Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) is designed to amplify youth voices and experiences of relationships – the goal is to raise awareness about what are healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationships.

This issue is so important that in 2010, Congress declared TDVAM every February. Teens, young adults, and their loved ones join together to spotlight this pervasive and harmful issue, and how prevention and education can change the outcomes for those impacted by it.

The 2024 focus is “Love Like That” which was chosen by Love is Respect’s National Youth Advisory Council, is meant to uplift positive, healthy relationships by defining what “that” looks like.

“Love Like That” looks different for each person, community, and individual relationship – but one thing unites us – everyone deserves to be loved, respected, and valued.

 

What The Numbers Show

  • 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults.
  • And nearly half (43%) of U.S. college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.
  • About 1 in 12 high school students experienced physical dating violence.
  • About 1 in 12 high school students experienced sexual dating violence.
  • 1 in 4 teens are abused through technology (pressuring, controlling, or disrespecting partners in digital spaces).
  • 75% of teens will never ask for help from friends, family, or adults.

 

Some Teens are at Greater Risk than Others

Female students experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence than male students – almost triple the national average. Among female survivors of intimate partner violence.

  • 94% are between the ages of 16-19
  • 70% are between the ages of 20-24 were victimized by a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend/partner

Students who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) or those who were unsure of their gender identity experienced higher rates of physical and sexual dating violence compared to students who identified as heterosexual.

 

Barriers for Teen Survivors

Why do you think high school students never ask for help?

  • Afraid parents or other adults will make them break up.
  • Ashamed and embarrassed.
  • Do not know they are being abused.
  • Convinced it’s their fault.
  • They may think that is what a relationship is all about.
  • They lost touch with friends (isolation and/or friends got frustrated).
  • Their partner acts “nice” sometimes.

 

Engaging Teens – Healthy & Unhealthy Relationships

Exploring relationships can be fun and overwhelming all at the same time.

It also can be an exciting way to learn about yourself, what you need and want in a relationship.

  • Learning is an on-going experience. It can be tough to know how to navigate relationships, let alone what makes them healthy or unhealthy.
  • Review “the relationship spectrum,” “10 signs of unhealthy relationship,” 10 signs of a healthy relationship.”

 

Questions to Engage Teens (adapt as needed)

  • What “red flags” do you see the most? Why do you think the most common red flags are so common? Red flags are not things a couple can work on together. It is not your job to convince someone to respect you. If you feel like your relationship might not be healthy, you are not alone.
  • Which “green flag” do you see the least? What do you think it would look like for us to make trust, equality, and healthy conflict more common for teens and young people?

 

Prevention is Possible

Supporting healthy, nonviolent relationships could reduce TDV and prevent its harmful, long-lasting effects on individuals, their families, and their communities.

  • During the pre-teen and teen years, it is critical for youth to begin learning skills to create and maintain healthy relationships, including managing feelings and communicating in a healthy way.
  • Research also highlights the need for prevention efforts that address the unique needs of teens who are at greater risk of experiencing teen dating violence.
  • Contact CFJ’s prevention department to schedule prevention workshops with high school students, college students, and youth serving organizations.

 

For more information, contact Amanda Posila, Director of Prevention & Community Engagement, at (203) 334-6154 or email [email protected].