Research In Action
Research In Action
I recently moderated the Center for Violence Prevention (CVP)'s webinar titled "Recognizing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence in the Clinical Setting." This webinar provided education to pediatric providers, including physicians, nurses, hospital staff, and clinically-based social workers, on the issue of teen dating violence (TDV) and how to recognize it, how to help patients, and where to find resources.
TDV affects approximately 1 in 3 US teens, with many reporting violence in their romantic (or dating) relationships in early adolescence. TDV takes many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, financial, digital, and stalking. The National Domestic Violence Hotline saw a 101% increase in reports of digital abuse from 2019 to 2020, many of these from young people.
TDV can have significant negative impacts on teens, with survivors experiencing higher rates of depression, substance abuse, suicide attempts, eating disorders, poor school performance, unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and future victimization.
Many providers find it challenging to recognize the signs of TDV or to discuss the issue with their patients. In addition, not all pediatric health systems routinely screen for intimate partner violence; even for those that do, there can be limited awareness among providers of the resources available to assist teens who may be experiencing such violence.
Given the pervasiveness of TDV, it is critical that providers understand the importance of universal education about healthy relationships, sensitive ways to inquire about dating violence, and how to respond to patients’ disclosures of violence. CVP’s new webinar provides action steps for pediatric providers to become “Teen Dating Violence Prevention Champions” to help promote safety for patients or caregivers experiencing TDV.
View the full webinar, download a PDF of the slide deck, and access relevant resources here.
