Teen_dating_violence

Teen dating violence

This article or section deals primarily with the United States and does not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.

Teen Dating Violence is a pattern of controlling behavior by one teenager over another teenager who are in a dating relationship. The behavior includes, but is not limited to, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Although 40% of teenagers in the United States know somebody that is in an abusive relationship¹, most parents do not recognize Teen Dating Violence as a significant issue².

While there are many similarities to Adult Dating Violence there are also some differences. Teens are much more likely than adults to become isolated from their peers as the result of controlling behavior by their boyfriend / girlfriend. Also, for many teens the abusive relationship may be their first dating experience and have never had a "normal" dating experience with which to compare it.³

1 Some Types of Abuse
2 U.S. Statistics of Dating Violence for Teens and Preteens
3 Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship^[14]
4 Efforts
5 Teen Dating Violence Organizations
6 References

Some Types of Abuse

Physical abuse - hitting somebody or preventing them from leaving
Emotional and verbal abuse - name calling, humiliation or attempts to undermine self-esteem⁴
Sexual abuse - coerced or forced sex
Threats - threatening retaliation or threatening to leave the relationship
Isolation - not allowing partner to spend time with others in order to isolate them from friends and family
Harassment - repeated phone calls, text messages or other forms of communication

U.S. Statistics of Dating Violence for Teens and Preteens

20% of children between the ages of 11 and 14 say their friends are victims of dating violence ⁵

40% of children between the ages of 11 and 14 in relationships know friends who are verbally abused⁶

34% of teens that are sexually active by age 15 have been physically abused⁷

20% of all teens in relationships have been physically abused⁸

33% of all teens have been affected by Teen Dating Violence⁹

Teenagers are victimized by dating violence at a higher rate than adults¹⁰

One-third of all students have been in an abusive relationship by the time they graduate from college¹¹

A research study in the July 2008 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine shows that 44% of all students have been in an abusive relationship by the time they graduate from college, 22% of all males and > 50% of all females. ¹²

30% of all murdered teenage girls are murdered by a current or former partner¹³

Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship¹⁴

History of legal or discipline problems
Blames you for his/her anger
Serious drug or alcohol use
History of violent behavior
Threatens others regularly
Insults you or calls you names
Trouble controlling feelings like anger
Tells you what to wear, what to do or how to act
Threatens or intimidates you in order to get their way
Prevents you from spending time with your friends or family

Efforts

On July 19, 2007 Texas Governor Rick Perry signed HB 121 requiring all school districts in Texas to adopt formal policies regarding Teen Dating Violence. The law was prompted by the murders of high school students Jennifer Ann Crecente and Ortalla Mosley. ¹⁵

At the 2008 Summer Meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General, Attorneys General from across the nation passed a resolution encouraging schools to develop teen dating violence awareness curriculum. It was inspired by the death of Lindsay Ann Burke, a 23-year-old Rhode Islander murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2005.¹⁶

On July 2, 2008 Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed legislation giving dating violence victims the same rights under the law as domestic abuse victims. The new law is named for Tiffany Barwick, 19, and friend, Michael Ruschak, 22, who were murdered by Barwick's ex-boyfriend Andrew Allred.¹⁷

On September 18, 2008 Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced that his office is helping fund a National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline campaign to raise awareness of unhealthy dating behaviors and signs of emotional and physical abuse. ¹⁸ Wallet cards with warning signs are available to schools and non-profit organizations for no charge through Jennifer Ann's Group.