Perhaps you don’t like your daughter’s boyfriend. He texts her constantly and has pulled her away from her friends, family and former activities. He puts her down and she’s become sullen and withdrawn. The relationship just doesn’t seem healthy to you.
Your parental instincts are likely right. According to national teen dating violence statistics from LoveIsRespect and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner each year. These national data also show that only about one-third of teens in abusive relationships ever tell anyone about the abuse.
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Watching for signs
While it is difficult to acknowledge that your child could be a victim, it is even more difficult to realize that your child could be a perpetrator. he same national teen dating violence prevention sources mentioned above highlight several warning signs of an unhealthy or abusive relationship — from making excuses for a partner’s behavior or losing interest in activities to withdrawing from friends and family or dealing with extreme jealousy or possessiveness. Other red flags include constant check-ins, joking about violence, sudden anger, or unexplained injuries.
Fearless! Hudson Valley Inc. offers a 24-hour hotline, a shelter, one-on-one counseling, support groups and advocacy through their Teen Dating Violence Prevention program. Youth educators work with teens, parents, and teachers to educate and help end abuse.
Linda Freeman is a freelance writer in Marlboro.