DATING VIOLENCE IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Intimate partner violence against women is a major public health concern. Research among adults has shown that younger age is a consistent risk factor for experiencing and perpetrating intimate partner violence.

This study was designed to assess lifetime prevalence of physical and sexual violence from dating partners among adolescent girls and associations of these forms of violence with specific health risks. Subjects were female 9th- through 12th-grade students who participated in the 1997 and 1999 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (n=1977 and 2186, respectively). Outcome measures were lifetime prevalence rates of physical and sexual dating violence and whether such violence is independently associated with substance use, unhealthy weight control, sexual risk behavior, pregnancy, and suicidality.

Results revealed that approximately one in five female students (20.2% in 1997 and 18.0% in 1999) reported being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. After controlling for the effects of potentially confounding demographics and risk factors, data from both surveys indicate that physical and sexual dating violence against adolescent girls is associated with increased risk of substance use (e.g., cocaine), unhealthy weight control behaviors (e.g., use of laxatives and/or vomiting), sexual risk behaviors (e.g., first intercourse before age 15 years), pregnancy, and suicidality.

The authors concluded that dating violence is extremely prevalent among this population, and adolescent girls who report a history of experiencing dating violence are more likely to exhibit other serious health risk behaviors.

Adams/SHA/Dec. '01/3 of 8/p. 2
(Silverman J. JAMA 2001; 286(5):572-579)

COMMENT: Problems come in clusters. When serving teens with one problem, it's always wise to look for associated problems and potential problems. - R.A.