UNH study reveals dating violence issue for teens

One in 10 New Hampshire teens were victims of dating violence within the past year, according to a new study that points to a need for better education across schools, researchers say.

“I think the rates of dating violence are quite startling, which is a big take-home,” said Kate Edwards, assistant professor of psychology at University of New Hampshire and lead author of the paper.

“We might need to think a little outside-the-box to address dating violence and broaden our effort.”

The study, published yesterday on the university’s Carsey School of Public Policy website, surveyed teens across 71 schools in the Granite State.

One in 10 reported they had been hit, slammed into something or struck with an object by a person they were dating.

Another 1 in 10 reported being forced into sexual contact, including kissing, touching or intercourse.

“It’s important to have training in schools for healthy gender roles and masculinity for boys,” Edwards said.

The study found that students living in impoverished areas were more likely to experience dating violence.

Of the teens surveyed, those who reported feeling like they mattered to people in their communities also reported lower rates of dating violence.

“This finding about mattering is an important one,” Edwards said. “We need to figure out how we can make kids in school feel important.”

The study also found a surprising link between higher rates of dating abuse and participation in activities run by community groups like the YMCA. But Edwards said that could be attributed to the number of teens who have been ordered to participate in these activities after criminal behavior.

People between 16 and 24 years old are at the highest risk for this type of abuse.

Though the statistics are notably high, they mirror the national average. Nearly 1 in 10 high school students in the United States report being purposely hurt by their partners, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.