Depressive Symptoms and Information Technology/Social Networking Use Among Adolescent Girls Involved in Dating Violence Jessica R. Johnson 1, Meredith C. Joppa, Ph.D 1 & Christie J. Rizzo, Ph.D. 2,3 1 Rowan University; 2 Rhode Island Hospital and the Alpert Medical School of Brown University; 3 Northeastern University OBJECTIVE Teen dating violence (DV) occurs on a continuum from verbal/emotional abuse to rape and murder (Foshee et al., 1996). Researchers are beginning to explore the impact of information technologies (IT; e.g., mobile phones) and social networking (SN; e.g., Facebook) on adolescent DV behaviors. Cyber dating abuse victimization: has been reported in 26% of currently-dating adolescents’ relationships is associated with other forms of DV is more common among female adolescents Zweig, Lachman, Yahner, & Dank, 2014 However, little is known about DV-involved adolescent girls’ use of IT and SN or their experiences with cyber victimization and perpetration of controlling behaviors. Youth with mental health symptoms are at greater risk of involvement in DV (Wolfe et al., 1998), and time spent on SN sites is positively correlated with depressive symptoms. Banjanin, Banjanin, Dimitrijevic,& Pantic, 2015 HYPOTHESES Frequency of SN/IT use will be greater for teens who report clinical levels of depressive symptoms. Frequency of cyber controlling behavior victimization and perpetration will be greater for teens who report clinical levels of depressive symptoms. METHOD Data are from the baseline assessment of a randomized controlled trial of a group CBT-based intervention to reduce HIV and DV risk among DV-involved adolescent girls 109 girls (ages 14-17; M = 15.75) in a medium-sized New England city Endorsed a history of DV in a confidential school-based screening Racial/ethnic distribution of the sample: 50% Hispanic 35% African American 22% White 8% American Indian 3% Asian 82% qualified for free or reduced-price lunch. MEASURES Beck Depression Inventory – II (BDI-II) Beck, Steer, & Brown, items assessing existence and severity of depressive symptoms Clinical cut-off is a total score of 20 Scores dichotomized as 0 (< 20) or 1 (≥ 20) SNCB- Social Networking and Controlling Behaviors Unpublished measure developed for this study 40 items assess whether or not participant has engaged in SN/IT use, cyber controlling behavior perpetration and victimization (0=No, 1 =Yes) ANALYSES We used chi-square tests to examine differences in SN/IT and cyber controlling behaviors between those who did and did not report clinical levels of depressive symptoms. RESULTS Frequency of SN/IT and cyber controlling behavior, total sample: active profile on a SN site (90%) text messaging (85%) sending photos online (80%) or via text message (57%) their partners frequently read texts (44%), checked phone calls (43%), & looked at SN profiles for evidence of flirting (54%) checked their partner’s SN profile to see if someone was flirting with him or her (66%), reviewed cell phone call lists (30%), or read text messages (33%) Frequency of SN/IT use and cyber controlling behavior did not differ according to level of depressive symptoms. (all ps >.05). CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to examine SN/IT use and cyber controlling behavior perpetration/victimization among predominantly ethnic minority adolescent girls with DV histories. Controlling behavior victimization and perpetration via SN/IT are common: we need to address IT and SN in DV prevention for high- risk adolescents. We found no relationship between depressive symptoms and SN/IT use and cyber controlling behaviors because: High risk sample due to history of DV involvement, thus high levels of controlling behaviors in both groups. Some people with depressive symptoms may be socially isolated; others may see SN/IT as less intimidating than in-person communication and use it more frequently. These extremes may balance each other out. Other variables may have a greater influence on the frequency of cyber controlling behaviors, such as peer norms, DV history, or communication skills. This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, K23 MH086328, to Christie J. Rizzo, Ph.D. REFERENCES 1.Banjanin, N., Banjanin, N., Dimitrijevic, I., & Pantic, I. (2015). Relationship between internet use and depression: Focus on physiological mood oscillations, social networking and online addictive behavior. Computers In Human Behavior, doi: /j.chb Foshee, V. A., Fletcher, G., Bauman, K. E., Langwick, S. A., Arriaga, X. B., Heath, J. L., Bangdiwala, S. (1996). The Safe Dates Project: Theoretical basis, evaluation design, and selected baseline findings. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12(5, Suppl), 39–47. 3.Wolfe, D. A., Wekerle, C., Reitzel-Jaffe, D., & Lefebvre, L. (1998). Factors associated with abusive relationships among maltreated and non-maltreated youth. Development and Psychopathology, 10, Zweig, J. M., Lachman, P., Yahner, J., & Dank, M. (2014). Correlates of Cyber Dating Abuse Among Teens. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(8), 1306– SN/IT Use Cyber Controlling Behaviors: Perpetration Cyber Controlling Behaviors: Victimization