Conflict Resolution Strategies among Adolescent Victims of Sexual Dating Violence: Emotional Dependence, Regulation, and Social Support

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47679/jopp.7412132025

Keywords:

Adolescents, Conflict Resolution, Sexual Dating Violence, Emotional Regulation, Social Support

Abstract

Sexual dating violence (SDV) is a global public health concern affecting a significant proportion of adolescents, with prevalence estimates ranging from 20% to 50% worldwide and disproportionately impacting young women. In Indonesia and other Southeast Asian contexts, disclosure remains limited due to stigma and cultural barriers, leaving many adolescents isolated in unsafe relationships. Against this backdrop, this study aimed to explore how adolescent victims of SDV navigate conflict resolution within their intimate relationships and identify the psychological, interpersonal, and social factors shaping their strategies. Using a qualitative instrumental narrative design, five adolescent females aged 15–22 who had experienced SDV and received at least one year of psychosocial support were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and field observations and analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s framework. The findings revealed four key themes: (1) reliance on withdrawal as the most frequent conflict resolution strategy, (2) the entrapment of emotional dependence counterbalanced by gradual growth in regulation skills, (3) conflict involvement characterized by cycles of escalation and gaslighting, and (4) the pivotal role of social and emotional support in resilience and recovery. The study highlights that conflict resolution in SDV contexts is less about repairing relationships and more about survival, agency, and dignity, offering theoretical reframing and practical implications for trauma-informed interventions.

Author Biographies

Rigel Jendrico Tatiwakeng, Faculty of Psychology, Satya Wacana Christian University, Indonesia

Rigel Jendrico Tatiwakeng is currently an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Psychology at Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW), Indonesia. As part of his academic training, he is conducting a qualitative research project focusing on conflict resolution among adolescents who have experienced sexual dating violence.

Arthur Huwae, Faculty of Psychology, Satya Wacana Christian University, Indonesia

Arthur Huwae is a faculty member at the Faculty of Psychology, Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW), Indonesia. He earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from UKSW and completed his master’s degree in Psychology at Soegijapranata Catholic University. His teaching responsibilities include courses in educational psychology, multicultural education, mental health, health behavior, personality psychology, and research methodology, along with supervision of undergraduate and graduate theses. His main research interests lie in educational psychology, with a particular focus on multicultural education, mental well-being, and student resilience. He is also engaged in the areas of clinical and health psychology, especially in relation to health behavior and personality. He has published several studies in national and international journals on topics such as emotional regulation, psychological well-being, resilience, and personality across various populations including students, athletes, adolescents, and individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

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Published

2025-09-23

How to Cite

Tatiwakeng, R. J., & Huwae, A. (2025). Conflict Resolution Strategies among Adolescent Victims of Sexual Dating Violence: Emotional Dependence, Regulation, and Social Support. Journal of Psychological Perspective, 7(4), 279–288. https://doi.org/10.47679/jopp.7412132025

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 4 (2025)

Section

Original Research Articles

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