Teens face violence in dating Published Feb. 6, 2014 By 1st Lt. Donald Williams 60th Medical Operations Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Did you know that nearly 1.5 million high school students in the United States have experienced physical abuse from a dating partner or that one in three adolescents in the U.S. are victims of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from their dating partner? One in every 10 high school students have been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Eight states currently do not include dating relationships in their definition of domestic violence. Only 33 percent of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse and 81 percent of parents do not believe teen dating violence is an issue, according to www.teendating.org. There are common myths and stigmas about teen dating violence: Teen girls are not the aggressor in an abusive relationship. If you are a male, you should be able to "handle" the abuse of a female. Verbal abuse is not as bad as physical abuse. Abuse is not considered domestic abuse when there are adolescents involved. My partner's possessive tendencies are a sign that she or he loves me. No one will take me serious if I report the abuse. One thing that can dispel these myths and stigmas is awareness on this issue. Another approach to this issue that teens take is the idea that "love is respect." For instance, everyone deserves to be in a healthy relationship that is free from emotional, physical or verbal abuse. One of the main contributing factors to this problem is the lack of awareness and teenagers' unwillingness to come forward because of fear of retaliation from the offender or peers. Oftentimes, teens are not aware of the laws that are in place to protect them from such abuse. Some of the affects and consequences of teen dating violence are that half of youth who were victims of both dating violence or raped attempt suicide, compared to 12.5 percent of nonabused girls and 5.4 percent of nonabused boys, according to www.seeitandstopit.org. Adolescent girls who are physically or sexually abused are six times more likely to become pregnant and twice as likely to get a sexual transmitted infection. Adolescents who experience relationship violence are more vulnerable to developing substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence, according to http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/. Some suggestions for parents and teens is to become aware of warning signs and indicators. When you think about your current relationship, take a moment and ask yourself these questions. Does your partner respect and your individuality? Are you both honest? Do you feel like your partner supports you and your choices even when they disagree with you? Do you feel like you both respect each other's boundaries and feel safe? If you answered no to any of these questions, then you might want to explore other options in your relationship. In addition, other healthy dating tips would be not sharing explicit content on social media sites or phones. Try to double date as much as possible. Communication is key in any relationship. If you are serious about someone introduce them to your parents or someone who you respect and trust. Having friends around and possibly other family members can be helpful when picking up on subtle cues of your partner's behavior. Express to your partner sooner rather than later what your expectations are about the relationship up front. Some people may not feel comfortable introducing a person they are dating to their parents. You should consider asking someone who you know will be honest and open for their feedback about a person you are dating. For more resources on dating violence and ways you can help, visit www.thesafespace.org. This is a teen-specific page from Break the Cycle, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending dating abuse. The National Dating Abuse Helpline also offers resources for anyone experiencing dating abuse by calling toll-free 866-331-9474 or visiting www.loveisrespect.org. Local resources that provide various services and support to dealing dating violence in Solano County include LIFT3 Support Group at 425-1867, or Safe Quest Solano by calling toll-free at 1- (866) 487-7233. For further information and additional resources, call the Family Advocacy program at David Grant USAF Medical Center at 423-5168.