Report highlights: Teen dating violence is a critical issue in the United States, affecting millions of young people each year. Shockingly, up to 19% of teens experience dating violence, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and intervention.
Up to 19% of teens experience dating violence.[1]1.5 million teenagers in the U.S. say they have experienced abusive behavior in a relationship.[2]43% of dating college women report experiencing violence and abuse from a partner.[3]1 in 12 teens face physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner.[4]1 in 4 women who experience physical and/or sexual violence are first victimized between the ages of 11 and 17.[5]Only 9% of teens in abusive relationships report the abuse.[6]Kids who witness abuse between their parents are 15 times more likely to enter an abusive relationship themselves.[7]Stalking behaviors are alarmingly prevalent, with about half of all teens reporting they've been stalked or harassed.[8]
How Many Teens Will Experience Dating Violence Before Leaving High School?
Dating violence is an unfortunate reality that affects many teenagers during their high school years.
Up to 19% of teens experience dating violence.[9]1 in 12 teens who reported dating during the 12 months prior to a 2019 survey had experienced physical dating violence.[10]One in four female and one in five male victims report that their first victimization occurred before the age of 18 according to a broader CDC survey conducted in 2016/2017.[11]Approximately 26 million teenagers experience some form of dating violence before graduating from high school, according to a CDC survey conducted in 2016 and 2017.[12]Approximately 1 in 9 female and 1 in 36 male high school students have reported experiencing sexual dating violence according to data from 2023.[13]A total of 17% of LGBTQ+ students have been forced to have sex at some point.[14]
What Percentage of College Women Report Having Experienced Violent or Abusive Dating Behaviors?
When considering the percentage of college women who report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors, the statistics paint a stark picture.
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43% of dating college women report experiencing violence and abuse from a partner.[15]57% say it is difficult to identify and 58% say they don’t know how to help someone who’s experiencing it.[16]One in three dating college students has given a dating partner their passwords and these students are more likely to experience digital dating abuse.[17]One in six (16%) college women has been sexually abused in a dating relationship.[18]
How Common Is Dating Violence in U.S. Colleges and Universities?
Around 20% of undergraduates report experiencing physical dating abuse, with many more enduring psychological dating abuse.[19]
How Prevalent Is Sexual Assault on College Campuses?
Sexual assault remains a significant issue on college campuses across the United States, affecting students of all genders.
- 23.1% of females and 5.4% of males experience sexual assault during their college years. [20]
- College women are twice as likely to be sexually assaulted compared to their male counterparts. [21]
- One in five women in undergraduate programs will face sexual assault at some point in their college experience. [22]
- 26.4% of female students report having experienced sexual violence during their time in college. [23]
- 11% of college students are sexually assaulted while attending university. [24]
- More than 50% of college sexual assaults occur between August and November. [25]
- Women are approximately 20% more likely to experience sexual assault on campus than men. [26]
- 13% of students experience rape or sexual assault on campus. [27]
- Only 20% of female student victims report their sexual assaults to law enforcement. [28]
What Age Group Experiences Teen Dating Abuse the Most?
Teens aged 15–18 are more likely to experience psychological and sexual abuse than those 12–14 years old.[20]
What Percentage of Adolescent Victims of Dating Violence Seek Help?
Only 9% of teenage victims seek help after experiencing dating violence, according to a 2019 report from the Journal of School Health.[21]
How Common Is Stalking Among Teens?
Stalking is an increasingly serious issue among teens, often involving repeated, unwanted attention that can threaten their safety.
Nearly half of all teens report experiencing some form of stalking or harassment.[22]About 7.5% of high school students report being victims of stalking, the YRBS 2023 data shows.[23]Broader CDC studies suggest that 15% of adolescent girls and 7% of boys in the U.S. experience stalking behaviors.[24]
How Is Technology Affecting Rates of Teen Dating Abuse?
Teen dating violence can take place anywhere, including cyberspace. When dating violence is perpetrated using technology, such as instant messaging and social media, it is referred to as cyber dating abuse (CDA).[25]
CDA involves practices like posting embarrassing photos/videos and intimate messages without consent, with the purpose of humiliating and defaming the person.[26]
According to a 2023 study, roughly 1 in 3 teens experiences cyber dating abuse while nearly 1 in 4 perpetrates it.[27]About 28% of students in a relationship in the previous year had been the victim of digital dating abuse.[28]Males were more likely to report having experienced it (32% compared to 24%).[29]CDA is strongly associated with other forms of dating violence, sexual assault, and bullying.[30]Victims of sexual cyber dating abuse were 7 times more likely to experience sexual coercion.[31]
Are Teens From Low-Income Families More Likely to Experience Dating Violence?
American teens across the country are facing alarmingly high rates of abuse in their dating relationships, and the economic downturn seems to be making things worse.
Nearly half of all teens from families who’ve struggled financially in the past year report witnessing abuse between their parents.[32]29% of teens whose families faced financial difficulties reported being victims of dating violence.[33]Nearly 1 in 2 teens from financially struggling households reported physical abuse by a dating partner, compared to 1 in 4 teens from economically stable families.[34]61% of parents whose families faced economic challenges admitted they had a limited understanding of teen dating violence, and most did not believe their teens would experience it.[35]Only 1 in 3 teens who experienced dating violence and came from economically struggling families informed a parent or trusted adult about the abuse.[36]
Sources
1. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Teen dating violence. U.S. Department of Justice.
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/model-programs-guide/literature-reviews/Teen-Dating-Violence
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006, May 19). Physical dating violence among high school students—United States, 2003 (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 55, No. 19). Department of Health and Human Services.
3. Knowledge Networks. (2011, June 9). 2011 college dating violence and abuse poll. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc., formerly Liz Claiborne, Inc.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a661ae1edaed8d2dfb017ab/t/5ad37e431ae6cfce64b02f69/1523809861484/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
4. Basile, K. C., Clayton, H. B., DeGue, S., Gilford, J. W., Vagi, K. J., Suarez, N.A., Zwald, M. L., & Lowry R. (2020). Interpersonal violence victimization among high school students—youth risk behavior survey, United States, 2019 (MMWR Supplements Volume 69, Issue 1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/su/SU6901a4.htm
5. Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Kresnow, M., Smith, S. G., Caslin, S., & Basile, K. C. (2022). The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2016/2017 report on intimate partner violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/documentation/NISVSReportonIPV_2022.pdf
6. Lachman, P., Zweig, J. M., Dank, M., & Yahner, J. (2019). Patterns of help-seeking behavior among victims of teen dating violence and abuse: Variations among boys and girls. Journal of School Health, 89(10), 791–799.
https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12816
7. Harrison, O. (2021). Statistically speaking: The long-term effects of domestic violence on children. Children’s Legal Rights Journal, 41, 63.
https://lawecommons.luc.edu/clrj/vol41/iss1/7
8. Rothman, E. F., Bahrami, E., Okeke, N., & Mumford, E. (2020). Prevalence of and risk markers for dating abuse–related stalking and harassment victimization and perpetration in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents. Youth & Society, 53(6).
https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X20921631
9. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Teen dating violence. U.S. Department of Justice.
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/model-programs-guide/literature-reviews/Teen-Dating-Violence
10. Basile, K. C., Clayton, H. B., DeGue, S., Gilford, J. W., Vagi, K. J., Suarez, N.A., Zwald, M. L., & Lowry R. (2020). Interpersonal violence victimization among high school students—youth risk behavior survey, United States, 2019 (MMWR Supplements Volume 69, Issue 1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/su/SU6901a4.htm
11. Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Kresnow, M., Smith, S. G., Caslin, S., & Basile, K. C. (2022). The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2016/2017 report on intimate partner violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/documentation/NISVSReportonIPV_2022.pdf
12. Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Kresnow, M., Smith, S. G., Caslin, S., & Basile, K. C. (2022). The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2016/2017 report on intimate partner violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/documentation/NISVSReportonIPV_2022.pdf
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, August 6). Youth risk behavior survey data summary & trends report: 2013–2023. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/index.html
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, August 6). Youth risk behavior survey data summary & trends report: 2013–2023. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/index.html
15. Knowledge Networks. (2011, June 9). 2011 college dating violence and abuse poll. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc., formerly Liz Claiborne, Inc.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a661ae1edaed8d2dfb017ab/t/5ad37e431ae6cfce64b02f69/1523809861484/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
16. Knowledge Networks. (2011, June 9). 2011 college dating violence and abuse poll. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc., formerly Liz Claiborne, Inc.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a661ae1edaed8d2dfb017ab/t/5ad37e431ae6cfce64b02f69/1523809861484/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
17. Knowledge Networks. (2011, June 9). 2011 college dating violence and abuse poll. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc., formerly Liz Claiborne, Inc.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a661ae1edaed8d2dfb017ab/t/5ad37e431ae6cfce64b02f69/1523809861484/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
18. Knowledge Networks. (2011, June 9). 2011 college dating violence and abuse poll. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc., formerly Liz Claiborne, Inc.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a661ae1edaed8d2dfb017ab/t/5ad37e431ae6cfce64b02f69/1523809861484/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
19. Iconis, R. (2013). Dating violence among college students. Contemporary Issues in Education Research, 6(1), 111–114.
https://doi.org/10.19030/cier.v6i1.7609
20. Taylor, B. G., & Mumford, E. A. (2016). A national descriptive portrait of adolescent relationship abuse: Results from the national survey on teen relationships and intimate violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31(6), 963–988.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260514564070
21. Lachman, P., Zweig, J. M., Dank, M., & Yahner, J. (2019). Patterns of help-seeking behavior among victims of teen dating violence and abuse: Variations among boys and girls. Journal of School Health, 89(10), 791–799.
https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12816
22. Rothman, E. F., Bahrami, E., Okeke, N., & Mumford, E. (2020). Prevalence of and risk markers for dating abuse–related stalking and harassment victimization and perpetration in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents. Youth & Society, 53(6).
https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X20921631
23. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, August 6). Youth risk behavior survey data summary & trends report: 2013–2023. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/index.html
24. Leemis, R. W., Friar, N., Khatiwada, S., Chen, M. S., Kresnow, M., Smith, S. G., Caslin, S., & Basile, K. C. (2022). The national intimate partner and sexual violence survey: 2016/2017 report on intimate partner violence. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/documentation/NISVSReportonIPV_2022.pdf
25. Dick, R. N., McCauley, H. L., Jones, K. A., Tancredi, D. J., Goldstein, S., Blackburn, S., Monasterio, E., James, L., Silverman, J. G., & Miller, E. (2014). Cyber dating abuse among teens using school-based health centers. Pediatrics, 134(6), e1560–e1567. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-0537
26. Flach, R. M. D., & Deslandes, S. F. (2017). Cyber dating abuse in affective and sexual relationships: A literature review. Cad Saude Publica, 33(7), e00138516. https://doi.org/10.15090/0102-311X00138516
27. Li, J., Ran, G., Zhang, Q., & He, X. (2023). The prevalence of cyber dating abuse among adolescents and emerging adults: A meta-analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 143, 107726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107726
28. Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2021). Digital dating abuse among a national sample of U.S. youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(23–24), 11088–11108. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519897344
29. Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2021). Digital dating abuse among a national sample of U.S. youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(23–24), 11088–11108. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519897344
30. Dick, R. N., McCauley, H. L., Jones, K. A., Tancredi, D. J., Goldstein, S., Blackburn, S., Monasterio, E. B., James, L., Silverman, J. G., & Miller, E. (2014). Cyber dating abuse among teens using school-based health centers. Pediatrics, 134(6), e1560–e1567. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-0537
31. Zweig, J. M., Dank, M., Yahner, J., & Lachman, P. (2013). The rate of cyber dating abuse among teens and how it relates to other forms of teen dating violence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42, 1063–1077. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-9922-8
32. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (formerly Liz Claiborne Inc.), & Family Violence Prevention Fund. (2009). Troubled economy linked to high levels of teen dating violence & abuse survey: Key topline findings. Futures Without Violence. https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Teens/teen_dating_abuse_2009_key_topline_findings.pdf
33. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (formerly Liz Claiborne Inc.), & Family Violence Prevention Fund. (2009). Troubled economy linked to high levels of teen dating violence & abuse survey: Key topline findings. Futures Without Violence. https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Teens/teen_dating_abuse_2009_key_topline_findings.pdf
34. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (formerly Liz Claiborne Inc.), & Family Violence Prevention Fund. (2009). Troubled economy linked to high levels of teen dating violence & abuse survey: Key topline findings. Futures Without Violence. https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Teens/teen_dating_abuse_2009_key_topline_findings.pdf
35. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (formerly Liz Claiborne Inc.), & Family Violence Prevention Fund. (2009). Troubled economy linked to high levels of teen dating violence & abuse survey: Key topline findings. Futures Without Violence. https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Teens/teen_dating_abuse_2009_key_topline_findings.pdf
36. Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (formerly Liz Claiborne Inc.), & Family Violence Prevention Fund. (2009). Troubled economy linked to high levels of teen dating violence & abuse survey: Key topline findings. Futures Without Violence. https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Teens/teen_dating_abuse_2009_key_topline_findings.pdf
