Teen Dating Violence
What is Teen Dating Violence?
Teen dating violence (TDV), also referred to as “dating violence”, affects millions of teens in the U.S. each year. It occurs between two people in a close relationship and includes:
- Physical violence
- Examples: Hitting, kicking, pushing
- Sexual violence
- Examples: Forcing a partner to take part in a sex act
- Psychological abuse
- Examples: Name-calling, insulting, threatening
- Stalking
- Examples: Repeated unwanted or threatening phone calls or messages, showing up unwanted
TDV can happen in person or electronically including repeated texting or posting sexual pictures of a partner online without their permission.
What are the Consequences?
Unhealthy, abusive, or violent relationships can have short-and long-term negative effects, including severe consequences, on a developing teen. For example, youth who are victims of teen dating violence 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 suicide
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 Before it starts?
*All information has been retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, THERE IS HELP BY CALLING:
National Domestic Violence Hotline | 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
National Sexual Assault Hotline | 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Helpful Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teendatingviolence/fastfact.html
https://www.loveisrespect.org/get-involved/tdvam/
https://youth.gov/youth-topics/teen-dating-violence
https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/crimes/teen-dating-violence
https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/teen-dating-violence.aspx
https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/talk-teens-teen-dating-violence/
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-teen-dating-violence
https://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/topics/teen-dating-violence