Fast Facts: Teen Dating Violence
What is teen dating violence?
Teen dating violence (TDV) affects millions of young people in the United States. Dating violence can take place in person, online, or through technology. It is a type of intimate partner violence that can include the following types of behavior:
Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force.
Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act and or sexual touching when the partner does not consent or is unable to consent or refuse. It also includes non-physical sexual behaviors like posting or sharing sexual pictures of a partner without their consent or sexting someone without their consent.
Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm a partner mentally or emotionally and exert control over a partner.
Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a current or former partner that causes fear or safety concern for an individual victim or someone close to the victim.
Teen dating violence profoundly impacts lifelong health, opportunity, and wellbeing. Unhealthy relationships can start early and last a lifetime. The good news is violence is preventable, and we can all help young people grow up violence-free.
How Common is teen dating violence?
Too Common
Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.
One in three girls in the US is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
One in ten high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Among female victims of intimate partner violence, 94% of those age 16-19 and 70% of those age 20-24 were victimized by a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend.
How can we prevent teen dating violence?
Learning about healthy relationships and consent starts young. Parents can use the following resources to learn how to talk to their children and teens about healthy relationships and consent:
Safe Secure Kids: This website provides free resources to help parents and caregivers prevent sexual abuse and harassment by communicating with children about respect and consent.
Parent Discussion Guide on Youth Healthy Relationships: A discussion guide on how parents can talk to their teens about healthy relationships.
I Ask How to Teach Consent Early: This handout contains tips for parents on how to teach and model consent
Parent Tip Sheet: How Do I Help My Child?: This card provides tips for parents on how to help a child in an unhealthy relationship
Healthy Communications with Kids: This resource shares information for parents about how to incorporate consent in everyday interactions with children.
Parents Postcard: This postcard provides information for parents about teaching children and teens age-appropriate lessons about consent and healthy relationships.
How do we get support?
For more information, visit www.loveisrespect.org
Love is Repect has advocates available 24/7 to help support you or your loved ones. Chat live at loveisrespect.org; text loveis to 22522 or call 866-331-9474.
Information from the CDC, NSVRC.org, and LoveIsRespect.org