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Preventing teen dating violence

CDC fact sheet - 2020

  • 16 October 2020
  • Posted by: Anna Uchoa
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Preventing teen dating violence

What is teen dating violence?

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a type of intimate partner violence. It occurs between two people in a close relationship. TDV includes four types of behavior:

 • Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force.

• Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent.

• Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm another person mentally or emotionally and/or exert control over another person.

• Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a partner that causes fear or concern for one’s own safety or the safety of someone close to the victim. Teen dating violence, also referred to as “dating violence,” can take place in person or electronically, such as repeated texting or posting sexual pictures of a partner online without consent. Unhealthy relationships can start early and last a lifetime. Teens often think some behaviors, like teasing and name-calling, are a “normal” part of a relationship—but these behaviors can become abusive and develop into serious forms of violence. However, many teens do not report unhealthy behaviors because they are afraid to tell family and friends.

How big is the problem?

Preventing Teen Dating Violence TDV is common. It affects millions of teens in the U.S. each year. Data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate that:

• Nearly 1 in 11 female teens and about 1 in 15 male high school students report having experienced physical dating violence in the last year.

 • About 1 in 9 female and 1 in 36 male high school students report having experienced sexual dating violence in the last year.

 • 26% of women and 15% of men who were victims of contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime first experienced these or other forms of violence by that partner before age 18.

 • The burden of TDV is not shared equally across all groups—sexual minority groups are disproportionately affected by all forms of violence, and some racial/ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by many types of violence.

What are the consequences? 

Unhealthy, abusive, or violent relationships can have severe consequences and shortand long-term negative effects on a developing teen. For example, youth who are victims of TDV are more likely to:

• Experience symptoms of depression and anxiety

• Engage in unhealthy behaviors, like using tobacco, drugs, and alcohol

• Exhibit antisocial behaviors, like lying, theft, bullying or hitting

• Think about suicide4,5,6, Violence in an adolescent relationship sets the stage for problems in future relationships, including intimate partner violence and sexual violence perpetration and/or victimization throughout life. For example, youth who are victims of dating violence in high school are at higher risk for victimization during college.

 How can we stop teen dating violence it before it starts?

Supporting the development of healthy, respectful, and nonviolent relationships has the potential to reduce the occurrence of TDV and prevent its harmful and longlasting effects on individuals, their families, and the communities where they live. During the pre-teen and teen years, it is critical for youth to begin learning the skills needed to create and maintain healthy relationships. These skills include things like how to manage feelings and how to communicate in a healthy way. CDC developed Dating Matters®: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships to stop teen dating violence before it starts. It focuses on 11-14 year olds and includes multiple prevention components for individuals, peers, families, schools, and neighborhoods. All of the components work together to reinforce healthy relationship messages and reduce behaviors that increase the risk of dating violence. Please visit the Dating Matters website to learn more! www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/ datingmatters CDC also developed a technical package that describes a variety of strategies and approaches that are based on the best available evidence for preventing intimate partner violence (IPV), including TDV. The package includes multiple strategies that can be used in combination to stop IPV/TDV before it starts.

Source: CDC

Category:Publications
Country:United States of America
Language:English
Year:2020
Institution:Center of Disease Control and Prevention - CDC
Author:CDC

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