Teen Dating Violence

Teen dating violence is defined as a pattern of actual or threatened acts of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, perpetrated by an adolescent (between the ages of 13 and 18) against a current or former dating partner. Abuse may include insults, coercion, social sabotage, sexual harassment, threats and/or acts of physical or sexual abuse. The abusive teen uses this pattern of violent and coercive behavior, in a heterosexual or same gender dating relationship, in order to gain power and maintain control over the dating partner.

The scope of the violence is alarming the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1997-1999) has revealed that approximately one in five adolescent girls in the ninth through twelfth grades have reported being physically and/or sexually hurt by a dating partner. This pattern is true across the nation.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline launched the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline on February 8, 2007. This new 24-hour resource utilizes telephone and web-based interactive technology to reach teens and young adults experiencing dating abuse. The Helpline numbers are: (866) 331-9474 and TTY (866) 331-8453. The peer-to-peer online individual chat function is available from 4 p.m. to midnight and can be accessed from the website at National Teen Dating Abuse

Though the consequences of dating violence are serious and the need for safety and support may be clear to adults, it is often difficult for young people to recognize and respond to abuse within their intimate relationships. Recognizing that the person you love, who professes to love you, is controlling, abusive or violent may be difficult for adult survivors of domestic violence. For teens who are just beginning to navigate the complexities of intimate relationships, recognition of control and abuse may be more difficult. Even when abuse is recognized, teens whose life experiences and rights are limited may be intimidated or reluctant to seek support and protection from adults in the community.

Pennsylvania's Response

Many domestic violence programs have prevention educators who work in the schools and conduct prevention education for students, teachers, guidance counselors and other school personnel on dating violence and the impact of child witnessing. They work extensively with educators to assure trained staff is available on site to be of assistance to students struggling with controlling or abusive relationships.

PCADV staff regularly trains teachers, school administrators and others at state and regional conferences in how to recognize and respond to dating violence.

If a teen contacts a local domestic violence program, staff can assist in safety planning and in identifying adults they can trust and reach out to for additional support.

The Homeless & Runaway Youth and Relationship Violence Toolkit

Guidance and Materials for Practitioners was developed by and for advocates in the runaway and homeless youth and domestic violence and sexual assault fields.

Visit the website at The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence for more information.

Break the Silence: Stop the Violence

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is excited to announce that CDC now broadcasts public health videos through the CDC.gov web page and the first segment. Its first segment, Break the Silence: Stop the Violence, addresses the topic of teen dating violence, where real parents and teens discuss the problem of dating violence and how to stop it before it starts.