Most teenagers do not experience physical aggression when they date. However, for one in 10 teens, abuse is a very real part of dating relationships. Teen dating violence has only recently been recognized as a significant public health problem, the complex nature of this phenomenon is not fully understood.
Approximately 10 percent of adolescents nationwide reported being the victim of physical violence at the hands of a romantic partner. The rate of psychological victimization is even higher: Between two and three in 10 reported being verbally or psychologically abused.
Teen dating violence often is hidden because teenagers typically:
Have little experience with relationships.
Have "romantic" views of love.
Want independence from parents.
Peer pressure to act violently.
Early warning signs that your date may eventually become abusive:
Extreme jealousy
Controlling behavior
Quick involvement
Unpredictable mood swings
Alcohol and drug use
Explosive anger
Isolates you from friends and family
Uses force during an argument
Shows hypersensitivity
Believes in rigid sex roles
Blames others for his problems or feelings
Cruel to animals or children
Verbally abusive
Abused former partners
Threatens violence
Facts about Teen Domestic Violence
69 percent of all teens who had sex by age 14 said they have gone through one or more types of abuse in a relationship.
40 percent of the youngest tweens, those between the ages of 11 and 12, report that their friends are victims of verbal abuse in relationships, and nearly one-in-ten (9 percent) say their friends have had sex.
Nearly three-in-four tweens (72 percent) say boyfriend/girlfriend relationships usually begin at age 14 or younger.
More than one-in-three 11-12 year olds (37percent) say they have been in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.
One-in-five between the ages of 13 and 14 say their friends are victims of dating violence, such as getting struck, hit or slapped by a boyfriend or girlfriend, and nearly half of all tweens in relationships say they know friends who are verbally abused.
One-in-five 13-14 year olds in relationships (20 percent) say they know friends and peers who've been struck in anger (kicked, hit, slapped, or punched) by a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Only half of all tweens (51 percent) claim to know the warning signs of a bad/hurtful relationship.
In addition, significant numbers of teens (15-18) are experiencing emotional and mental abuse as well as violence when dating; it's even more prevalent among teens who've had sex by 14.
