Do you know how prevalent teen dating violence is? Have you talked to your kids about safe relationships?

Teen dating violence is more prevalent amongst young adults than you would think. According to statistics, 1 in 5 teens have been involved in an abusive dating relationship.

Sadly, many teens do not seek help and many parents are not aware of the abuse that is taking place in their child's life. Liz Claiborne Inc. has sponsored numerous studies on teen dating violence and has provided tools for teens as well as for parents. Please read on to learn about the startling statistics regarding teen dating violence and technology as well as handbooks and resources from Liz Claiborne Inc. on what to do if you or someone you know is a teen in a dangerous relationship.

Liz Claiborne Sponsors Technology and Teen Dating Abuse Survey

A new survey conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited for Liz Claiborne Inc. reveals that an alarming number of teens in relationships are being controlled, threatened and humiliated through the use of cell phones and the internet. The research also shows that a large percentage of parents are unaware of this occurrence and the dangers that are facing their teenage children.

Here are a few statistics from the survey about the prevalence of abuse through technology:

One in four teens in a relationship (25%) say they have been called names, harassed, or put down by their partner though cell phones and text messaging.
One in three teens who have been in a relationship (30%) say they’ve been text messaged 10, 20, or 30 times in an hour by a partner finding out where they are, what they’re doing, or who they’re with.
One in five teens in a relationship (22%) have been asked to engage in sex by cell phone or the internet when they do not want to.
17% of teens say their partner has made them afraid not to respond to a cell phone call, text or IM message or e-mail because of what he/she might do.
71% of parents were unaware that their teen is afraid of not responding to a cell phone call, text or IM message or e-mail for fear of what their partner might do.
An alarming one in ten teenagers (10%) claim they have been threatened physically via e-mail, IM, text, chat, etc.

Often parents are in the dark about traditional physical abuse happening to their teens just as they are about abuse happening via technology. To read the entire report click on the link - Teen Dating Violence and Technology Report

In response to the alarming rates of teen dating violence through technology and the severe knowledge gap between parents and their teens, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) and Liz Claiborne Inc. launched www.loveisrespect.org, The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline. The 24-hour national web-based and telephone resource will help those teens, ages 13-18, who are experiencing dating abuse find the appropriate resources. Locally Phoenix has a similar web-based resource www.weboffriends.org, created by the Maricopa Association of Governments.

Liz Claiborne Inc. has created a series of short handbooks on what teens can do about dating violence and how parents can talk to their teens about the dangers of a violent relationship. The following links are handbooks provided by Liz Claiborne Inc and their informational website www.loveisnotabuse.com. On the website you will find these handbooks as well as other important resources.

Information provided by the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence, Teen Research Unlimited and Liz Claiborne Inc.