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Abusive Teen Dating

What is abuse?

         
Not many people are aware of abusive
relationships among teens. People however,
are more familiar with abuse that is within 
a marriage or between a parent and a child. 
Abuse comes in many forms, verbal, 
emotional, physical and sexual.  
It is important for parents, friends 
and teens to know what abuse is, 
warning signs of abuse, and how 
to help someone who is 
in an abusive relationship.  
ABUSE- 
   When a person in a relationship 
     inflicts pain on
     their partner verbally, 
     emotionally, physically
     or sexually.
VERBAL ABUSE and EMOTIONAL ABUSE-
  Induce injury to a persons self-esteem. 
     For example, when a girlfriend 
     or boyfriend humiliates, insults, 
     swears or tries to control 
     someone in the relationship.
PHYSICAL ABUSE-
  Causes injury or harm by hitting, 
     slapping, kicking, punching, or bites, 
     pull hair or harm someone with a 
     weapon such as a knife or a gun.
SEXUAL ABUSE-
  Forcing unwanted sexual activity 
     by kissing, inappropriate sexual
     comments, touching and intercourse.  
WARNING SIGNS-
   Constant communication 
   Jealousy issues
   Emotional changes
   Isolation
   Control
   Making excuses for their partner
   Always feeling the need to impress 
     look at the background of your son or  
     daughter’s partner, just by looking
     at where they come from and how 
     they grew up can be of some help 
     to know if they will act in an 
     abusive manner.  
SOLUTIONS-
   Always keep the lines of communication open 
   Let the abused person know 
     there is always someone to talk to,
     like a counselor,teacher, parent, 
     or a trusted adult
   Support the person
   Suggest options
   Believe the person
   There are also help phone lines, 
   such as:
     Crisis Help Line 
       1-800-233-4357
     National Youth Crisis Line
       1-800-448-4663
     Child Help USA 
       1-800-4-A-CHILD
     National Hotline 
       1-800-999-999
FACTS AND STATISTICS-
   "Violence is about power and control…it 
   is always a part of a larger pattern to 
   try and control you”, 
  (pg 1, Teen Dating Violence)

   “One recent national survey found that 
   1 in 11 high school students said they 
   had been hit, slapped, or physically hurt 
   on purpose by their boyfriend or 
   girlfriend in the past year”,
   (pg.1 Safeyouth.org)

   "In teenage boys, they seem to not be 
   so afraid of violence if it was coming 
   from their girlfriend, it is almost 
   considered cute or adorable to see a 
   girl trying to act tough and in control. 
   Girls use violence mostly for self 
   defense, where as boys use violence 
   as a force of control, 
   (pg.1, SafeYouth.org).  

   "teenage girls in heterosexual 
   relationships are much more likely 
   than teenage boys to suffer from 
   sexual abuse”, (pg.1 SafeYouth.org).  
REFRENCES:

Teen Dating Violence, 
http://www.wcstx.com/teendatv.htm

Warning Signs of 
Teen Dating Abuse
http://www.oprah.com

Teen Facts-Teen Dating
http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/dating.asp   
Teenagers are ready to face the 
world and try new things, like dating.  
Teenagers are new to this concept so 
they might not be as aware of abusive
relationships happening to them so 
early on.  Most people are aware of 
abuse happening in families and not 
so focused on abuse in teen dating.
Keeping the lines of communication 
open is very important, letting the
person who is in an abusive 
relationship know that there is 
always someone there, can be helpful
and even might save their lives.  
   

Thanks for checking out my website! 

Helpful Links

Teen Dating Violence
Teen Dating Violence
What's Abuse
Teen Dating Violence