Statistics on Teen Dating Violence

Between the ages of 12 years old to 21 years of age, one in four teens will experience violence in a dating relationship.

It is very likely that if you experience dating violence with a male, once, you will experience it from him again.  And sometimes it can lead to death or suicide.

                                  (provided by Barrie Levy) 

used with permission

Signs of a male who may becomeviolent 

• Jealousy -doesn't want you too close to anyone else; accuses you of cheating, thinks everyone is trying  to break you up or you want to be with someone else.

• Controlling - pick & chooses for you; always needs to know where you are at and who you are with.

• Blame shifting - when he is abusive; you made him do it or he says he does it 'cause he loves you so much.  Blames others for his feelings, i.e. "you make me......"  Blames others for his problems, i.e.  "Such & such is out to get me".  If he makes a mistake, he is never at fault for it,  someone else always is.

• Verbal abuse - tells you no one would want you but him; says hurtful things to you (you are not that pretty, who would want you but me, you are fat, you are stupid) makes you feel as if he is doing you a favor by being with you.

• Moody - real sweet one moment and nasty in a split second

• Isolation from your girls and family - always wants to be with you; doesn't want you hanging out with the family or friends; tells you that you are way too close to them and often tells you that they are controlling you.

• Overly Sensitive - is easily angered, always on the defense, can't take a joke about himself.  Always thinks people are intentionally trying to hurt or make fun  of him. 

       (used with permission from National  Domestic Violence Hotline)

INFO FROM THE NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

(used with permission)

TEEN VIOLENCE

• Nearly one in five teenaged girls report that their boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm when presented with a breakup.
• One in four teen girls who are in a relationship report they were pressured into performing oral sex or engaging in sexual intercourse.
• One in five teens in a serious relationship reports having been hit, slapped, or pushed by a partner.
• A study of 8th and 9th graders found that 25% have been victims of nonsexual dating violence, and 8% have been victims of sexual dating violence.
• 26% of teen girls in a relationship report enduring repeated verbal abuse.
• 42% of boys and 43% of girls say the abuse occurs in a school building or on school grounds. 
• Over 30% of teenagers do not tell anyone about being victimized by their partner - less than 3% report the abuse to the police or another authority figure and only 3% tell a family member about the violence.

EFFECT OF DATING VIOLENCE

 ON HEALTH

• THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE DATING VIOLENCE ARE MORE LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN BINGE DRINKING, FIGHTING, AND/OR SMOKING AND ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF SUFFERING MENTAL ILLNESS.
• The rates of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy are higher for young people who have a history of abuse.
• A Harvard School of Public Health study indicated that female teenagers who are victims of dating violence are significantly more likely to becomes victims of sexual assault.
• It was found that females involved in a violent relationship typically suffered from post traumatic stress and dissociation, while males suffered from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress.
• Research strongly suggests that social support helps mitigate the negative mental health consequences of dating violence.