All About Us: Teen Dating Violence

Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.
Among female victims of intimate partner violence, a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend victimized 94% of those between the ages of 16-19.
Between 1993-1999, 22% of all homicides against females ages 16-19 were committed by an intimate partner.
Nearly one-half of adult sex offenders report committing their first sexual offenses prior to the age of 18.
58% of rape victims report being raped between the ages of 12-24.
Half of the reported date rapes occur among teenagers.
Only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.
Among 13-18 year old teens who have been in a relationship, 15% said they've had a partner hit, slap or push them. 4% of teens agreed that it's okay for someone to hit their partner if they really did something wrong or embarrassing. More Hispanic teens (13%) reported that hitting a partner was permissible.
30% of 13-18 year old teens reported worrying about their personal physical safety in a relationship.
Intimate partner violence among adolescents is associated with increased risk of substance use, unhealthy weight control behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, pregnancy and suicide.
Parental Awareness
81% of parents surveyed either believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit the don't know if it's an issue.
A majority of parents (54%) admit they have not spoken to their child about dating violence.

Teen Awareness

Nearly 25% of 14-17 year-olds surveyed know at least one student who was a victim of dating violence, while 11% know multiple victims of dating violence. 33% of teens have actually witnessed such an event.
20% of surveyed male students report witnessing someone they go to high school with physically hit a person they were dating.
39% of female high school students report that students talk in school about whether someone is attempting to control the person they are dating.
57% of teens know someone who has been physically, sexually, or verbally abusive in a dating relationship.
45% of girls know a friend or peer who has been pressured into either intercourse or oral sex.
One in three teens reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped or physically hurt by their dating partner.
In 9 out of 10 rapes in which the offender is under 18, so is the victim.

Incident Reporting

When female high school students were ask
ed whom they would talk to if someone they date is attempting to control them, insults them, or physically harms them, 86% said they would confide in a friend, while only 7% said they would talk to police.
83% of 10th graders surveyed at the 4th Annual Teen Dating Abuse Summit, reported that they would sooner turn to a friend for help with dating abuse than to a teacher, counselor, parent or other caring adult.
Only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.

Teen Violence is usually hidden because teenagers are:

Inexperienced with dating relationships
Pressured by peers to act violently
Want independence from parents
have "romantic" views of love
Young Men May Believe:
They have the right to "control" their female partners in any way necessary
They may lose respect if they are attentive and supportive towards their girlfriends
They should "possess" their partner
They should demand intimacy

Young Women May Believe:

They are responsible for solving problems in their relationships
Their boyfriend's jealousy, possessiveness and even physical abuse, is "romantic."
Abuse is "normal" because their friends are also being abused.
There is no one to ask for help.

How To Tell If Someone Is Being Abused:

All About Us