Teen Dating Violence Increases During Recession: Talk to Your Teen

By Leslie Davis

A recent increase in teen dating violence has been linked directly to the economic downturn, according to a report by The Family Violence Prevention Fund and Liz Claiborne Inc.

Among teens whose families have experienced economic problems in the past year, nearly half reported that they have witnessed domestic violence between their parents. The majority of those teens (67 percent) have experienced verbal, physical or sexual abuse in their own relationships, according to the report. Those teens also reported a 50 percent higher rate of dating violence compared to teens who haven’t witnessed domestic violence between their parents.

“Families in economic distress are themselves experiencing higher rates of violence, and teens in those same households are also experiencing much higher rates of dating violence in their own relationships,” Kiersten Stewart of The Family Violence Prevention Fund told CBS’ The Early Show.

In addition to higher rates of abuse, teens are increasingly being harassed by e-mail or text messaging. About half of the teens surveyed said they have been controlled, threatened or pressured to do things against their will.

An Investment in Teen Dating Violence Prevention

Dating violence affects nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it’s not just high school students who are being affected. In a recent study by the Multi-Site Violence Prevention Project, half of all 6th graders reported they are dating, and about 40 percent of them reported being victims of dating violence.

To address this issue, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Blue Shield of California Foundation are investing $18 million in 11 communities across the country to identify and evaluate ways to stop dating violence and abuse before it starts. The Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships program aims to promote healthy relationships among 11- to14-year-olds through in-class curriculum, policy change, work with mentors and communications strategies.

“Teen dating violence is a huge but preventable problem, and this initiative will help us gather the best ideas for solutions from youth themselves and those who work most closely with them,” said Esta Soler, president of The Family Violence Prevention Fund. The program will engage educators, community leaders and parents to build environments that support healthy relationships and build a zero tolerance policy for dating violence.

The Importance of Talking to Your Teen About Dating Violence

Your teen may be among the 10-20 percent of high school teenagers who experience dating violence every year, and you may not even know it. Teenagers experiencing dating violence may exhibit signs that you confuse for symptoms of other problems. Those symptoms include depression, retreating from school or activities, isolating themselves from their friends or making changes in their clothing style.

“Not enough parents recognize behaviors that may be warning signs of abuse,” Soler said. “It concerns us that about one-third of parents don’t recognize that isolation from family, being kept away from family by a dating partner, and isolation from friends can be danger signs.”

If you are concerned that your teen may be experiencing dating abuse, don’t be afraid to ask them. If you know that being direct with your teenager won’t be effective, just ask questions about their life and relationships. If your teen reveals that they have been a victim of dating violence, be calm and supportive, and encourage your teen to take positive action.

When it comes to teen dating violence prevention, the most important thing you can do is talk to your teen about healthy relationships and maintain a dialog with them about their dating experiences. The majority of teens who are in abusive relationships report that they have not talked to their parents about it, according to The Family Violence Prevention Fund study. In fact, you may think you’re talking to your teen about these issues, but 74 percent of sons and 66 percent of daughters reported that they had not had a conversation about dating abuse in the past year.

“This poll shows a disconnect between what some parents think is happening with their teenage children and what teens say they are experiencing,” Soler said.

Not talking to your teen about dating violence can result in a range of negative consequences. Teen victims of dating violence are more likely to use drugs, smoke, engage in risky sexual behaviors and have eating disorders. Girls who experience dating violence are also more likely to become pregnant and acquire a sexually transmitted disease.

Remember that if your teen sees domestic violence at home, they are more likely to experience it in their own relationships. If you are struggling with issues of domestic violence yourself, be sure to seek help before it continues on to another generation.