Know the Facts
Aiming for healthy relationships
Dating abuse is defined as physical, sexual, or psychological/emotional violence within a dating relationship. 72% of eighth and ninth graders reportedly “date” (Foshee et al., 1996); by the time they are in high school, 54% of students report dating abuse among their peers (Jafe et al., 1992). Many of these cases can be prevented by helping adolescents develop skills for healthy relationships with others (Foshee et al., 2005).
Did you know?
- 1 in 4 adolescents report verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse each year (Foshee et al., 1996; Avery-Leaf et al., 1997).
- 1 in 5 high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner (Silverman et al., 2001).
- Victims of dating abuse are not only at increased risk for injury, they are also more likely to engage in binge drinking, suicide attempts, physical fights, and sexual activity (CDC, 2006).
- Rates of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use are more than twice as high in girls who report physical or sexual dating abuse than in girls who report no abuse (Plichta, 1996).
- Dating abuse is associated with unhealthy sexual behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases, and HIV infections (Silverman et al., 2001).
- Abusive dating experiences during adolescence may disrupt normal development of self-esteem and body image (Ackard & Neumark-Sztainer, 2002).
- Adolescents in abusive relationships often carry these unhealthy patterns of abuse into future relationships (Smith et al., 2003).