Barbara Bentley
Information for Parents Who Fear Their Children May Be
Victims of Dating Violence
Before parents know it, their children are adolescents and demonstrating an interest in romantic relationships with their peers. Nearly three-quarters of students in the ninth-grade report that they are engaging, or have engaged, in dating behavior. Although dating is a natural and healthy part of growing up, the prevalence of violence in teen dating relationships is alarming. Because of the long-term effects of dating violence on victims, parents should be aware of the potential for abuse in teen relationships and the signs of an abusive relationship. One of the risk factors for being both a victim and a perpetrator of teen violence is inadequate parental supervision, involvement, and support. However, even attentive parents can miss the signs of dating violence, and victims are often reluctant to divulge the details of their intimate relationships with their families. Parents can address the problem head on by talking to their children about dating violence before it happens and getting involved with school and community efforts to reduce the incidence of abusive intimate relationships among teens.
CHOOSE RESPECT Choose Respect is an initiative co-sponsored by the Division of Violence Prevention, an office of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), which operates under the auspices of the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The aim of Choose Respect is the prevention of dating violence through education and the fostering of healthy intra-family relationships. The Choose Respect website provides tips and resources for parents who wish to talk to their adolescent children about dating and dating violence.
WARNING SIGNSThis page from the Choose Respect website offers parents a comprehen- sive list of warning signs, both signs that a teen is currently in an abusive relationship and signs of an abusive person who has the potential to perpetrate violence against an intimate partner.
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