Dating abuse can happen to anyone and can be seen throughout all grades and ages. Because of this, we split up these dating abuse statistics based on grade level.
In K-12 Schools:
- Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year
- One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence
- One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend
- One-quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse
- Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence — almost triple the national average
- About 72% of eighth and ninth graders are “dating”
- Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications by putting the victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence.
- Being physically or sexually abused makes teen girls six times more likely to become pregnant and twice as likely to get an STI.
- Eight states currently do not include dating relationships in their definition of domestic violence. As a result, young victims of dating abuse often cannot apply for restraining orders.
- Only 33% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.
- Eighty-one percent of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue.
- A teen’s confusion about the law and their desire for confidentiality are two of the most significant barriers stopping young victims of abuse from seeking help.
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