Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
Teen Dating Violence is an experience that affects more than just a teen. This particular experience has the potential to effect entire communities. Its impact goes beyond immediate family; it affects friends, classmates, teachers, coaches and more. It’s also not exclusive to any particular group or culture. So, what is considered teen dating violence, who is most at risk and how can we prevent it?
Teen Dating Violence is widely defined as a pattern of abuse or threat of abuse against teenaged dating partners. More specifically, these forms of abuse include psychological/emotional, sexual, physical, verbal and digital abuse, all of which having almost immediate effects and even long-term effects on the victim. For just physical abuse alone, it is experienced by 1.5 million high school students from a dating partner (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006). In terms of effects, approximately 50% of youth with past experiences in dating violence or rape attempt suicide four times the rate of non-abused girls and about ten times the rate of non-abused boys (Liz Claiborne Inc., 2005). The individuals that are most at risk include those that struggle with substance abuse issues, experience early sexual activity and have more than one sexual partner, believe dating violence is acceptable behavior, experience anxiety, depression or other traumatic symptoms, or those who witness violence within the home.
Reasons why there is such a strong focus on young people is because their exposure to these traumatic events at a young age and the risk factors that make this age more vulnerable to outside influences. In a National Institute of Justice funded study, researchers not only dove into the relationship between dating violence in young adults and preadolescent risk factors, but they also examined other factors in young adults serving as a link between pre-adolescent risk factors and dating violence (National Institute of Justice. 2018). In this research, it was seen that those that were exposed to abuse or violence in the home either fell victim to violence in a relationship or perpetrated that violence. In an article for TeenDatingViolence.org, it was stated that due to the “still developing critical emotional and mental maturities” that surround a romantic relationship, teens are at a disadvantage in handling the stressors. It also stated that with this in mind, relationships are more likely to turn violent when teens lack understanding and maturity in reference to effective communication, suffer with emotional problems such as depression or anxiety, are introduced to alcohol and drugs and are pressured in peer situations (Teen Dating Violence, 2017). It is important to be mindful of a teenager’s environment to better understand what they may be exposed to. As important it is to understand this it is important to understand the scope of teen dating violence and how to avoid it from affecting a teenager in your community.
The ways in which we can prevent the issue of teen dating violence range. We can start by educating ourselves on the topic at hand. Many websites provide resources and we even have a few listed. Then, we strategize to promote healthy relationships as teen years are still an impressionable time. We want to allow them the space and opportunity to practice the skills and foundations necessary in relationship building. We can also learn to be an open ear to anyone experiencing any form of abuse, as well as just being an open ear in general so we can listen out and be proactive before a situation starts to become alarming.
Resources
National Dating Abuse Helpline and Love is Respect
1-866-331-9474 or text 77054 or www.loveisrespect.org
CDC’s Dating Matters: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships
www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/datingmatters
Break The Cycle
www.breakthecycle.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or thehotline.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
www.nsvrc.org
Citations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Physical Dating Violence Among High School Students—United States, 2003,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 19, 2006, Vol. 55, No. 19.
Vagi KJ, Rothman E, Latzman NE, Teten Tharp A, Hall DM, Breiding M. Beyond correlates: A review of risk and protective factors for adolescent dating violence perpetration. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 2013; 42:633-649.
Liz Claiborne Inc., conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, (February 2005).
Teen Dating Violence, 2017. What is Teen Dating Violence?. [Blog] Teen Dating Violence, Available at: <https://www.teendvmonth.org/what-is-teen-dating-violence/> [Accessed 17 February 2021].
National Institute of Justice. 2018. Risk Factors in Pre- and Mid-Adolescence May Help Predict Dating Violence in Young Adulthood. [online] Available at: <https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/risk-factors-pre-and-mid-adolescence-may-help-predict-dating-violence-young> [Accessed 17 February 2021].
