Teen Dating Violence

Abusive partners use the same strategies in teen relationships that are used in adult situations. Following is a partial list of early warning signs of teen dating violence:

• You see your friend’s partner put them down or call them names in front of other people.
• The partner acts extremely jealous when the friend talks to others, even when it is completely innocent.
• The friend apologizes for the partner’s behavior and makes excuses for them.
• The friend frequently cancels plans at the last minute, for reasons that sound untrue.
• The partner is always checking up on the friend, calling, paging, or texting and demanding to know where they have been and whom they have been with.
• The partner loses their temper, maybe even breaking or hitting things when they are mad.
• The friend seems worried about upsetting the partner or making them angry.
• The friend is giving up things that used to be important, such as spending time with friends or other activities, and is becoming more and more isolated.
• The friend’s weight, appearance, or grades have changed dramatically.
• The friend has injuries that cannot be explained or the explanations they give do not make sense.

If you or someone you know is experiencing teen dating violence, call our hotline at 802-658-1996 or 1-800-ABUSE95. Remember that abuse is never the victim´s fault.