Teen Dating Violence : Research

IntroductionIn recent history, dating violence has become a paramount issue in American society. With the rates of domestic violence on the rise, much research has been conducted that provides evidence that violence during dating relationships in the teen years is a strong contributing factor to later domestic violence. Current research is revealing that a far larger percentage of teens are suffering from some amount of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in their dating relationships. Studies have shown that both those who engage in the violent behaviors, as well as those who are the victims of these acts are more likely to be involved in violent relationships in the future. The significant number of individuals involved in these

Immediately upon hearing about another abusive case in the news, many people’s minds are triggered to automatically associate violence in relationships with adults. In reality, our society is often unaware that 1 in 3 teens experience dating violence on a daily basis. This is a total of 1.5 million students across the country, according to the National Dating Abuse Hotline and awareness group, Break the Cycle. Meaning, in an average American graduating class of three hundred, one hundred of those students will have experienced forms of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, verbal, financial, technological or spiritual/cultural abuse. “Dating violence is controlling, abusive, and aggressive behavior in

Her research finds that, “Intimate partner violence is experienced by at least 1.3 million women each year, who make up 85 percent of the victims.” (McVay 4). Further stating that programs continue to be funded that are ineffective for these women that are experiencing the abuse. Shockingly Kristie also found a link between attachment and partner violence, showing that “…the influence of insecure parental attachment bonds creates an individual who often develops anxious adult romantic attachment patterns leading to a greater propensity to enter into a violent intimate relationship.” (McVay 4). Understanding that these predispositions occur in childhood is pivotal in understanding how these things blossom and continue to grow throughout life within a person’s character. That parent-child relationship plays a role into all other intimate relationships. In fact, “personality/behavior problems all stem from early developed attachment patterns.” (McVay 17). Analyzing adult attachment patterns showed why some people cling to violent intimate relationships as well. Proving that just as “…infants struggle with dissociation and rejection from their caregivers, so do adults suffer from separation from their intimate partners.((Feeney, 1999) Mcvay 19). Another important aspect is defining just what intimate partner violence (IPV) is. “(IPV) is perpetrated or threatened physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial, or stalking violence, which includes willful intimidation perpetrated by a current or former intimate partner against another.” (McVay 54). This proves that intimate partner violence is not only physical but also emotional. It is something that negatively affects the partner, it is hard to detect, and can affect anyone, sometimes even without them recognizing it. After her study, she found that if the relationship doesn’t pose extremely dangerous

ADV has been associated with mental health concerns (e.g., depression), substance use, and negative views of school. One particular concern is that ongoing dating violence in adolescence is associated with intimate partner violence later in life” (Colbert, Draucker, & Martsolf, 2012, pp. 1-2). Adolescent dating violence is a serious issue that dramatically impacts the teens that are exposed to this trauma. This issue affects teens on a daily basis that causes psychological, physical, and emotional abuse in teens’ lives on a daily basis. For example, some of the teen dating violence include characteristics, such as emotional or psychological abuse, physical violence, and sexual abuse or violence. “Emotional or psychological abuse consist of verbal or nonverbal behaviors, such as name-calling, insults, criticism, stalking, and humiliate. Physical violence consist of hitting, punching, slapping, pushing, and choking. Sexual abuse or violence consist of attempted or forced sexual activity when a partner does not consent or is unable to do so, abusive sexual contact, and verbal sexual harassment” (Miller, Payne , Vasquez, & Ward, 2013). In addition, there are many other consequences and factors that are associate that are categorize as dating violence. Consequently, majority of teens does not consider the following characteristics as being abusive.

During the month of February, National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention takes place. In recognition of this month many states pushed social media campaigns to bring awareness that would hopefully result in prevention. The whole idea behind this campaign during February is to educate teens in dating violence. The importance to prepare others who may encounter an individual within a violent relationship is also highlighted. In 2015, Hall reports that nearly one and three young people will experience some sort of abuse in their relationships. The largest number of young girls likely to experience this trauma is between the ages of 16 to 24 (Hall, 2015). Most of these ages fall into the category of young adults, making the movement focused more on that age group. One of the issues presented with young adults is the lack of knowledge in dealing with dating violence. Educating this lifespan group is extremely important to prevention but it is also important to inform mentors the best way to address abuse. It was reported that 80% of school counselors feel unprepared to address incidents of abuse (Hall, 2015). The importance of communication and listening is stressed throughout the interview and the need to make the teenager feel comfortable enough to come forward. Therefore, if leaders of adolescents are not informed to do just that, then a portion of young adults will be trapped in

Research on adolescent dating violence suggested that females were more likely than males to be victimizes by their dating partners (Roscoe & Kelsey, 1986). However currently some studies have reported similar dating violence rates for men and women (Arriaga & Foshee, 2004). Some studies have reported similar dating violence victimization rates for males and females (Arriaga & Foshee, 2004). According to a recent study of approximately 2,500 students attending two lU.S. universities, 24% of males showed physical violence against a partner, 32% of females showed physical violence against a partner, 57% of females committed psychological abuse against a partner, and 50% of male respondents committed psychological abuse against a partner (Gover,

Teenage dating violence can be physical, sexual and/or physiological abuse. In the article, “There’s a Fine Line… Adolescent Dating Violence and Prevention,” author Judith Herrman explains “dating violence is the occurrence of physically, sexually and/or emotionally violent episodes in an intimate, interpersonal relationship” (Herrman 164). The violent relationship includes a victim along with a perpetrator. Adolescent years are a major stage of development for teenager and the inconsistency of teenage relationships is the reason teenage dating violence is on the rise. Dating violence can occur regardless of religion, ethnicity or socio-economic background. Domestic violence usually first occurs

For most teenagers, dating can play an essential role in their social development and psychological advancement. For teens, being able to build loving and healthy relationships with their peers is crucial to forming and maintaining intimate relationships as they approach adulthood, (Grych & Kinsfogel, 2010). Violence in teen dating relationships has become a commonality and can potentially be a very serious public health issue, (Jouriles, Grych, Rosenfield, McDonald, & Dodson, 2013). Previous research has found, an increase of adolescence demonstrating violent behavior and aggression toward their companion during relationships, (Jouriles, Mueller, Rosenfield, McDonald, & Dodson, 2012). In addition, emotional teen dating violence is much more

Intimate partner violence (IPV; commonly referred to as dating violence in adolescence) is a serious public health problem in youth (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Decades of empirical research have clearly demonstrated that having a history of IPV is associated with substantial physical and emotional costs, including depression, anxiety, anger, substance use, risky sexual behavior, cognitive impairment, chronic pain, injury, sexually transmitted disease, and suicidality (Campbell, 2002; Coker et al., 2002; Exner-Cortens, Eckenrode, & Rothman, 2013; Malik, Sorenson, & Aneshensel, 1997; Silverman, Raj, Mucci, & Hathaway, 2001; Straight, Harper, & Arias, 2003; Wolitzky-Taylor et al., 2008). Equally alarming is the high prevalence of IPV, with an estimated 10-20% of youth having experienced physical or sexual violence (Eaton, Davis, Barrios, Brener, & Noonan, 2007; Foshee et al., 2009; Shorey, Cornelius, & Bell, 2008) and even higher rates when examining at-risk samples or considering less severe forms of violence (Orpinas, Nahapetyan, Song, McNicholas, & Reeves, 2012; Wolfe, Scott, Wekerle, & Pittman, 2001). For example, empirical research has demonstrated that sexual minorities, particularly youth, are at increased risk for IPV (Dank Lachman, Zweig, & Yahner; 2014; Reuter, Sharp, & Temple, 2015).

One in three teenagers experience dating abuse. Teenage abuse can also be as deadly as adult abusive relationships. Zero percent of high school students reported physical abuse and ten percent reported sexual victimization. When teenagers are still young they might not fully be aware about what is happening because they are not adults. Dating violence within teenagers can start as young as eleven years old too 17 years old. When individuals are only eleven years old they are still learning how to do math, let alone undergoing dating abuse. It is hard to imagine little teenagers being abused in a relationship. No one should have to go through dating abuse, ecspecially teenagers. According to Violence Prevention twenty one percent of high school girls were abused, and ten percent were males. The thirty three percent were sexually abused or physically abused. Dating abuse is unfotrunate because teenagers who are being abused are scared to ask for help because they are too scared to get caught by their abuser and they do not know who and where to turn to for help. Starting abuse in a teenagers life rather than an adults life is related to a higher risk of suicide. Individuals who are depressed and emotionally unstable from all of the abuse commit suicide because they essentially believe they have nothing to live for, which is very unfortunate because no one should have to feel that way. I was very happy to find out that eighty six percent of teenagers says that they would talk to one of their friends about their partner abusing them and only seven percent would report to the police. There are many preventative measures that women who are physically, sexually, emotional abused can rely on. There are educational programs which are designed to keep abuse from happening, which are called primary programs. Secondary programs are programs for groups who believe they are

Dating violence can happen more than you think and to anyone. There are many problems now days that affect our society and people. One of the problems out there that people tend to forget is relationship abuse. All throughout the world, relationship abuse is being occurred every day and every hour. As people say, relationship violence has no zip code. Domestic violence or abuse can happen to anyone in all ages, race, sexual orientation, gender or even religion. Relationship violence can be either physical, sexual, or emotionally as well, just because you’re not being hit and bruised doesn’t mean you’re not being abused. It can also be towards both genders. Domestic violence is when the batterer uses acts of violence and a different of behaviors, threats, physical abuse, and isolation and to control the other person. Psychological violence is also as considered a abuse that can happen within relationship which is intense and repetitive humiliation, creating isolation, and controlling the actions or behaviors of the partner through manipulation to victim. In a website called “Safe Voices” it states that one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and it is mostly women ages 16 to 24 who experience the highest relationship violence. One in three teens in the U.S. is a victim of relationship abuse from there dating partner. Many victims don’t know what to do in responds when getting abuse and don’t report the situation due to the fact that they

Once, I thought I had found love. I believed this guy was my everything; however, as the relationship grew, emotional and physical abuse were presented before me. I was terrified, as he began to holler deleterious phrases and names at me, and laid his hands on me. Do I seek for help? Am I just delusional? Insane? Dating abuse: one of the many problems in the world that exists, but is not being acknowledged to its potential. The main proposals for solutions is to be empathetic and expose the issue to its full potential. This is a continuous event, occurring to adolescents today.

Dating violence is defined as “the physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence within a dating relationship, including stalking” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can occur with a current or former lover, and can happen in person and electronically. If the term dating violence is unfamiliar to someone here are other terms and phrases that may look familiar: relationship abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV), relationship violence, dating abuse, domestic violence, and finally domestic abuse. Dating violence applies to both men and women.

Consequences of this type of victimization are of increasing public health concern. Several studies identified a significant correlation among victims of teen dating violence and substance abuse. Those committing the act were more likely to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and victims show increasing signs of substance addiction to cope (Temple et al., 2013). Victims of teen dating violence can have increased problems associated with mental health, sexual risk behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, weight issues, and suicidal ideology (Maas, 2010). As a result of these health problems students may become dropouts and achieve low academic score.