Dating Violence Common Among Teens in US
Reuters
(05.18.06)
An analysis of data from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that nearly one out of 11 high school students experienced violence from their boyfriend or girlfriend, according to a study published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Among the 14,956 students in grades 9-12 surveyed in 50 states and the District of Columbia, 8.9 percent of boys and 8.8 percent of girls reported physical partner violence, found Dr. M.C. Black of the National Center for Injury Prevention and colleagues.
"During the past 12 months, did your boyfriend or girlfriend ever hit, slap, or physically hurt you on purpose?" the survey asked.
The risk of partner violence was stronger for students who had engaged in sexual intercourse within the previous three months or had five or more alcoholic drinks in the previous 30 days. In addition, students who experienced physical dating violence were 3.3 times more likely to have attempted suicide and 1.7 times likelier to have fought within the previous year than peers who had not experienced partner violence.
Dating violence was more frequent among blacks (13.9 percent) and Hispanics (9.3
percent) than among whites (7.0 percent).