Teaching healthy relationship skills can prevent dating violence!
Teen dating violence is not a problem that goes away but leads to adverse outcomes in adulthood as well. Studies have shown that teen dating violence victims experience issues as adults such as antisocial behavior, depression, suicidal thoughts, heavy drinking, and drug use. Teens may mistake controlling behavior for caring and concern. Healthy relationships and the skills necessary for them can be taught.
Read up on our Flagship program Love Notes and its outcomes on reducing risky behaviors. Research on Love Notes on Risky behaviors:
- Sex Education in a Healthy Relationship Curriculum Could Lead to Reductions in Risky Sexual Behavior
- Watch the free webinar replay of “What Do We Really Know About the Cycle of Violence?” or “The Impact of Relationship Education on Predictors of Dating Violence”.
- Check out this case study from SAFE of Columbia that used Mind Matters in a violence prevention setting or a 4-H Case study using Relationship Smarts PLUS used to prevent violence in schools.
- Read this evaluation on ” The Effects of Relationship Education on Adolescent Traditional Gender Role Attitudes and Dating Violence Acceptance. “
Also check out other innovative programs help stop dating violence:
Learn more about teen dating violence prevention
What does teen dating violence look like?
To build awareness, educators and youth need to understand that teen dating violence comes in many forms:
- Physical Violence
- Emotional Abuse
- Stalking
- Cyber Violence
- Sexual Abuse
Read about the Longitudinal Associations Between Teen Dating Violence Victimization and Adverse Health Outcomes or about the Abuse of Technology in Stalking
Videos
Below, you will find a series of scenarios from BeSmart BeWell to test your student’s knowledge about the types of dating violence that occur most frequently. Which forms of abuse do they recognize?
- Julie – Stalking and Cyber Violence
- William – Emotional Abuse
- Carla – Sexual Harassment
- Michael – Physical Violence
- Leah – Sexting
Sharable Graphics
The following are free graphics to share on social media during Violence Prevention Month.
Download the Physical Violence Graphic
Download the Youth Violence Graphic
Download Sexual Violence Graphic
Download the Teen Dating Violence Infographic with Citations.

