Study: 1 in 11 students is hurt in relationships

Boys and girls reported violence almost equally.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
One in 11 high school students was hit, slapped or otherwise deliberately physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend, and this was linked to still more risky teen behaviors, according to a new federal survey.
The study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that teens who reported violent behavior from a date were also more likely to report binge drinking, fighting, suicide attempts and recent sexual activity.
Overall, the survey found that 8.9 percent of students in grades 9 through 12 reported experiencing physical violence from a boyfriend or girlfriend at least once in the previous 12 months. The incidence was almost identical for both boys (8.9 percent) and girls (8.8 percent).
Levels of violence did not change significantly with the age of the teens or the grade they were in school, but those who were victims were about twice as likely to report getting mostly D's or F's in school as they were making mostly A's.
Reported physical dating violence was also more prevalent among non-Hispanic black teens (13.9 percent) compared with non-Hispanic whites (7 percent) or Hispanic students (9.3 percent).
Educating adolescents
"This study illustrates the importance of teaching adolescents how to have good relationships," said Dr. Ileana Arias, director of the CDC's National Center for Injury and Violence Prevention. "If adolescents have good social relationship skills, they are better equipped to avoid behaviors that put their health and well-being at risk."
The results were based on the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. It included a representative sample of public and private high school students nationwide, a total of 15,214, with more than 98 percent answering the dating-violence question.
Previous estimates of relationship violence among middle and high school students have ranged from 28 percent to 96 percent, with the higher incidence usually reported when teens are asked about psychological, emotional or sexual abuse or coercion.
The CDC researchers are presenting their work today in the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The authors noted that the extent of violence was likely underreported, since the survey mentioned actions only by boyfriends or girlfriends, and that many of the teens may not have considered themselves to be dating the other person. Also, the survey didn't include any teens who had dropped out of high school and thus didn't fully capture the extent of the problem in the age group.
Gender differences
While the CDC study matches other research in finding boys and girls reporting violence equally, most research has shown that female teens suffer more ill effects from such episodes in terms of both physical injury and fear, while males are more likely to shrug off attacks or consider them amusing.
As couples get older, women are much more likely to be victims of violence between intimate partners, studies show.
Arias said the surveys among teens demonstrate how the patterns begin, and underscore the need for programs to help adolescents learn how to develop healthy relationships.
"Many adolescents are thinking about dating or starting to date, but often have little knowledge or experience in forming effective relationships," she said.
The CDC has announced such an initiative for middle-schoolers, called "Choose Respect." It includes games and interactive learning tools, streaming video clips and other tools to foster discussion about positive social skills.