What is Teen Dating Violence?
According to The National Center for Victims of Crime, dating violence is “controlling, abusive, and aggressive behavior in a romantic relationship. It can include verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, or a combination.” In the context of Teen Dating Violence, it is the violence that occurs in romantic partnerships where the victim is between the ages of 12 and 18.
Teen dating violence is a serious issue and is far more prevalent than people may realize.
The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 1 in 10 high school students had experienced sexual violence from a romantic partner and 1 in 12 had experienced physical violence in the past 12 months.
Learn the signs
Signs of Controlling Behavior:
- Deciding who you should or should not be allowed to be friends with.
- Forcing you to cut off communication with your friends.
- Calling frequently to know about your whereabouts.
- Having to be with you constantly.
- Telling you what to wear/how you should style your hair.
Signs of Emotional/Verbal Abuse:
- Calling you hurtful names.
- Threatening to commit suicide to keep you from breaking up with them.
- Jealousy of your relationships with others.
- Accusing you of cheating.
- Yelling/screaming at you.
- Threatening physical violence towards you, your family, or themselves.
- Making you feel guilty about rejecting sexual activity.
- Invalidating your feelings.
Signs of Physical Abuse:
- Scratching, biting, and hair pulling.
- Throwing objects at you.
- Punching, slapping, or kicking.
- Using weapons or sharp objects on you.
- Grabbing you to prevent you from leaving.
Signs of Sexual Abuse:
- Unwanted kissing or touching.
- Rape or attempted rape.
- Refusing to use condoms or other forms of birth control.
- Threatening someone into unwanted sexual activity.
- Guilting someone into unwanted sexual activity.
- Unwanted rough sexual touch.
- Sexual contact with someone who is drunk or drugged and unable to give consent.
- Sexual insults.
Works Cited
- “Bulletins for Teens.” Dating Violence. Web. 30 Jul. 2026.
- “Types of Abuse – Www.loveisrespect.org.” Www.loveisrespect.org. Web. 30 Jul. 2026.
- “Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, and Bullying Victimization Among High School Students -Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021. MMWR supplements, 72(1), 66–74. Web. 30 Jul. 2026.
Additional Resources
Department of Justice
Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Dating Matters®
Dating Matters®: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships is a comprehensive teen dating violence prevention model developed by CDC to stop teen dating violence before it starts. Dating Matters is an evidence-based teen dating violence prevention model that includes prevention strategies for individuals, peers, families, schools, and neighborhoods.