Youth Dating Violence Prevention 101

What Everyone Needs to Know

Consequences of Youth Dating Violence

Consequences for Individuals Who Are Victimized by Dating Violence

Youth who are victimized by dating violence may feel like they don’t have power, feel unsafe, or feel trapped within a violent relationship.
Youth victimized by dating violence may suffer from a host of negative mental health impacts, including depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, anxiety, or trauma symptoms.
Some youth may feel isolated, alone, and helpless in dealing with the violence – they may lose confidence in their ability to manage relationships, conflict, and stress.
Youth victimized by dating violence may also experience injury and sexual health issues such as STIs (sexually transmitted infections) or unwanted pregnancies.
Youth victimized by dating violence are more likely to use drugs and have a loss in academic performance.
Youth who are victimized by dating violence risk a lifetime of difficult relationships with others, including victimization in future relationships.
- Experiencing Youth Dating Violence is a significant risk factor for being victimized by partner violence in adulthood.
Summary:
- Depressive symptoms
- Suicidality
- Increased anxiety
- Trauma symptoms
- Problematic substance use
- Sexual health issues (e.g. STIs, unwanted pregnancy)
- Injury
- Decreased ability to regulate negative emotions and stress
- Continued involvement in violence (can escalate)
- Decreased academic performance

Consequences for Individuals Who Perpetrate Dating Violence

Youth who perpetrate dating violence use power and aggression to harm or control others.
- They need healthy relationship solutions.
If aggressive behaviours are not corrected, they risk growing up using violence to achieve goals.
Youth who perpetrate dating violence risk a lifetime of difficult relationships with others, including involvement in future violence.
- Youth Dating Violence is a risk factor for partner violence in adulthood.
Youth who perpetrate dating violence are at a higher risk of committing a crime, having behaviour problems, not performing well at school, and involvement with drugs.
Youth who perpetrate dating violence are at risk for a host of mental and physical health impacts, such as depression, suicide risk, drug use, and risky sexual behaviours.
Summary:
- Depression
- Suicidality
- Problematic substance use
- Risky sexual behaviours
- Involvement in crime
- Decreased ability to regulate negative emotions & manage conflict
- Continued violence in future
- Decreased academic performance

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PREVNet is located at the University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta. We acknowledge and pay tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

PREVNet works to eliminate violence and promote healthy relationships for youth and is dedicated to working toward addressing the systemic racism and the impacts of colonization that puts marginalized groups at higher risks of violence. PREVNet believes it is our collective responsibility to listen, learn, and act to ensure the rights of Indigenous people are recognized and implemented.