TEEN DATING VIOLENCE
There are disturbing statistics tonight of a high rate of physical violence against teenage girls, especially those who are sexually active. These findings on teen dating violence come out of the national youth risk behavior survey, which is a questionnaire of girls across the country. It shows that teen dating violence is rampant, and according to experts it stems from a lack of self esteem among many of these teens.
Dr. Gilda Carle, a relationship expert, says, “Unfortunately teen dating violence is much more common than we would like to believe. Too many girls are willing to put up with it because they think they don’t deserve any better.”
It is a sad truth that millions of teenage girls are victims of physical abuse on dates. The research, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, shows that one in ten adolescent girls in the 9th to 12th grades report suffering physical violence on dates; that number climbs to one in just five in girls who are sexually active.
Interestingly, there was no difference found in the occurrence of teen dating violence across either racial or ethnic groups or between different geographic regions.
The study also found that adolescent girls who experience dating violence were also more likely to indulge in risky sexual behavior. For example, it’s been shown they are less likely to use condoms, perhaps because they are coerced not to by their partner.
Those experiencing dating violence were 50% more likely to report having the first sexual intercourse before age 15, and using illegal drugs or alcohol prior to the last intercourse.
They also are much more likely to ever have been pregnant.
“It’s not surprising that kids who are putting up with dating violence will also do risky things that can get them in to trouble. Because it all emanates form a lack of self esteem. They think they’re not good enough and that they deserve that kind of treatment,” says Dr. Carle.
Sadly, the higher rates of sexual risk translate into many of the 8 million cases of non-HIV sexually transmitted diseases each year in those between 18 and 24. The authors call for greater prevention programs designed to teach teens about the problem.
“The best and only way to get away from teen dating violence is to educate, educate, educate. We must educate our teenagers and let them know that anything short of communication is not going to work out,” says Carle.
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