ChildProtectionGuide
A Publication of Survivors And Victims Empowered


Home

Email List

More Subjects

Child Protection Program

About Us

Give a donation at our new secure donation page

  

 

eGuide Archives: Teens in abusive relationships

The Child Protection eGuide
An electronic publication of Survivors And Victims Empowered		 Volume 2, Issue 47
December 3, 2009

Tip of the Week:
Tip of the week:Do you know a teen in a troubling relationship? If she/he has nowhere else to turn, call (or have him/her call) the National Teen Dating Abuse hotline at 1-866-331-9474.

 Other Resources:

Teens in abusive relationships

Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. American Bar Association's "Teen Dating Violence Facts"

Females between 16-24 are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence than any other age group - at a rate almost triple the national average. In fact, among female victims of intimate partner violence, a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend victimized 94% of those between the ages of 16-19.

Between 1993 and 1999, 22% of all homicides against female 16-19 were committed by an intimate partner.

Nearly half of adult sex offenders report committing their first sexual offense prior to the age of 18.

58% of all rape victims report being raped between the ages of 12-24.

Half of all date rapes occur among teenagers.

Yet, a majority (54%) of parents admits not having spoken to their child about dating violence.

Would you or your teen recognize an abusive relationship?

Kidshealth.org offers teens these warning signs that they are in an abusive relationship:

Important warning signs that you may be involved in an abusive relationship include when someone:
  • harms you physically in any way, including slapping, pushing, grabbing, shaking, smacking, kicking, and punching
  • tries to control different aspects of your life, such as how you dress, who you hang out with, and what you say
  • frequently humiliates you or making you feel unworthy (for example, if a partner puts you down but tells you that he or she loves you)
  • coerces or threatens to harm you, or self-harm, if you leave the relationship
  • twists the truth to make you feel you are to blame for your partner's actions
  • demands to know where you are at all times
  • constantly becomes jealous or angry when you want to spend time with your friends
  • Unwanted sexual advances that make you uncomfortable are also red flags that the relationship needs to focus more on respect. When someone says stuff like "If you loved me, you would..." that's also a warning of possible abuse. A statement like this is controlling and is used by people who are only concerned about getting what they want - not caring about what you want. Trust your intuition. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
Reminder of the week: Like most important issues teens face today, the best thing that parents can do to help protect their teen from violence in a dating relationship is to talk to her/him about it. For tips on talking to your teen about abusive relationships, visit thesafespace.org/talking-to-your-teen-about-dating-violence. Begin a(nother) conversation with your son or daughter today.




© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,2011 Survivors And Victims Empowered, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
No part of this publication may be reprinted without permission unless used in an article reviewing this publication. The organizations listed within this publication are not necessarily endorsed by Survivors And Victims Empowered.

Survivors And Victims Empowered
38 Doe Run Road, Suite 250
Manheim, PA 17545


Correspondence should continue to be addressed to:
P. O. Box 8875
Lancaster, PA 17604-8875