Press Room

“A new poll, conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited for the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) and Liz Claiborne Inc., demonstrates once again that teen dating violence is a significant problem in America. It finds that nearly one in three teens report threats of violence, or sexual or physical abuse. Nearly one in four teens report being victimized through technology, and nearly one in two who are in relationships report being controlled, threatened, and pressured to do things they did not want to do. Too many of our youth are at risk.

But we can change that. Teen dating violence is a problem we can address. Women in the U.S. have nearly a one in four chance of experiencing violence by a spouse or boyfriend in their lives. The age group most at risk is youth, age 16 to 24. It is a problem screaming for a solution, and this poll points the way.

These findings show a serious disconnect between what some parents think is happening with their teenage children, and what teens are experiencing. Parents say they are talking to their kids, but two-thirds of teen girls say they have not had a conversation about dating abuse with a parent in the past year. Four in five parents say they are confident they can recognize signs that their child is experiencing dating abuse, but nearly three in five did not correctly identify all the warning signs of abuse.

It is especially concerning that about one-third of parents don’t recognize that isolation from family and friends can be danger signs. Only about one-third of teens in abusive relationships have confided in parents about the abuse. That, too, is a number we can improve.

We found that fathers understand that teen dating abuse is common. That’s the good news. The bad news is: they are less comfortable than mothers in talking to their children about some of the most serious forms of abuse. Now we need to help more fathers engage with their children on this topic.

We are ready to do just that. The tools offered by our RESPECT! Campaign, with national sponsor Macy’s, can help parents talk to their children, define and promote healthy relationships, and intervene if abuse begins. Macy’s is making one of the most generous investments ever in violence prevention. By investing in positive solutions and utilizing a variety of marketing platforms to reach customers and employees with critical information and resources for parents, teachers, coaches, and other role models to young people, our partnership with Macy’s will help make a difference and help stop the kind of teen dating violence we are talking about today.

We are still learning about how the economy affects domestic and dating violence, and we don’t have all the answers. But we know that demand for hotline and shelter services have increased during this recession, at least in part because victims have fewer resources to use to protect themselves and their kids.

Our poll shows that conversations about family finances may be drowning out conversations about dating violence in families under economic stress. We understand and know that parents are under incredible pressure. We don’t want to use this poll to indict parents who aren’t having conversations with their children, but to remind parents how important it is to talk to their children. Thank you.”

Click here to read the topline findings.

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The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to end violence against women and children around the world, because every person has the right to live free of violence. For more information, visit www.endabuse.org.

The RESPECT! Campaign is the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s (FVPF) latest initiative to advance a national movement to promote healthy relationships and stop relationship violence through positive role modeling and respect education. Sponsored nationally by Macy’s, the RESPECT! Campaign encourages individuals to help prevent and end domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and other forms of relationship abuse by talking with young people early and often about respect, and modeling that behavior in their own relationships. Through conversation guides for parents, lesson plans for teachers, tools for coaches, and other instructional “Respect Tools,” the campaign offers a variety of resources to support moms, dads, teachers, coaches, and other living, breathing role models who have critical roles to play in helping our sons and daughters shape a world that is free of relationship violence. To learn more, visit www.giverespect.org.