February Is Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month

Posted on February 7, 2013

Dating abuse affects youth in every community across the nation. Teens, have you talked to your parents about this?  Parents, have you talked to your teens about this?

A Widespread Issue

• Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner every year.
• One in three teens in the U.S. is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner.  This figure far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
• One in ten high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped, or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.
• One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.
• Only 33% of teens tell anyone about the abuse.
• Eighty-one percent of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue.

Why Focus on Teens?

• Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, almost triple the national average.
• Violent behavior often begins between the ages of 12 and 18.
• About 72% of eighth and ninth graders are dating.

Don’t Forget About College Students

• Nearly half (43%) of dating college women experience violent and abusive dating behaviors.
• College students are not equipped to deal with dating abuse.
  • 57% say it is difficult to identify
  • 58% say they don’t know how to help someone who’s experiencing it

• One in three (36%) dating college students has given a dating partner his or her computer, email or social network passwords. These students are more likely to experience digital dating abuse.
• One in six (16%) college women has been sexually abused in a dating relationship.

Long-Lasting Effects

• Violent relationships in adolescence can put the victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence.
• Being physically or sexually abused makes teen girls six times more likely to become pregnant and twice as likely to get an STD.
• Half of youth victims of dating violence or rape attempt suicide, compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused boys.

Ten Warning Signs of Abuse

Here are ten of the most common abusive behaviors:

• Checking your cell phone or email without permission
• Constantly putting you down
• Extreme jealousy or insecurity
• Explosive temper
• Isolating you from family or friends
• Making false accusations
• Mood swings
• Physically hurting you in any way
• Possessiveness
• Telling you what to do

Resources for Help

There are great resources available on dating and also descriptions of different types of abuse at www.loveisrespect.org.

If you or someone you care about is in a violent relationship, you can find help at www.loveisrespect.org or by calling 866.331.9474.  You may speak with a peer advocate through their 24/7 phone service. Please call 866.331.9474  to connect with an advocate trained to offer education, support and advocacy to those involved in dating abuse relationships.  Also, you can consult concerned friends, siblings, parents, teachers, law enforcement members and service providers.

Categories: Feb2013FF, Newsletter