Teen Dating Violence: A Growing Epidemic Among High School Students

Strategic Insights -

Teenagers in high schools must be protected from unhealthy relationships, abuse, and sexual assaults resulting from dating violence. According to the Texas Family Code Section 71.0021, dating violence is defined as actions "intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault." A substantial number of high school teenagers experience relationship abuse before college, and many of them have no clue how to identify abuse or know how to handle it.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nearly 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year, according to Love Is Respect, a project from the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
  • One in three females are victims of either physical, emotional, or verbal abuse, with only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever telling somebody about the abuse.
  • 81% of parents believe that teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don't know it as an issue.
  • Abusive or unhealthy relationships in teen dating contribute to negative long-term outcomes such as poor academic performance, psychological problems, social interaction problems, and mental health issues.
  • Teenagers in unhealthy relationships can experience depression and anxiety and are at higher risk of suicide.
  • A Fort Worth Independent School District report revealed that between 10% and 38% of high school students are victims of dating violence, with as many as 59% experiencing physical violence and 96% experiencing emotional abuse.
  • Texas schools need to invest more resources to prevent teen dating violence, create dating violence awareness and education on unhealthy teen relationships and warning signs, and ensure counselors report abuse behaviors.

Statistics:

  • Nearly 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year (Love Is Respect).
  • One in three females are victims of either physical, emotional, or verbal abuse (Love Is Respect).
  • 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told somebody about the abuse (Love Is Respect).
  • 81% of parents believe that teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don't know it as an issue (Love Is Respect).
  • Between 10% and 38% of high school students are victims of dating violence (Fort Worth Independent School District).
  • As many as 59% of students currently dating have experienced physical violence (Fort Worth Independent School District).
  • As many as 96% of students currently dating have experienced emotional abuse (Fort Worth Independent School District).

Sources:

  • Texas Family Code Section 71.0021
  • Love Is Respect (National Domestic Violence Hotline)
  • Fort Worth Independent School District Report
  • Section 37.0831 of the Texas Education Code
  • Avanti Adhia, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine