Teen Dating Violence

Dating Violence is defined as any intentional sexual, physical or psychological attack on one partner by the other in a dating relationship. It is a pattern of assaults and controlling behaviors that one person uses against another in order to gain or maintain power in the relationship.Teen Dating Violence (TDV) is prevalent in ALL communities and is not unique to one class, race or culture. Although both men and women can act abusively, generally abuse by men is more pervasive and severe.

Behaviors shown in TDV relationships might include:

• Name-calling/ Put-downs

• Making threats to commit suicide

• Spreading rumors

• Blaming the abused partner for all the problems in the relationship

• Constant accusations of cheating

• Stalking

• Using technology to stalk, send malicious messages, posting inappropriate pictures

• Silent Treatment

• Teasing and Bullying

• Unwanted sexual advances, forced prostitution, or forcing partner to watch pornography

Effects of TDV may include:

• Lower self-esteem

• Feeling fear

• Nightmares and sleeplessness

• Depression or anxiety

• Suicide or thoughts of suicide

Dating violence is more common than people think, especially among teens and young adults: one in three teens in the US will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults, and nearly half (43%) of college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.

Every February, young people and their loved ones join together across the country for a national effort to raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long push focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.