This information sheet provides insights and discussion of five aspects of teenage dating relationships that involve violence, including the likelihood of mutual violence, behavior patterns, and risk factors.
This fact sheet discusses what has been learned from NIJ-sponsored research about how to understand and respond to teen dating violence. Addressing teen dating violence, which includes physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, is a priority for healthy youth development. Teen dating violence is highly prevalent, with as many as 69% of youth reporting victimization. In addition, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender youth are at higher risk for dating violence compared to heterosexual and cisgender youth. Teens who experience dating violence – particularly when their victimizations go untreated – may be at increased risk for a range of negative outcomes, including involvement in further intimate partner violence as adults. In this publication, NIJ elaborates on the following five things about teen dating violence: 1) Teen dating relationships that involve violence often involve mutual violence; 2) Teen dating violence does not tend to occur in single, isolated instances, but rather in the context of a broader pattern of abusive behaviors over time; 3) A range of risk factors are associated with becoming involved in teen dating violence; 4) Teen dating violence is associated with a range of short- and long-term negative outcomes, including negative mental and physical health, substance use disorders, and victimization or perpetration; and 5) Programs to reduce teen dating violence perpetration and victimization have demonstrated effectiveness.