Abusive dating common among teens, study finds

[flashl]

By JASON G. HOWE
Fosters Daily Democrat
August 3, 2008

A disturbing percentage of young teens are involved in physically and emotionally abusive dating relationships, according to a recently released survey.

Those abusive relationships begin as young as age 11 and can include violent sexual acts by age 14, the study found, prompting teen health advocates and state attorneys general to further back educating teens and "tweens" on the dangers of dating.

Commissioned by clothing and cosmetics company Liz Claiborne Inc., the study polled 2,192 people, including 1,043 "tweens" — those aged 11-14 — 523 parents of tweens, and 626 teens aged 15-18.

It found that one in five 13- to 14-year-olds say they know someone their age who has been physically abused, and nearly half know someone who has been verbally abused in a relationship.

The data also suggests sex in these early relationships increases the risk of abuse. Of teens who had sex by age 14, 33 percent said they had been kicked, punched, choked, slapped or hit and 58 percent said they had been verbally abused.

[Mind_your_head]

1. Heck, I was verbally abused (and still am) by my parent(s)/family......

Didn't lead *me* into a bad marriage to an alcoholic, whom my family thought was a "great guy".....oh wait.......

[CoffeeCat]

2. Child abuse leads to young people...

...who grow up and don't know how to deal with normal, healthy relationships.

One in four girls is sexually abused before the age of 18; one in seven boys is sexually abused
before the age of 18. Most often, this sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone living inside
the home or someone in the immediate family, a stepfather, father, grandfather, uncle, etc.

Given these statistics, how can we be shocked when young girls perpetuate the cycle of violence
and continue to be victims---and many young males go on to victimize these girls.

This is epidemic in our country. Besides sexual abuse, children are also physically abused,
emotionally abused and many are neglected. On my street alone, there are children as young
as 7 and 8 who are left home all day--while there parents are at work. We've got a ten-year old
boy up the street who is left home alone, but he hangs out with 15-year olds.

The potential for abuse and emotional problems with these abandoned children, is very high. I imagine
that most of them are quite angry and lost.

This country treats kid like chattel.