Our experiences as teenagers shape us into who we are as adults. This is true of the lessons we learn and the behaviors we establish in these formative years. When violence is part of the equation in the lives of young people, it breeds a cycle that perpetuates even more violence for years and generations to come. Exposure to violence in a person’s formative years can lead to aggression, depression, mental health problems and post-traumatic stress syndrome. It’s for this reason that addressing violence among teens should be a goal of parents, teachers and teens themselves.
A subset of this type of violence – dating violence – is a serious problem in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that “23 percent of females and 14 percent of males who ever experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age.”
The numbers from the CDC don’t end there. Approximately one out of 10 high school students reported being physically victimized and another 10 percent reported being sexually victimized within just a year of being surveyed.
The statistics on teen dating violence tell us that there is a culture of degradation and disrespect among young people, yet this problem is in so many ways indicative of problems among all age groups. All adults were once teenagers, and, sadly, so many of the teenage victims of violence struggle to overcome the terrible consequences of violence over the course of their entire life. In our roles as parents, guardians and mentors of teens, we can use our experience to inform young people about the importance of this issue, how to identify it when it happens and what the consequences can be.
Examples of dating violence
There are several ways in which a person can be abusive to another person, including:
- Physical violence
- Sexual abuse/sexual assault
- Emotional and psychological abuse
- Cyber abuse.
Consequences of dating violence
The physical and mental ramifications of dating violence are devastating and include:
- Physical Injuries
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Difficulty with relationships later in life
- Substance abuse
- Suicide.
There is much research, including a study published in Developmental Psychology and reported on by the Wall Street Journal, supporting the idea that our teenage years are the period in our lives in which we develop the ability to empathize with others. Teenagers are volatile and dramatic, but they are also building the skills that will determine how they interact with others as they grow older. It’s during this incredibly delicate time in our lives that we need to promote awareness of how our actions and words impact those around us.
Teen dating violence has ripple effects that impact victims and their families for the rest of their lives. It’s a problem that affects men and women, and it deserves our full attention if we are to seriously address the problem. The earlier we can instill in our children a sense of respect toward others, the less likely they’ll be to act violently toward others. We can all do our part to set the best examples possible and to speak up when we see someone being mistreated.
If you (or a loved one) have been arrested in Kentucky or in the Lexington area in particular, call my office at (859) 685-1055 for a free consultation. Our lawyers specialize in helping defendants fight back on assault charges, misdemeanors, domestic violence, property crimes, drug charges and more, call today.