Teen Dating Violence Affects Adult Health

Victims of teen dating violence have a higher chance of experiencing adverse health outcomes as young adults.

This study published in the journal Pediatrics, was set out to identify the longitudinal link between teen dating violence and negative health consequences.

There were 5,681 teenagers (between the ages of 12 and 18) involved in the experiment from 1994 to 2002 who were asked to fill out surveys as part of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

The teens were asked questions regarding their heterosexual dating experiences so that the experts could evaluate dating violence victimization at both a physical and psychological level.

Five years later, when the subjects were between the ages of 18 and 25, they received a follow-up where they were asked questions regarding self-esteem, antisocial behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, suicide attempt, substance use, depressive symptoms, and adult intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization.

After adjusting for variables such as child maltreatment, sociodemographics, and pubertal status, results showed that after five years, adolescent females who previously reported victimization by a boyfriend had a higher chance of:

• drinking heavily
• smoking
• experiencing symptoms of depression
• thinking about suicide

Adolescent males who were victims of dating violence by a girlfriend were more likely to report:

• suicidal thoughts
• increased anti-social behavior
• marijuana use

In fact, previous research also found a link between dating violence and suicide attempts among young people.

The researchers also discovered that boys and girls who were victimized as teenagers had around two to three times the likelihood of being in violent relationships again later in life, as opposed to adolescents who were never involved in a dangerous relationship.

The results of this study indicate how critical screening and prevention of adolescent dating violence should be used for both males and females. However, a previous report indicated that although teen dating violence is a serious problem among teens, less than one quarter of psychiatrists consistently screen for it.

In order to identify and help the young people who are being victimized by a boyfriend or girlfriend, the scientists suggest that pediatricians and health care providers of adolescents should ask their caregivers if they are aware of any dating violence they are involved in. This way, the victims can immediately get involved in prevention programs and receive treatment.

Written by Sarah Glynn
Source:MNT