Dating Violence and Abuse

Although many people can't imagine being in an abusive relationship, one in three teen relationships involves violence. Most of these teens don't tell their parents, and don't know where to seek help. Abuse affects people of every gender, race, class, sexual orientation and nationality.

Adolescents and adults are often unaware about how regularly dating abuse occurs. Here are some statistics about dating abuse and how common it is:

• One study by Choose Respect found that one in four adolescents reports verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse each year.


• Recent studies shows that one third of teens experience some form of abuse in dating relationships.


• More than half of the teens surveyed know of someone who has been abused.

For more information on dating violence, refer to the following Palo Alto Medical Foundation Web sites:

• Forms of Abuse


• Dating Violence Cycle


• Myths of Dating Violence


• Abusive Romantic Relationship