More boys report dating violence than girls

◗ Teenage boys experience more dating violence — being hit, slapped or pushed — than girls of their age

Toronto, Aug. 30: Teenage boys are more likely to report experiencing dating violence — being hit, slapped, or pushed — than girls of their age, a study has found.

Overall, fewer teens are experiencing physical abuse from their dating partners, with five per cent of teens reporting dating violence in 2013, down from six per cent in 2003.

The study, published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, found 5.8 per cent of boys and 4.2 per cent of girls said they had experienced dating violence in the past year.

More research is needed to understand why boys are reporting more dating violence, Catherine Shaffer, a PhD student from Simon Fraser University in Canada.

“It could be that it's still socially acceptable for girls to hit or slap boys in dating relationships. This has been found in studies of adolescents in other countries as well,” said Shaffer.

She added that the overall decline in dating violence, while small, is encouraging.

“Young people who experience dating violence are more likely to act out and take unnecessary risks, and they're also more likely to experience depression or think about or attempt suicide,” Shaffer said.

The study is the first in Canada to look at dating violence trends among adolescents over time.