Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month

Dating violence can happen to teens in a romantic or sexual relationship anytime, anywhere. But it doesn’t have to happen at all. A healthy relationship is built on respect and is free of violence.

Teen dating violence is the physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence in a dating relationship, including stalking. It happens in person and electronically with current or former partners.

This problem is widespread with serious effects. However, many teens don’t report it because they’re afraid to tell friends and family.

• Of students who reported dating, 21% of girls and 10% of boys reported experiencing physical violence and/or sexual violence from a dating partner in the past 12 months.
• 23% of females and 14% of males who ever experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner first experienced some form of partner violence between ages 11 and 17.

CDC’s initiative Dating Matters®: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships promotes respectful, nonviolent relationships among youth in high-risk, urban communities. Dating Matters supports prevention strategies in schools and neighborhoods and with families, using comprehensive, evidence-based and evidence-informed practices to reduce the burden of teen dating violence.

Communicating, managing uncomfortable emotions like anger and jealousy, and treating others with respect keep relationships healthy and nonviolent. Dating violence is preventable when teens, families, organizations, and communities come together and implement effective prevention efforts. Learn how.