Dating Violence in Teens

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of four adolescents report some form of abuse each year.

A large part of that violence stems from dating relationships.

Heather Bennett from Six County Incorporated said dating violence is a serious problem in the teen age group.

"It’s a situation between two, mostly teenagers," she said. "It can be sexual abuse, physical abuse, or mental abuse. Usually with physical, it can be anywhere between threats to slapping, kicking, pinching, hitting with either a fist or an object."

Bennett said many times, people in violent relationships have grown up with seeing violence on a daily basis. She said men use their masculinity as a way of being dominant, using different forms of abuse.

"Usually the verbal is the one they can’t get away from," she said. "With physical, sometimes its happened and they’ve seen it, witnessed it, so it becomes not such a big deal, but when the mental part is there, it sticks with them."

There are signs that can help you recognize dating violence. They are:

-Violent tendencies

-Abuse toward children and animals

-Jealous or possessiveness

-Keeping someone from their family or friends

-Alcohol or drug use

Governor Ted Strickland recently signed Tina’s Law which will require local school boards to adopt policies to prevent and address abusive student relationships, train staff on the subject, and add lessons in dating violence prevention to seventh through 12th grade health classes.

The legislation was named Tina’s Law after a southwestern Ohio teen, who was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1992.