-related physical assault or sexual coercion and the other asking about depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation — were administered. Women constituted most of the sample in each country (range, 51%–83%).

The median incidence of perpetrating physical assault on a dating partner during the previous 12 months was 30% (range, 17%–44%), and the median proportion of students who reported being victims of such assaults was 26% (range, 14%–39%). A higher percentage of women than men reported perpetrating or being victimized by physical assault. Overall, median r…