Teen Dating: Stop The Violence
By, Julia Brownfield
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2016), teen dating violence is a physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence within a dating relationship, including stalking. These behaviors may occur via a text message, online interactions, over the phone, or in person. Teens sometimes feel like these behaviors are a normal part of a relationship. However, it’s not normal for someone to call names, belittle, to stalk, or be physically abusive to your partner. Often little behaviors that don’t seem serious can develop into more serious forms.
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Dating violence has serious short and long-term adverse effects in the present and throughout life. Most teens don’t report it because they’re afraid of what others will think. According to a CDC nationwide survey (2011), 23% of females and 14% of males who experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17. The 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that about 10% of high school students reported physical victimization from dating a partner within 12 months of taking the survey (CDC, 2016).
Victims of dating violence are more likely to do poorly in school and report binge drinking, suicide attempts, physical fighting and sexual activity. Many teens perpetrate the violence and are also victims of the violence. A concern for any person involved in this type behavior is that violent patterns can carry into future relationships (CDC, 2014).
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While teens are developing emotionally, they’re heavily influenced by the experiences in their relationships. Healthy behaviors that promote positive relationships can affect a teen’s emotional development. Unhealthy, abusive or violent behaviors can have severe consequences on a developing teen. Additionally, youth who are victims of dating violence in high school are at higher risk for victimization during college.
Youth who experience dating violence are more likely to use alcohol or other substances, engage in early sexual activity, display aggression, have conflicts with peers and partner, are depressed, anxious, or have other symptoms of trauma, and witness or experience violence in the home. Plus they may exhibit anti-social behaviors and are more likely to have thoughts of suicide (CDC, 2014).
A few ways to keep relationships healthy and non-violent are to manage uncomfortable emotions like jealousy and anger, by communicating with your partner. Young people receive messages about how to behave from their peers, adults in their lives, and the media. When a message is received that violent behaviors are acceptable, a teen is skewed into believing that it’s “normal.” Violent behavior is not normal. If you or someone you know has experienced violence in a relationship talk to an adult you can trust; a teacher, social worker at school, coach or safety officer.
Dating violence can be prevented when teens, families, organizations, and communities work together to implement effective prevention strategies.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (July 2016). Teen Dating Violence. Retrieved from:
https://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teen_dating_violence.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Jan. 2014). CDC News Room. Retrieved from:
The following resources provide more information on teen dating violence and its prevention:
