Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: Love Is Respect

February is recognized as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). It’s a time to raise awareness about unhealthy and abusive relationships among teens and young adults. The theme “Love Is Respect” reminds us that a healthy relationship should never make you feel fear, controlled, or like you are being put in harm's way. Instead, these relationships should be built on trust, communication, and mutual respect.

Dating violence impacts more teens than we may think. In the U.S., 1 in 3 teens face experiences involving physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in their relationships before adulthood. These experiences can affect their mental health, self-esteem, and even shape the way they view and experience future relationships. The issue continues way beyond high school, with 43% of U.S. college women reporting abusive dating behaviors. Even within a single year, 1 in 10 high school students have experienced physical violence from a romantic partner (loveisrespect.org).

Digital Abuse and Its Impact

Abuse doesn’t always involve physical harm. With the use of technology becoming more common throughout the years, levels of digital and cyber abuse have increased. 1 in 5 students have experienced cyber abuse or harassment during the school day (loveisrepect.org). This can be things like constant messaging, pressuring the person to respond immediately, checking someone’s phone or social media, spreading rumors, or even receiving threats online.

Teens who experience cyber abuse are at higher risk for other forms of violence. These individuals are:

• Twice as likely to experience psychological abuse

• Twice as likely to experience physical abuse

• Five times as likely to be sexually coerced

These facts show that digital abuse is very serious and can be connected to more dangerous behavior.

What Respect Looks Like in a Healthy Relationship

Respect in a relationship means both people feel safe, heard, and valued. It means there is a space where both partners can speak openly and honestly without fear of being judged, dismissed, or punished. Healthy relationships encourage open communication as well as mutual understanding.

Trust and boundaries are both important parts of respect. Setting boundaries begins with recognizing your own needs and comfort levels and then communicating them clearly. An example of a way to do communicate boundaries is by using “I” statements. These help with expressing feelings without placing blame.

For example, someone might say:

• “I feel hurt when my feelings are laughed at.”

• “I need to feel supported when I talk about things that matter to me.”

• “I feel uncomfortable when arguments turn into insults.”

“I” statements are also helpful when setting boundaries regarding time and space. This might look like:

• “I need some time to myself before continuing this conversation.”

• “I feel overwhelmed when I don’t have time to focus on school or activities I care about.”

• “I need balance between my relationship and my other responsibilities.”

They can be especially important when addressing digital behavior. This can look like:

• “I don’t feel comfortable with you checking my phone or social media.”

• “I feel stressed when I’m expected to respond to messages right away.”

Using statements like these helps build trust by encouraging honest, respectful communication. Trust allows you to feel like you can be yourself, share your thoughts and feelings openly, and know that you will still be respected. Healthy communication strengthens relationships and helps prevent things from going from misunderstandings to harmful situations.

Support and Resources

No one deserves to experience dating violence, and getting help is always an option. If you or someone you know is dealing with an unhealthy or abusive relationship, confidential support is just a phone call away.

The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, also known as The Hotline, provides resources and support for teens in need. Their number is 866-331-9474.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month reminds us that love should always feel safe. By recognizing the signs of abuse, setting healthy boundaries, and speaking up, teens can help create safer relationships not just for themselves, but also for the people around them.