Teen dating violence

This month we’re busy talking with teens in local area high schools about preventing dating violence. (Follow us on Facebook!)

It’s crucial to talk with teens, parents and other adults about this issue because one in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of abuse from a dating partner, making this type of violence the most common among youth, even more so than gang violence, which often gets more press.

Girls and young women between the ages of 16-24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, triple the national average. It’s not just a female issue though, boys and young men are the ones doing the abuse in most of these cases.  Abusive adult relationships often start in these teen years and the violence usually just gets worse over time, so the earlier it’s recognized and stopped, the better.

10 common signs of abuse in a dating relationship:

• Checking your cell phone or email without permission
• Constantly putting you down
• Extreme jealousy or insecurity
• Explosive temper
• Isolating you from family or friends
• Making false accusations
• Mood swings
• Physically hurting you in any way
• Possessiveness
• Telling you what to do

Love is Respect.org has tons of resources and info about healthy vs. abusive dating relationships including tips for preventing Digital Abuse (social networking, sexting/texting abuse, etc.),  and a Power/Control Wheel with video examples of red flag situations.

If you think you or someone you know might be in an abusive dating relationship, you can get free, anonymous help through our local hotline:  435-865-7443, or the national teen dating hotline:  1-866-331-9474.

Also:  2012 Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is coming up in February.