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If You are a Teen
Dating violence, also called relationship abuse, is a pattern of over-controlling behavior that someone uses against a partner. Dating violence can take many forms, including mental/emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. You don’t have to be physically abused to experience dating violence. Dating violence can happen in any type of relationship including casual dating situations and serious, long-term relationships.
Both boys and girls can be victims of dating violence.
Relationship violence is an epidemic
- One-third of teens report experiencing some kind of abuse in their romantic relationships, including verbal and emotional abuse.
- Four out of five students report that they have experienced some type of sexual harassment in school.
- 83% of girls and 79% of boys report having ever experienced harassment.
- For many students sexual harassment is an ongoing experience: over 1 in 4 students experience it "often."
- These numbers do not differ by whether the school is urban or suburban or rural.
- 76% of students have experienced non-physical harassment while 58% have experienced physical harassment. Non-physical harassment includes taunting, rumors, graffiti, jokes or gestures.
Abuse isn't just hitting – it’s also
- yelling,
- threatening,
- name calling,
- saying "I'll kill you or myself if you leave me,"
- obsessive phone calling, texting, or paging, and/or
- extreme possessiveness.
You may experience dating violence even if you are not being physically abused.
Stay Safe: How can I stay safe from an abusive dating partner?
Develop a Safety Plan: Safety Plan for Teens