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Facts

What is Teen Dating Violence?

Dating violence occurs in a dating relationship when one person uses physical, emotional, or sexual abuse to gain power and to keep control over the other person.

How does domestic violence affect Latino youth?

The effects of domestic violence on youth are profound. Youth who are experiencing domestic violence typically display some or all of the following behaviors and characteristics:

Psychosomatic issues, e.g., stomachaches, ulcers, headaches
Subtle reactions: loss of appetite, overeating, sleep difficulties, nail biting, or stuttering
Low self-esteem and feelings of failure
Anger: aggression, hostility, or destructiveness
Disruptive behavior or violence toward peers
Wearing high-necked or long-sleeved clothing in warm weather
Juvenile delinquency, e.g., truancy, vandalism, drinking, or drug abuse

There are issues for immigrant youth that exacerbate the stress of living with domestic violence.

Undocumented youth experience many fears. Calling the police, telling a school counselor, or parents might open up an investigation that could ultimately lead to the deportation of the boyfriend/girlfriend.
When someone is in the midst of a crisis, it is common to go back to one's first language. Youth who do so cannot utilize resources or confide in counselors or teachers who speak only English.

Statistics about Teen Dating Violence

A review of dating violence research found that prevalence rates of nonsexual, courtship violence range from 9% to 65%, depending on whether threats and emotional or verbal aggression were included in the definition.¹
Data from a study of 8th and 9th grade male and female students indicated that 25% had been victims of nonsexual dating violence and 8% had been victims of sexual dating violence.²
Studies of college students^3, ⁴ and high school students⁵ suggest that both males and females inflict and receive dating violence in equal proportion, but the motivation for violence by women is more often for defensive purposes.^4, ⁶ Other studies have found that women and girls were victims of dating violence twice as often as men and boys^6,⁷ and that females suffer significantly more injuries than males.^6,⁷
A recent National Crime Victimization survey found that women were 6 times more likely than men to experience violence at the hands of an intimate partner.⁸ Intimate partners include current or former spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, dating partners, regardless of whether they are cohabiting or not.

1. Sugarman, D. B. and Hotaling, G. T. Dating violence: prevalence, context and risk markers. In: Pirog-Good, M. A. and Stets, J. E. (Eds.) Violence in dating relationships. New York: Praeger; 1989:3-32.

2. Foshee, V.A.; Linder, G.F.; Bauman, K.E.; Langwick, S.A.; Arriaga, X.B.; Heath, J.L.; McMahon, P.M.; Bangdiwala, S. The Safe Dates Project: Theoretical Basis, Evaluation Design, and Selected Baseline Findings. Youth Violence Prevention: Description and baseline data from 13 evaluation projects (K. Powell; D. Hawkins, Eds.). American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Supplement, 1996; 12 (5):39-47.

3. Arias, I.; Samios, M.; and O'Leary, K. Daniel. Prevalence and correlates of physical aggression during courtship. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 1987;2(No. 1, March):82-90.

4. White, J. W. and Koss, M. P. Courtship violence: incidence in a national sample of higher education students. Violence and Victims 1991;6(4):247-256.

5. Gray, H.M.; Foshee, V. Adolescent Dating Violence: Differences between one-sided and mutually violent profiles. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 1997;12(1)126-141.

6. Makepeace, J. M. Gender differences in courtship violence victimization . Family Relations1986;35:383-388.

7. Makepeace, J. M. Life events, stress and courtship violence. Family Relations 1983;32:101-109.

8. Bachman, R; Saltzman, L.E. Violence Against Women: Estimates from the redesigned survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report, U.S. Department of Justice, August 1995.