Dating violence among young people should be taken seriously by those who are most likely to know about it — other young people. Peers are particularly important because most young people experiencing dating violence go to their friends for advice and support. Footnote 53 When peers label the behaviour as abusive and wrong, young people are more likely to seek help. However, peers may also be supportive of the use of violence. This can increase the risk that the violence will continue and makes it imperative that young people be educated about the consequences of dating violence.

Young people who are aware of dating violence should not respond by blaming the victim or by downplaying the harm and the risks.

Rather, they should acknowledge that the violence is a problem and encourage the victims to seek help in order to protect themselves. If you are a young person and suspect that a friend or classmate is experiencing dating violence, it is important to provide support and to help your friend recognize that the behaviour is unacceptable. Making this connection is key to ensuring that young people receive help and get out of violent relationships.

If you are involved in a violent dating relationship and your friends are supportive of your use of violence or of having violence used against you, seek better sources of support. A number of resources for young people are listed below. In addition, if you are in school, go to see a guidance counsellor or a teacher you trust.

It may also be important to consider reporting to parents, your doctor or a community health counsellor. Below is a checklist of attitudes and behaviours that research has associated with dating violence. If you answer yes to these questions, you may be supporting others in their use of violence and are more likely to use dating violence yourself. If you are engaging in any of these behaviours, you are engaging in dating violence and should reconsider your behaviour patterns. Dating violence can have a wide range of negative health consequences. These include harm that results immediately from the violence itself and also unhealthy coping mechanisms that can have both short-term and long-term health effects.

Physical injuries range from minor cuts and bruises to serious injuries, including broken bones and other injuries requiring hospitalization. Research indicates that women suffer more serious physical harm from dating violence than men. Sexual violence has a range of physical consequences. It brings not only the risk of physical injury but also the additional risks of contracting AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections and, for women assaulted by men, the risk of pregnancy.

The emotional harm for men and women who experience dating violence can be extensive. Manifestations of emotional harm include depression, anxiety, feelings of sadness and hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. Footnote 59 In cases of severe violence, survivors may experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. Footnote 60 Women who suffer sexual abuse often experience concerns about their body shape and physical appearance.

Coping with dating violence can also lead to health problems. Survivors are more likely to use and abuse alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Footnote 62 They are more likely to withdraw from school relationships, putting them at increased risk of dropping out of school. Footnote 63 Youth, both male and female, who are victims of dating violence arealsomorelikelytoengageinharmful eating behaviours Footnote 64 e.

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Footnote 65 They are also significantly more likely than nonvictimized peers to attempt suicide. If you are being abused, seek help. If you suspect that someone you know is being abused, listen and be supportive. They are not to blame for the abuse.

Tell them that what is happening is wrong and that no one deserves to be abused. Many communities have services for victims of abuse and for abusers. The NCFV provides a variety of information resources, including national service directories, as well as referral assistance to help connect individuals with resource people and organizations responding to abuse in interpersonal relationships. In schools, teachers and guidance counsellors are available to provide support, information and contacts for counselling.

The Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System is devoted to helping children and families involved in the justice system, including those who are victims of crime or abuse. If you are experiencing sexual abuse, you can contact your local rape crisis centre. While most centres can support heterosexual women, not all are able to provide support to heterosexual or gay men or lesbians. If you are a perpetrator of dating violence, getting help can be difficult. Most services are set up for victims; however, counselling and education in anger management techniques are available in many communities.

A newspaper, books and programs are available for at-risk youth who have lived with violence as perpetrators, victims or witnesses. While it is important to assist the victims and perpetrators of dating violence, it is equally important to intervene before violence begins.

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The Stop Family Violence offers more than publications, a video collection and a library collection, including several resources, addressing dating violence. There are programs available from other sources to educate people on the issue of dating violence. These include training programs for teachers and other professionals and programs for youth.

They provide information on dating violence statistics, how to identify an abusive relationship, and training in nonviolent strategies and on attitudes toward violence. Programs are most often directed at young people in middle and high school, but there are prevention programs for younger children, adults and individuals with special needs. These programs see Educational Resources have been found to have long-term effects on reducing dating violence and helping people to leave violent relationships.

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Lefort, Louise and Monique Elliot. Rondeau, Lorraine and Pierre H. Scarce, Michael. Tremblay, Pierre H. Wolfe, D. The Stop Family Violence offers a collection of videos on family violence, including several on the issue of dating violence. Videos may be borrowed through the National Film Board of Canada NFB partner public libraries across the country or through interlibrary loan, or they may be purchased through their respective distributors. Love — All That and More Barri Rosenbluth.

Faith Trust Institute — Curriculum with three videos.

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National Film Board of Canada. Available from the National Film Board of Canada. Community Living Algoma. Available through the National Film Board of Canada. Footnote 67 The site provides information on a variety of programs and on whether prevention and education programs have been assessed, who assessed them and the findings of the assessments. Collective Drama and the Prevention of Violence in Relationships Contact Dr. Richard Walsh-Bowers.

Email: rwalsh mach1. Edmonton, AB. Email: ppae freenet. The Fourth R London, ON. David Wolfe via email: dawolfe uwo. Tel: ; Fax: Program is aimed at 7 th , 8 th and 9 th graders. Leibovitch, D. Westerburg and L. Education Wife Assault. Dating Violence Among Adolescents Available online at no cost.

There are a variety of programs available, including C. SafeTeen: Powerful Alternative to Violence. Vancouver, BC. Vers qui? Vers quoi? Email: info womanabuseprevention. Kelly, Ph. The opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Stop Family Violence, Public Health Agency of Canada. Contents may not be reproduced for commercial purposes, but any other reproduction, with acknowledgements, is encouraged. Recommended citation: Canada: Stop Family Violence. Prepared by Katharine D. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada, You will not receive a reply.

Skip to main content Skip to "About government". We have archived this page and will not be updating it. You can use it for research or reference. Introduction Dating violence is a significant and widespread social problem.

What is Dating Violence? Footnote 2 Physical Violence occurs when one partner uses physical force to control the other. Footnote 7 Emotional or Psychological Abuse includes insulting or swearing at, belittling or threatening a dating partner. Footnote 9 Different Forms of Dating Violence In addition to categorizing the types of dating violence in this way physical, sexual and emotional; moderate and severe , sociological studies distinguish among the forms of dating violence according to other qualitative characteristics, such as frequency how often violence is used and the motives for its use.

How Widespread is the Problem of Dating Violence? Footnote 16 In their study, DeKeseredy and Kelly found that Footnote 18 Perpetrators One study suggests that the best predictor of being a victim of physical violence is perpetrating it oneself. Footnote 20 Emotional violence is also widespread in university and college dating relationships. Footnote 26 Individuals who hold attitudes that support the use of violence to settle conflicts or interpersonal problems are also more likely to perpetrate violence.

Footnote 30 Researchers have also investigated the psychopathology of perpetrators in an attempt to understand dating violence. Victims Howard and Wang developed a risk profile of women who experienced dating violence. Footnote 38 Relationship status also affects the likelihood of violence. Footnote 41 Contextual Factors: Violence often occurs in the context of stress within the relationship, or when there is significant stress in the life of one or both partners. Footnote 46 Social Factors: Ultimately, the causes of dating violence are also rooted in our society and its norms and value systems.

Footnote 49 Our social understanding of violence, including how and when we should use it, is also important. A Dating Violence Checklist Below is a checklist of attitudes and behaviours that research has associated with dating violence. Do you believe that it is acceptable to use violence to resolve conflicts?