What is Teen Dating Violence?
Teen Dating Violence is an issue that impacts everyone – not just teens – but their parents, teachers, friends, and communities as well.
Together, we can raise the nation’s awareness about teen dating violence and promote safe, healthy relationships.
Teen Dating Violence- including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse is a cruel reality for many teenagers.
This includes harassment through texting, e-mail, and social media platforms such as Snapchat or Instagram.
Victims of dating violence may experience these forms of abuse:
• Name-calling and put-downs.
• Jealousy- such as getting angry if you talk to other guys or girls.
• Control/Possessiveness- telling you who to hang with, where to go, how to dress.
• Threats of violence, murder, or suicide.
• Angry outbursts, fights, or yelling.
• Any type of physical force including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, throwing objects, restraining, or choking.
• Pressure to perform sexual acts that make you uncomfortable.
• Humiliating or embarrassing you, either in private or in front of others.
What Is the Impact of Teen Dating Violence?
Nationwide, youth age 12 to 19 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault.
Studies show that approximately 1.5 million high school students are victim of dating violence each year.
Girls are particularly vulnerable to experiencing violence in their relationships and are more likely to suffer long-term behavioral
and health consequences, including suicide attempts, eating disorders, and drug use.
Adolescents in abusive relationships often carry these unhealthy patterns of violence into future relationships.
Indeed, children who are victimized or witness violence frequently bring this experience with them to the playground, the classroom, and later into teen relationships.
What to do:
There are many reasons a teen might find that make that feel stuck in their abusive relationship such as:
• They love their abuser.
• They are scared their abuser will hurt them.
• They keep thinking things will go back to how they “used to be.”
• They may not know where to turn for help.
However, it has been shown consistently over time that the abuse will not get better. In fact, if often only gets worse.
National Helplines: Text: LOVEIS to 22522 or Call: 1.866.331.9474
