Teens affected by dating violence

A survey carried out by University of Michigan Medical School of more than 4,000 adolescent patients ageing 14 to 20 seeking emergency care, indicated that dating violence was common and affected both genders.

The study Found out that those with depression, or a history of using drugs or alcohol, had a higher likelihood to act as the aggressor or victim.

Vijay Singh, M.D., MPH, MS, the study's lead author and a U-M clinical lecturer in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine said that it was important to think about both genders when trying to identify teen dating violence, especially when there were other conditions they may be trying to assess in the health care setting.

Singh added that these data reminded them that teen relationships were not immune to violence and should encourage providers to ask adolescent patients about these important issues and this could help us understand whom to target for screening and referral to, or development of, programs that could help them.

The research is published by Annals of Emergency Medicine.