11 Facts About Teen Dating Violence

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1. Roughly 1.5 million high school boys and girls in the U.S. admit to being intentionally hit or physically harmed in the last year by someone they are romantically involved with.^[The NO MORE Project . "Dating Abuse Statistics." www.loveisrespect.org. Accessed April 22, 2014. .]
2. Teens who suffer dating abuse are subject to long-term consequences like alcoholism, eating disorders, promiscuity, thoughts of suicide, and violent behavior.^[USA.gov. "Teen Dating Violence." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed April 22, 2014. .]
3. 1 in 3 young people will be in an abusive or unhealthy relationship. ^[Liz Claiborne Inc and The Family Fund. “Teen Dating Abuse 2009 Key Topline Findings.” http://nomore.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/teen_dating_abuse_2009_key_topline_findings-1.pdf]
4. 33% of adolescents in America are victim to sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional dating abuse.^[The NO MORE Project. "Dating Abuse Statistics." www.loveisrespect.org. Accessed April 22, 2014.]
5. In the U.S., 25% of high school girls have been abused physically or sexually. Teen girls who are abused this way are 6 times more likely to become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI).^[Decker M, Silverman J, Raj A. 2005. Dating Violence and Sexually Transmitted Disease/HIV Testing and Diagnosis Among Adolescent Females. Pediatrics. 116: 272-276.]
6. Females between the ages of 16 and 24 are roughly 3 times more likely than the rest of the population to be abused by an intimate partner.^[The NO MORE Project . "Dating Abuse Statistics." www.loveisrespect.org. Accessed April 22, 2014. .]
7. 8 States in the U.S. do not consider a violent dating relationship domestic abuse. Therefore, adolescents, teens, and 20-somethings are unable to apply for a restraining order for protection from the abuser.^[Hattersley Gray, Robin. "Dating Abuse Statistics." School Safety. http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/article/Dating-Abuse-Statistics (accessed April 22, 2014).]
8. Violent behavior often begins between 6th and 12th grade. 72% of 13 and 14-year-olds are “dating.”^[Hattersley Gray, Robin. "Dating Abuse Statistics." School Safety. Accessed April 22, 2014. .]
9. 50% of young people who experience rape or physical or sexual abuse will attempt to commit suicide.^[Chamberlain PhD MPH, Linda. "Dating Violence Literature Review." Futures Without Violence. Accessed on April 22, 2014. .]
10. Only 1/3 of the teens who were involved in an abusive relationship confided in someone about the violence.^[Hattersley Gray, Robin. "Dating Abuse Statistics." School Safety. Accessed April 22, 2014. .]
11. Teens who have been abused hesitate to seek help because they do not want to expose themselves or are unaware of the laws surrounding domestic violence.^[Hattersley Gray, Robin. "Dating Abuse Statistics." School Safety. Accessed April 22, 2014. .]