Majority of Teens Who Date Experience Abuse

Teen dating violence is on the rise, according to a nationwide study published last week. Experts say the latest numbers reveal a startling culture of relational abuse, especially emotional abuse, with much of it happening online.

The National Survey on Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence found nearly 20 percent of dating teens, both boys and girls, reported they had been victims of physical or sexual abuse, and more than 60 percent reported being both victims and perpetrators of psychological abuse, meaning that dating abuse if often mutual and cyclical.