Abusive dating common among teens, study finds [View All]

[flashl]

By JASON G. HOWE
Fosters Daily Democrat
August 3, 2008

A disturbing percentage of young teens are involved in physically and emotionally abusive dating relationships, according to a recently released survey.

Those abusive relationships begin as young as age 11 and can include violent sexual acts by age 14, the study found, prompting teen health advocates and state attorneys general to further back educating teens and "tweens" on the dangers of dating.

Commissioned by clothing and cosmetics company Liz Claiborne Inc., the study polled 2,192 people, including 1,043 "tweens" — those aged 11-14 — 523 parents of tweens, and 626 teens aged 15-18.

It found that one in five 13- to 14-year-olds say they know someone their age who has been physically abused, and nearly half know someone who has been verbally abused in a relationship.

The data also suggests sex in these early relationships increases the risk of abuse. Of teens who had sex by age 14, 33 percent said they had been kicked, punched, choked, slapped or hit and 58 percent said they had been verbally abused.