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National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center

A Federal resource for professionals, parents and youth working to prevent violence committed by and against young people.

Teen Dating Violence
(Printable Version)

It is difficult to say how common dating violence is among teens because different studies and surveys ask about it in different ways and get very different results. Some studies only ask about physical abuse, while others include questions about psychological and emotional abuse and sexual violence. Some ask about dating violence over the lifetime, while others only ask about the current relationship or the past year. Past estimates of physical and sexual dating violence among high school students typically range from 10% to 25%, and estimates for college students range from 20 to 30%. [1] Not surprisingly, even higher estimates are found when verbal threats and emotional abuse are considered. [2]

One recent national survey found that about 1 in 10 female high-school students and about 1 in 11 male students said they had been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year.[3]

In another recent survey in Massachusetts, almost 1 in 5 female high-school students said they had experienced physical and/or sexual violence in a dating relationship, with 9% reporting only physical abuse, 4% only sexual abuse, and 5% both physical and sexual abuse.[4]

Teenage girls in heterosexual relationships are much more likely than teenage boys to suffer from sexual abuse.[5],[6]

Both male and female adolescents report being victims of physical violence in relationships.[7] ,[8] Many relationships involve mutual abuse, with both partners using violence against the other. However, it is clear that male and female adolescents use physical force for different reasons and with different results.[9] Researchers have found that female teens suffer more from relationship violence, emotionally and physically.[10] They are much more likely than males to have serious injuries and to report being terrified. In contrast, male victims seldom seem to fear violence by their dates or girlfriends, often saying that the attacks did not hurt and that they found the violence amusing.[11]

  1. Wekerle, C. & Wolfe, D. A. (1999). Dating violence in mid-adolescence: Theory, significance, and emerging prevention initiatives. Clinical Psychology Review, 19(4), 435-456.
  2. Jezl, D. R., Molidor, C.E., & Wright, T.L. (1996). Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse in high school dating relationships: Prevalence rates and self-esteem issues. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 13(1), 69-87.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2001. In: CDC Surveillance Summaries, June 28, 2002. MMWR, 51(SS-4), pp. 27.
  4. Silverman, J.G., Raj, A., Mucci, L.A., & Hathaway, J.E. 2001. Dating violence against adolescent girls and associated substance use, unhealthy weight control, sexual risk behavior, pregnancy, and suicidality. Journal of the American Medical Association, 286, 572-579.
  5. Jezl, D. R., Molidor, C.E., & Wright, T.L. (1996). Physical, sexual, and psychological abuse in high school dating relationships: Prevalence rates and self-esteem issues. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 13(1), 69-87.
  6. Kaiser Family Foundation & YM Magazine (1998). National Survey of Teens: Teens Talk about Dating, Intimacy, and Their Sexual Experiences. Part 3. Menlo Park, CA: The Foundation.
  7. O'Keefe M. & Treister, L. (1998). Victims of dating violence among high school students. Violence Against Women, 4, 193-228.
  8. Molidor C. & Tolman, R.M. (1998). Gender and contextual factors in adolescent dating violence. Violence Against Women, 4, 180-194.
  9. O'Keefe, M. (1997). Predictors of dating violence among high school students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 12(4), 546-569.
  10. Foshee, V.A. (1998). Gender differences in adolescent dating abuse prevalence, types and injuries. Health Education Research, 11, 275-286.
  11. Molidor C. & Tolman, R.M. (1998). Gender and contextual factors in adolescent dating violence. Violence Against Women, 4, 180-194.