Young adult dating violence also know as 'Teen Dating Violence' is a big problem, affecting youth in every community across the nation. Here's a highlight of some stats below:
Nearly 1 million + high school students across the nation experience physical abuse from a dating partner every year.
One in three adolescents in the United States is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. This figure far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
One in 10 high school students has been hit purposefully, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Why Focus on Teens?
We need to focus on teens because girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence — this is almost triple the national average.
94% of female victims of intimate partner violence between the ages of 16 through 19, and 70% of those age 20-24 were victimized by a current or former dating partner.
Between the ages of 12 and 18, violent behavior is typically beginning.
The severity of intimate partner violence is often greater in cases where the pattern of abuse was established in adolescence.
This Does Not Exclude College Students
43% which is nearly half of dating college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behaviors.
Majority of college students have not been properly equipped to deal with dating abuse.
57% has said "it is difficult to identify."
58% has said "they don’t know how to help someone who’s experiencing it."
36% (One in three) of college students who are dating has given their partner their computer, online access, email or social network passwords which leads to these students being more likely to experience digital dating abuse.
Sadly, 16% (One in six), college women admitted to being sexually abused in a dating relationship.
Long-Lasting Effects
Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications by putting the victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence.
Being physically or sexually abused makes teen girls six times more likely to become pregnant and twice as likely to get a STI.
Half of youth who have been victims of both dating violence and rape attempt suicide, compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused boys.
Lack of Awareness
Only 33% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.
81% of parents believe teen dating violence isn't an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue.
However, 82% of parents felt confident they could recognize the signs if their child was experiencing dating abuse.
(58%) could not correctly identify all the warning signs of abuse.