Prevalence of dating violence

Evidence suggests that dating violence among high school students is more widespread than previously believed, and may have serious developmental consequences.

Adolescents are especially vulnerable to this form of violence since it may interfere with two tasks that are integral to healthy social development: 1) establishing caring, meaningful relationships, and 2) developing interpersonal intimacy.

Additionally, individuals who experience dating violence during adolescence may be at increased risk for continued interpersonal violence in adulthood both as victims and/or perpetrators.

The findings support investigating dating violence as a mechanism in the disparities between sexual minority and heterosexual youth, and the importance of addressing sexual minority youth specifically in interventions targeting dating violence.

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2011.

The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 24(1), 52-59. Violence Against Women/National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

At the same time, adolescence and early adulthood is a time of rapid physical, psychological and cognitive changes, stress and experimentation, which can be psychologically taxing and often overwhelming [] as adolescents and young adults are most likely to engage in risky and unhealthy behavior, such as substance abuse, school dropout, eating disorders, high-risk sexual behaviors, lack of physical activity and early pregnancy.

IPV might up to double adolescents and young adults’ likelihood to engage in those types of risky behavior [].