Statistics
National Data on Intimate Partner Violence
Teen Dating Violence
In a survey of 11- to 14-year-olds, 62% said they had friends who had been verbally abused (e.g., called names) by a boyfriend or girlfriend, and 20% of the 13- and 14-year-olds knew of friends whose boyfriend or girlfriend had kicked, hit, slapped, or punched them.24
Girls who are victims of physical dating violence are more likely than their
peers to have:
- Experienced other forms of violence.
- Been physically forced to have sexual intercourse.
- Been sexually active at a young age or with multiple partners.
- Used marijuana, alcohol and/or tobacco.
- Been depressed, thought about suicide, or attempted suicide.25
In a survey of over four thousand high school students,26
- About 1 in 5 girls reported physical and/or sexual abuse by a dating partner; when there was sexual abuse, there was usually physical abuse as well.
- Girls abused by dating partners had a higher risk of substance use, unhealthy weight control, sexual risk behaviors (e.g., early intercourse), and suicidal thoughts or actions.
- They were also 4 to 6 times more likely than their peers to have been pregnant.
Among 53 sexually active teenagers who had been abused, 26% said that their partner had actively tried to get them pregnant, 32% did become pregnant during a relationship with an abusive partner, and 59% of those pregnancies were unwanted.27
Next: Economic Effects of Intimate Partner Violence
- Liz Claiborne, Inc. & Teen Research Unlimited, (2008). Tween and Teen Dating Violence and Abuse Study
- Davis, A. (2008). Interpersonal and Physical Dating Violence Among Teens, National Council on Crime & Delinquency, summarizing research,
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Silverman J.G et al (2001). Dating violence against adolescent girls and associated substance use, unhealthy weight control, sexual risk behavior, pregnancy, and suicidality. JAMA 286, no. 5: 572-579.
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Miller E., Decker, M.R., Reed, E., Raj, A., Hathaway, J.E., & Silverman, J.G. (2007). Male Partner Pregnancy-Promoting Behaviors and Adolescent Partner Violence: Findings from a Qualitative Study with Adolescent Females. Ambulatory Pediatrics, 7(5): 360-366.
