Dating Abuse

Dating abuse refers to the violence or maltreatment that occurs between dating partners, this includes physical abuse, emotional blackmail, sexual abuse and psychological abuse. Digital abuse, which involves the use of technologies like texting and social networking to harass, stalk, or intimidate one’s partner is also a common form of dating abuse today.

Dating abuse occurs across all ages, races, gender and socio-economic lines. A recent study showed that 22.4% of women and 15% of men first experienced some form of partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17 years. A teen abused by their partner in high school has a greater chance of being abused later in life, such as in college.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse involves using physical force in a manner that endangers or injures another person. It could be violence done by hand or by the use of weapons like knives, sticks, and other objects. Physical abuse involves slapping, punching, shoving, pinching, hitting, kicking, biting, restraining, choking and even destroying property. Women are more prone to suffer this kind of abuse than men.

Emotional/Psychological Abuse

Does your partner constantly ridicule and humiliate you? Then you are being emotionally/ psychologically abused. Emotional abuse is one that is often hard to detect but it has devastating consequences on one’s mental and physical health. Emotional abuse includes: verbal abuse like yelling, name calling and criticizing.  Controlling behavior, threatening, humiliation, manipulation and intimidation are other forms of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse must never be tolerated as it leads to loss of self confidence, low self esteem, constant fear and anxiety, distrust in others, loss of enthusiasm, loneliness and even depression. Most times, emotional abuse progresses to violence.

Sexual Abuse

This refers to any situation that forces one to participate in unsafe, unwanted or degrading sexual activity. Rape is the most common form of sexual abuse. It is alarming to know that 6 out of every 10 rape cases occur in the victim’s own home or in a friend’s/relative’s home. In these cases, the perpetuators are usually friends or acquaintances of the victim. Sexual abuse occurs in both teenage and adult dating relationships and women are more vulnerable to this kind of abuse. The risk of sexual abuse increases with multiple sexual partners especially for teenage girls.

Getting Help

Recognizing abuse is the first step to getting help. Victims of dating abuse may even blame themselves for their abuse. Nonetheless, if you are a victim of abuse, or you know someone who is, you need to get help. Speak up if you suspect an abuse. Many organizations, local or online, are involved in offering help to abuse victims Contact your local dating violence programs in your area that might provide shelter for victims. Therapy and counseling have also been proven to be a useful tool for recovery. No matter what the form of abuse, open and honest communication is necessary to aid recovery. Get out of abusive relationships. Call emergency domestic violence hotlines and get help.

Resources:

Black MC, basile KC, Brieding MJ, Smith SG, Walters ML, Merrick MT, Chen J, Stevens MR. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlandta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2011.

Smith PH, White JW, Holland LJ. A longitudinal perspective on dating violence among adolescent and college-age women. American Journal of Public Health 2003; 93(7): 1104-1109