Amber McKeen, B.S and Kara Klein, CCLS

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By the end of this presentation you will be able to:
 Define Teen Dating Violence
 Recognize signs of Teen Dating Violence victimization and perpetration
 Explain the consequences and risk factors of
Teen Dating Violence and how it relates to Child
Sexual Abuse

“The pattern of repeated actual or threatened acts that physically, sexually, or verbally abuse a member of an unmarried heterosexual or homosexual couple in which one or both partner is between thirteen and twenty years old”
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Carlson, CN. Invisible Victims: Holding the Educational System Liable for Teen Dating Violence at School. Harvard
Women’s Law Journal, 26, 351-393

Physical
Electronic
Aggression
Emotional
Teen Power and
Control Wheel
Sexual
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Herrman
JW. (2009). There’s a Fine Line…Adolescent Dating Violence and Prevention.
Pediatric Nursing , 35 (3),
164-170.

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 Texting/Calling
 GPS location
• Boost mobile- “Where you at?”
 Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc…
• Checking In
• Harassment

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Love the
Way You
Lie
Break the Cycle: www.breakthecycle.gov

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• Individual-biological and personal history factors
• Relationship- peers, intimate partners, and family members
• Community- schools, characteristics of neighborhood
• Society- contextual factors – media, geographic region
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Violence Prevention —The Social-
Ecological Model: A Framework for Prevention. www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/overview/social_ecologicalmodel.html

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 Children who have witnessed or experienced family violence and trauma are more likely to perpetrate or be a victim of TDV
• Includes physical punishment
 One study found that 45% female CSA victims experienced physical violence in their dating relationships
• Duration of sexual abuse, violence and completed intercourse significantly contributed to experiencing TDV

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 Females- emotional abuse is the strongest predictor of adolescent sexual perpetration
- after controlling for CSA
 Males- experiencing physical punishment, sexual abuse and emotional abuse are at increased risk for sexual perpetration in high school
 Early traumatic experiences can delay or alter brain development

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 Adolescent Brains are not fully developed
 Prefrontal Cortex
• Impulsivity
• Interpreting Emotions
• Judgment
• Consequences of actions
• Decision making

 Injuries, Death, Suicide
 Mental Health
 PTSD
 Low self-esteem
 Declines in school achievement
 Engaging in unhealthy behaviors
 Increased risk of STIs
 Pregnancy
 Cycle of Violence
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Marquart, BS, Nannini, DK, Edwards, RW, Stanley, LR & Wayman, JC. (2007). Prevalence of dating violence and victimization: Regional and gender difference. Adolescence, 42 (168) , 645-657.

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• Alienation from friends and family
• Expulsion from school
• Depression
• Criminal record
• Potentially build poor lifelong relationship habits

 72% of 8 th and 9 th graders reportedly “date”
 1 in 3 adolescent girls in the US are victims of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner
 1 in 4 teens in relationships report they text their partner every hour between 10pm and 5am
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention.; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Understanding Teen Dating
Violence. 2009

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16% of teens report dating violence
6 th highest rate in the US for TDV
Youth Risk Behavior Survey,2009

 Only 1 in 11 episodes of dating violence reported
 Variety of reasons why teens do not report dating violence:
• Stigma
• Self-blame
• Denial
• Unaware it is abuse
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• Adult beliefs:
 DV is not a teen problem


Fail to give validation to teens feelings for partner
Teen relationships are not serious, easy to get out
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention.

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 Cannot use the same rules
• Safety issues for the victim
• Parental involvement
• Not “mandated to report”
• Reporting agencies

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Teen is a Victim…
 Loss of interest in normal activities and hobbies
 Unexplainable bruises or injuries
 Appears fearful or angry when unable to access their cell phone
 Withdrawing from family and friends
 Fearfulness around dating partner or when his or her name is mentioned
 Making excuses for partner’s violent behavior
• Reviving Ophelia clip
 Noticeable changes in eating or sleeping patterns and alcohol and drug use
 Loss of self-confidence Red Flags
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention.

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Teen is a Perpetrator…
• Insults dating partner in public or private
• Attempts to control dating partner’s friends, activities, or even what they wear
• Demand to know where dating partner is at all times
• Blames the dating partner for his or her actions

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Why did Georgia receive a failing grade?
What can states do to increase their scores?
 Georgia law excludes people in dating relationships from accessing protective orders (PO)
 Allow minors to get POs against other minors
 Allow minors to get POs on their own behalf
 Law does not allow a minor to get a PO against another minor
 Mandate dating violence education in school systems
 Minors can not petition for a PO on their own behalf

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A
B
C
D
F

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 § 20-2-314 Required to develop a rape & TDV prevention program for grades 8-12
• Local boards may implement such programs at any time and for any grade level local boards find appropriate
 SB 46 Require each local board of education to provide a curriculum relating to TDV and adoption of a policy against dating violence (Similar to HB
283 )
• Pending-Carryover

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 Recognize Red Flags
 Advocate for TDV prevention programs
 Talk to Stewards participants about TDV as a potential consequence of CSA
 Teach teens about healthy relationships
 Create an environment that makes communication easy
 Screen for TDV and refer teens with warning signs and provide them with resources
• Offer materials- never force them to take it

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 Start talking early – make sure they know this isn’t a talk but an ongoing conversation
 Start with a general question or observation
• “Do you think there’s a lot of pressure to have sex at your school?”
 Let them be the expert in their own world
 Examples of questions:
• Is there someone you really like?
• What kind of things do you do together?
• Have you ever felt pressure or wanted to have sex?

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 http://www.loveisrespect.org/
 Its ok if you don’t have all the answers – be honest and offer to help find out the facts together
 Teens can really benefit from hearing what your values are
 Teach teens that healthy relationships are based on respect, caring, and trust
• Some signs of “love” are actually signs of jealousy and controlling behavior

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 Your Partner:
• Tells you what to do or wear
• Makes false accusations or constantly accuses you of cheating
• Only wants you to hang out with them
• Blames you for their problems
• Has huge mood swings and goes from being really angry to very sweet in short periods of time
 You:
• Apologize for the behavior or make excuses for it
• Frequently worry about making them angry
• Stop doing things that are important to you to make them happy
• Cancel plans with friends at the last minute
• Are afraid to break up because they may hurt you, or themselves

 Brainstorm with teens – who to call, where to go if in imminent danger, what they should take with them
• Encourage them:




To tell parents or family members they are afraid of their partner
To try not to be alone with their boyfriend- go out in public places, try to always keep a cell phone on them, let other’s know where they are
If they’re breaking up, don’t break up in person/alone
Change passwords
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 Safety Plan

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 Model healthy behaviors
 Recognize red flags
 Listen to teens without judging when they ask for help
 Be supportive, and do not criticize their partner
 Be aware of resources that can help teens involved in abusive relationships

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 National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: 1-866-331-9474, www.loveisrespect.org
 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
(7233)
 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
 National Center for Victims of Crime: www.ncvc.org
 National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center: www.safeyouth.org
 Choose Respect Initiative: www.cdc.gov/chooserespect
 Safe Dates: Prevention program for dating abuse
 Healthy Relationships curriculum
 Safety Planswww.endabuse.org
and www.ndvh.org

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Kara Klein Kara.Klein@choa.org
Amber McKeen Amber.McKeen@choa.org