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Reshaping the Way Youth Develop and Maintain Dating Relationships
Each day, Prevail Above Domestic Violence Center is teaching young people what it takes to have a healthy dating relationship and putting an end to dating violence.
What is Dating Violence?
Dating Violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one person in a dating relationship to exert power and control over the other person. Teen dating violence can happen in many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional/verbal, stalking, coercive and controlling behavior, harassment, and exploitation. It can occur in person, online, or through various forms of technology. Dating violence happens everywhere and can affect anyone regardless of their age, race, social economic status or sexual orientation.
1.5 million
High school students nationwide experience physical violence from a dating partner in a single year. 1
Nearly 80% of
Girls who have been abused in their dating relationship continue to date their abuser. 2
Teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse. 3
Only 33% of
81% of
Parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue. 4
Sources:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Physical Dating Violence Among High School Students—United States,2003,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 19, 2006, Vol. 55, No. 19.
2. Liz Claiborne Inc. study conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited; February 2005.
3. Liz Claiborne Inc., conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, (February 2005)
4. “Women’s Health,” June/July 2004, Family Violence Prevention Fund and Advocates for Youth, http://www.med.umich.edu/whp/newsletters/summer04/p03-dating.html.
Dating violence is a public health issue. Educating and informing young people of the dangers of dating violence early on is critical in preventing dating violence in adulthood. Young people are inexperienced in relationships and may find difficulty in making complex decisions regarding their relationships and managing the stress of balancing a dating relationship with their everyday life. Teens who are victims of dating abuse are more likely to be depressed, have eating disorders and perform poorly in school.
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