Teen Dating Violence Awareness

Understanding and Preventing Teen Dating Violence

1 in 12 teens in the US reported experiencing physical or sexual dating violence according to a 2019 CDC study. Dating violence can happen to anyone, but NO ONE ever deserves it.

Understanding Teen Dating Violence

teen couple looking at each other lovingly For many people their first experiences dating happen as teenagers; it’s important to know what to expect and how you should be treated. Behaviors like teasing or constantly requiring your partner to check in may seem flattering or like a normal part of a relationship. However, these behaviors can escalate to abuse.

There is not one specific behavior that causes a relationship to be categorized as unhealthy, but there are certain behaviors you should recognize as red flags and talk to a safe adult about them. If you have questions about your relationship or a friend’s relationship, you can call Peace River Center Victim Services for free and confidential support: 863.413.2708.

Some Relationship Red Flags

A relationship escalating very quickly
Feeling scared to tell your partner something because you are worried about their reaction
Pressuring you into kissing, sex, or anything you are not comfortable with or did not explicitly agree to in the moment (even if you said ‘yes’ at first and then changed your mind)
Your partner controlling the way you dress, talk, present yourself, or who you’re friends with

Your partner tracking you or pressuring you to check in
Your partner berating you or being mean to you in any way
Having to answer to your partner about how you spend your money or time
Blaming you for relationship problems

LGBTQIA2+

While relationship violence affects the LGBTQIA2+ community at similar rates to the larger population, Trans youth are more likely to experience all types of violence and Bisexual people are more likely to be harmed than their straight, Gay, or Lesbian counterparts. LGBTQIA2+ people can also experience specific types of abuse such as:

being ‘outed’
inability to safely receive help from law enforcement
trouble identifying abuse because of lack of resources and education

two young females one side hugging other

Peace River Center Victim Services Resources

Confused about what’s normal in a relationship? Don’t know how to leave an unhealthy one? Concerned about a friend’s relationship? Call us!

24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotlines

Hardee/Highlands Counties: 863.386.1167
Polk County: 863.413.2700

We provide free and confidential support including:

24-hour hotlines
Emergency shelter
Crisis intervention and counseling
Safety planning
And more…

Visit our Victim Services page to see a complete list of our services.

Who is your safe adult?

A safe adult is the person you tell if you or someone you care about may be in a dangerous situation or experienced something you don’t think should have happened. A safe adult is someone:

You feel comfortable being open with
Who has trustworthy judgment
You will see within a week of needing to talk to them

Some examples would be your guidance counselor, your coach, your parent, your therapist, etc.

Keeping Teens Safe

Educators, do you know what Teen Dating Violence is, how you can prevent it among your students, how to spot “red flags” in your students, and how to safely intervene if you believe your student is being abused? Watch our webinar to learn more.

Teens, do you know the difference between healthy vs. unhealthy relationships? What consent is and why it matters even in non-romantic relationships? Watch our webinar to learn more about how to protect yourself and your friends.

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