Teen dating violence

Teen Dating Violence is a pattern of controlling behavior by one teenager over another teenager who are in a dating relationship. The behavior includes, but is not limited to, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Although 40% of teenagers in the United States know somebody that is in an abusive relationship [Children Now/Kaiser Permanente "National Poll on Kids Health and Safety," December 1995] , most parents do not recognize Teen Dating Violence as a significant issue [“Women’s Health,” Family Violence Prevention Fund and Advocates for Youth, June/July 2004] .

While there are many similarities to Adult Dating Violence there are also some differences. Teens are much more likely than adults to become isolated from their peers as the result of controlling behavior by their boyfriend / girlfriend. Also, for many teens the abusive relationship may be their first dating experience and have never had a "normal" dating experience with which to compare it. [http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=10434&state_code=GE Women's Law]

ome Types of Abuse

* Physical abuse - hitting somebody or preventing them from leaving
* Emotional and verbal abuse - name calling, humiliation or attempts to undermine self-esteem [ [http://www.womenshealth.gov/violence/types/emotional.cfm Emotional and Verbal Abuse] ]
* Sexual abuse - coerced or forced sex
* Threats - threatening retaliation or threatening to leave the relationship
* Isolation - not allowing partner to spend time with others in order to isolate them from friends and family
* Harassment - repeated phone calls, text messages or other forms of communication

U.S. Statistics of Dating Violence for Teens and Preteens

* 20% of children between the ages of 11 and 14 say their friends are victims of dating violence [National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, July 2008 [http://www.loveisnotabuse.com/pdf/Tween%20and%20Teen%20Dating%20Abuse%20Survey.pdf "Tween and Teen Dating Abuse Survey" (PDF)] ]

* 40% of children between the ages of 11 and 14 in relationships know friends who are verbally abused [ibid]

* 34% of teens that are sexually active by age 15 have been physically abused [ibid]

* 20% of all teens in relationships have been physically abused [ibid]

* 33% of all teens have been affected by Teen Dating Violence [Liz Claiborne, Conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005]

* Teenagers are victimized by dating violence at a higher rate than adults [Jay G. Silverman et Al, “Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality.” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 286, 572, 576-577]

* One-third of all students have been in an abusive relationship by the time they graduate from college [Barrie Levy, "In Love and In Danger." Seattle, WA, Seal Press, 1993]

* A research study in the July 2008 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine shows that 44% of all students have been in an abusive relationship by the time they graduate from college, 22% of all males and > 50% of all females. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/18/AR2008071802707.html Violence Is Common Among The Young] ]

* 30% of all murdered teenage girls are murdered by a current or former partner [Borden, Sally; Shue, Karen. Teen Dating Violence memorandum, 1995]

Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship [ [http://jenniferann.org/dating_violence_risks.htm Jennifer Ann's Group: Ten Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship] ]

* History of legal or discipline problems
* Blames you for his/her anger
* Serious drug or alcohol use
* History of violent behavior
* Threatens others regularly
* Insults you or calls you names
* Trouble controlling feelings like anger
* Tells you what to wear, what to do or how to act
* Threatens or intimidates you in order to get their way
* Prevents you from spending time with your friends or family

Efforts

* On July 19, 2007 Texas Governor Rick Perry signed HB 121 requiring all school districts in Texas to adopt formal policies regarding Teen Dating Violence. The law was prompted by the murders of high school students Jennifer Ann Crecente and Ortalla Mosley [ [http://www.kauz.com/news/local/8610887.html KAUZ TV: Perry Signs Teen Dating Violence Bill - July 19, 2007] ]

* At the 2008 Summer Meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General, Attorneys General from across the nation passed a resolution encouraging schools to develop teen dating violence awareness curriculum. It was inspired by the death of Lindsay Ann Burke, a 23-year-old Rhode Islander murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2005. [ [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.teen09jul09,0,2158039.story Abuse among teens is called widespread] ]

* On July 2, 2008 Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed legislation giving dating violence victims the same rights under the law as domestic abuse victims. The new law is named for Tiffany Barwick, 19, and friend, Michael Ruschak, 22, who were murdered by Barwick's ex-boyfriend Andrew Allred. [ [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-bk-dating-violence-bill-070208,0,173.story Crist signs new anti-dating violence law] ]

* On September 18, 2008 Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced that his office is helping fund a National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline campaign to raise awareness of unhealthy dating behaviors and signs of emotional and physical abuse. [ [http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/09/19/0919schoolviolence.html Texas gives boost to teen dating violence prevention] ] Wallet cards with warning signs are available to schools and non-profit organizations for no charge through [http://www.JenniferAnn.org Jennifer Ann's Group] .

Teen Dating Violence Organizations

* Loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline. You can chat with an advocate online through their website, [http://www.loveisrespect.org LoveIsRespect.org] . You may prefer to call their helpline at 1-866-331-9474 or 1-866-331-8453 TTY.

* Jennifer Ann's Group gives free Educational Cards to organizations and schools. These cards contain "Ten Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship" on one side and on the other side has the toll-free number for the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline. These free cards can be ordered through their website [http://www.JenniferAnn.org JenniferAnn.org] .

References