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Teen Resources

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Dating Violence

"“Supporting the development of healthy, respectful, and nonviolent relationships has the potential to reduce the occurrence of TDV and prevent its harmful and long-lasting effects on individuals, their families, and the communities where they live. During the pre-teen and teen years, it is critical for youth to begin learning the skills needed to create and maintain healthy relationships”"

- CDC, Intimate Partner Violence

types of teen violence

Who is at risk?

INDIVIDUAL RISK FACTORS FOR VICTIMIZATION

  • Behaving in aggressive ways toward peers and others

  • Struggling with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues

  • Experiencing stressful life events like sexual abuse or sexual trauma

  • Dating at a young age

  • Using drugs or illegal substances

  • Engaging in early sexual activity prior to age 16

  • Having multiple sexual partners

  • Lacking social problem-solving skills

  • Using emotional disengagement and blaming as coping mechanisms

  • Witnessing community or neighborhood violence

  • Having low help-seeking characteristics

RELATIONSHIP RISK FACTORS FOR VICTIMIZATION
  • Having a friend or sibling involved in an unhealthy relationship
  • Experiencing lots of conflicts with the dating partner
  • Witnessing or experiencing abuse or violence in the home
  • Being parented in a harsh or inconsistent way
  • Lacking supervision and/or warmth from parents
  • Being socially isolated or lacking social support
RISK FACTORS FOR DATING VIOLENCE PERPETRATION
  • Believing that it is acceptable to make threats or use violence to get their way
  • Using violence or abuse as a way to express anger or frustration
  • Having problems managing anger or frustration
  • Associating with violent peers or others in violent or abusive relationships
  • Having low-self esteem
  • Struggling with a fear of abandonment
  • Lacking proper parental supervision and support
  • Struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues
  • Witnessing violence at home or in the community
  • Experiencing jealousy, possessiveness, and other negative emotions in a relationship

HOW CAN I GET HELP?

Check out this website to create a safety plan for yourself or someone else. This is a guide where you can receive help by advocates who will cater to your needs.

FOR THE ADULTS

CDC Training Module

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has released a training for parents, field practitioners, educators, and others who wish to become well versed in the matter of teen dating violence.