Teen Dating Violence: Data

Data — By on February 3, 2011 5:53 pm

Based on the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) which monitors six categories of priority health risk behaviors among youth, dating violence is a serious issue for teens.  A staggering 18.5% of Chicago youth surveyed reported that they had been hit, slapped or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend.  Rates are highest for African American girls, with 22.6% reporting that they had experienced dating violence.  Overall, this is a significant increase from the 2007 data.

NATIONAL DATA

Female Male Total
White 7.2% 8.8% 8.0%
Black 14.8% 13.8% 14.3%
Hispanic 11.4% 11.7% 11.5%
TOTAL 9.3 10.3 9.8

During the 12 months preceding the survey, 9.8% of high school students nationwide had been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend (i.e., dating violence).  This is slightly down from 9.9% of students in 2007.

Overall, the prevalence of dating violence was higher among male (10.3%) than female high school students (9.3%).  This has consistently been the case over the last few years. In 2007, male high school students also reported higher dating violence rates than their female peers (11.0% vs. 8.8%).

The prevalence of dating violence was higher among black (14.3%) and Hispanic (11.5%) than white (8.0%) students; higher among black female (14.8%) than Hispanic female (11.4%) and white female (7.2%) students; and higher among black male (13.8%) than Hispanic male (11.7%) and white male (8.8%) students.

ILLINOIS DATA

Female Male Total
White 11.0% 12.0% 11.5%
Black 19.3% 19.4% 19.4%
Hispanic 16.6% 11.6% 14.2%
Asian N/A N/A 10.4%
Multiple Race N/A N/A 14.2%
TOTAL 13.6 13.7 13.8

During the 12 months preceding the survey, 13.8% of Illinois high school students had been hit, slapped or physically hurt on purpose by the boyfriend or girlfriend.  Rates were highest for Black youth, at 19.4%.

The prevalence of dating violence ranged from 7.4% to 17.8% across state surveys (median: 11.1%), putting Illinois above the national average.

CHICAGO DATA

Female Male Total
White N/A N/A 14.6%
Black 22.6% 19.8% 21.2%
Hispanic 15.6% 12.9% 14.1%
TOTAL 18.9 17.2 18.5

1,292 surveys were collected from students in Chicago.

During the 12 months preceding the survey, 18.5% of students in Chicago had been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend (i.e., dating violence).  This is significantly up from 13.4% in 2007.

Overall, the prevalence of dating violence was higher among female (18.9%) than male (17.2%) students.  It was most prevalent among Black females (22.6%).

Prevalence of dating violence ranged 8.0% to 18.5% across local surveys (median: 12.0%).   This suggests that at 18.5% Chicago youth find themselves at the highest levels of experiencing dating violence.  In fact, out of the 20 local communities surveyed, Chicago has the highest percentage of reported dating violence.