Teen Self-Awareness

Teen dating violence is a pattern of controlling and abusive behavior of one person over another within a romantic relationship including verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.

Teen dating violence runs across race, gender, and socioeconomic lines. Both males and
females are victims, but boys and girls are abusive in different ways:
• Girls are more likely to yell, threaten to hurt themselves, pinch, slap, scratch, or kick;
• Boys injure girls more severely and frequently;
• Some teen victims experience violence occasionally;
• Others are abused more often…sometimes daily.
“Teen Victim Project,” National Center for Victims of Crime, http://www.ncvc.org/tvp, (Last visited 10/5/04).

A comparison of Intimate Partner Violence rates between teens and adults reveals that teens re at higher risk of intimate partner abuse.
Jay G. Silverman et Al, “Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual isk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality.” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 286, 572, 576-577, (Nov. 5, 2001).

In Females ages 16-24 are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence than any other age group at a rate almost triple the national average.
U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report: Intimate Partner Violence and Age of Victim, 1993-99 (Oct.001, rev. 11/28/01).

n Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually
abused by a dating partner.
Jay G. Silverman, PhD; Anita Raj, PhD; Lorelei A. Mucci, MPH; and Jeanne E. Hathaway, MD, MPH, “Dating Violence Against dolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality,”

Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 286, (No. 5, 2001).
n Among female victims of intimate partner violence, a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend ictimized 94% of those between the ages of 16-19.
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics,7, (2001).

Between 1993 and 1999, 22% of all homicides against females ages 16-19 were committed by n intimate partner.
Bureau of Justice Statistics Press Release, “Violence Rates Among Intimate Partners Differ Greatly According to Age,” (10/29/01).

In a study of gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents, youths involved in same-sex dating are just s likely to experience dating violence as youths involved in opposite sex dating.
“Prevalence of Partner Violence in Same-Sex Romantic and Sexual Relationships in a National Sample of Adolescents,” Halpern CT, Young ML, Waller MW, Martin SL, Kupper LL. Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 35, Issue 2, Pages 124-131, (August 2004).

Nearly one-half of adult sex offenders report committing their first sexual offenses prior to the ge of 18.
Ron Snipe, et Al, “Recidivism in Young Adulthood, Adolescent Sexual Offenders Grown Up,” 25 Criminal Justice & Behavior, 109, 17, (1998).

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• They are afraid their parents will make them break up
• They are embarrassed and ashamed
• They are afraid of getting hurt by their partner
• They are convinced that it is their fault or that their parents will blame them or be disappointed
• They are confused—they may think this is what dating is all about
• They are afraid of losing privileges like being able to stay out late ive a fact or percentage of how many teens feel like they cant talk to their parents- Teen Self Awareness is giving these young women  the opportunity to be a part of a group where they can express themselves, and learn from one another. These group are designed to help teen's realize they are not the only one going through this.

Links

http://www.livestrong.com/article/13801-teen-dating-violence/

http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/AGP.Net/Components/documentViewer/Download.aspxnz?DocumentID=38057

Signs of Abuse

1. Jealousy and possessiveness
2. Controlling behavior
3. Verbal abuse
4. Threats to harm you, your family or your pet
5. Isolation from friends and family

More Information