Understanding

Teen Dating Violence

Fact Sheet 2008

www.cdc.gov/injury

Dating violence is a type of intimate partner violence. It How does dating violence occurs between two people in a close relationship. affect health? There are three common types of dating violence.

• Physical—This occurs when a partner is pinched, hit, Dating violence has a negative effect on health

shoved, or kicked. throughout life. Teens who are victims are more likely

to do poorly in school. They may engage in unhealthy

• Emotional—This means threatening a partner or behaviors, like drug and alcohol use. The anger and

harming his or her sense of self-worth. Examples stress that victims feel may lead to eating disorders and

include name calling, teasing, threats, bullying, or depression. Some teens even think about or attempt

keeping him/her away from friends and family. suicide. Victims may also carry the patterns of violence

into future relationships.4

 Physically abused teens are

• Sexual—This is forcing a partner to engage in a sex three times more likely than their non-abused peers to act when he or she does not or cannot consent. experience violence during college.

Unhealthy relationships can start early and last a

lifetime. Dating violence often starts with teasing and Who is at risk for

name calling. These behaviors are often thought to be a dating violence?

“normal” part of a relationship. But these behaviors

can lead to more serious violence like physical assault Studies show that people who harm their dating and rape. partners are more depressed, have lower self-esteem,

and are more aggressive than peers. Other warning

Why is dating violence a signs for dating violence include:

public health problem? • Use of threats or violence to solve problems

Dating violence is a serious problem in the United • Alcohol or drug use States. Many teens do not report it because they are

afraid to tell friends and family. • Inability to manage anger or frustration

• 72% of 8th and 9th graders reportedly “date”.1 • Poor social skills

• Association with violent friends • 1 in 4 adolescents reports verbal, physical, emotional,

or sexual abuse from a dating partner each year .1,2

• Problems at school

• About 10% of students nationwide report being • Lack of parental supervision, support, or discipline physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the past

12 months.3 • Witnessing abuse at home
Understanding Teen Dating Violence

How can we prevent Step 4: Assure widespread adoption

In this final step, CDC shares the best prevention dating violence? strategies. CDC may also provide funding or technical

help so communities can adopt these strategies.

The ultimate goal is to stop dating violence before it

starts. Strategies that promote healthy relationships are For a list of CDC activities, see Preventing Violence

vital. During the preteen and teen years, young people Against Women: Program Activities Guide (www.cdc.gov/

are learning skills they need to form positive ncipc/dvp/vawguide.htm).

relationships with others. This is an ideal time to

promote healthy relationships and prevent patterns of

dating violence that can last into adulthood. Where can I learn more?

Prevention programs change the attitudes and

behaviors linked with dating violence. One example is Choose Respect Initiative

www.chooserespect.org Safe Dates, a school-based program that is designed to

change social norms and improve problem solving skills. National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

How does CDC approach National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-656-HOPE (4673) prevention?

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

www.nsvrc.org CDC uses a 4-step approach to address public health

problems like dating violence. National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center

www.safeyouth.org

Step 1: Define the problem

Before we can prevent dating violence, we need to know

how big the problem is, where it is, and whom it affects. References

CDC learns about a problem by gathering and studying

data. These data are critical because they help decision

makers send resources where they are needed most. 1. Foshee VA, Linder GF, Bauman KE, et al. The Safe Dates

project: theoretical basis, evaluation design, and selected baseline

findings. American Journal of Preventive Medicine Step 2: Identify risk and protective factors 1996;12(Suppl 2):39–47. It is not enough to know that dating violence is affecting

a certain group of people in a certain area. We also need 2. Avery-Leaf S, Cascardi M, O’Leary KD, Cano A. Efficacy of a

dating violence prevention program on attitudes justifying to know why. CDC conducts and supports research to aggression. Journal of Adolescent Health 1997;21:11–7.

answer this question. We can then develop programs to 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk

reduce or get rid of risk factors. Behavioral Surveillance—United States, 2007. MMWR

2008;57(No.SS#4).

Step 3: Develop and test prevention strategies 4. Smith PH, White JW, Holland LJ. A longitudinal perspective on Using information gathered in research, CDC develops dating violence among adolescent and college-age women.

and evaluates strategies to prevent violence. American Journal of Public Health. 2003;93(7):1104–9.

For more information, please contact:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

1-800-CDC-INFO • www.cdc.gov/injury • cdcinfo@cdc.gov