Dating violence and sexual assault disproportionately affect teens and young adults. Hundreds of thousands of young people are experiencing dating abuse, sexual assault, and stalking every year. Nearly 1. The effect of teen dating violence on physical health, mental health, and educational outcomes is significant. Youth victims of dating violence are more likely to experience depression and anxiety symptoms, engage in unhealthy behaviors like using tobacco, drugs and alcohol, exhibit antisocial behaviors, and think about suicide. Additionally, research suggests that teen dating violence patterns change rapidly over a short time period as adolescents grow older, thus dating violence services for young people need to be accessible, available, adaptable and safe. It is also evident that many service providers and institutions such as law enforcement, prosecutors and judges that interact with teens have limited knowledge of complex abuse dynamics in all intimate-partner relationships, as well as limited knowledge in collaborating on ongoing safety strategies with and for teen victims.
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