survey results

Teen Dating Violence and Social Environment Survey, 2000

Key Learning

The findings presented in this study of American teenagers reveal a picture of schools that is characterized by social hierarchies, intimidation, and dating violence. The survey, which focuses on the social environment at schools, was accompanied by a survey of the teens' parents who demonstrate some awareness of the social intimidation issues, but are generally not aware of the prevalence of dating violence at their children's schools.

Dating Control and Violence - Findings in Depth

  • A substantial proportion (24%) of 14-17 year-olds knows at least one student at their school who has been the victim of teen dating violence. 30% of girls know a teen who has been physically abused by a person they were dating.

  • Only 8% of parents know of a student at their child's school that has been physically abused in a dating relationship. Fully, 81% of parents believe dating violence is either not an issue at their child's school or do not know if it is a serious issue.

  • For those who have not spoken to their child about dating violence and many of those who have, educational information could play a seminal role in stimulating discussion. Nearly two-thirds of parents who have not discussed the topic with their child say they would do so if they had more information about how to discuss the issue with their children.

  • While the majority of parents (72%) believe their child would turn to them if confronted with a dating partner who was trying to control them, insult them, or physically abuse them, only half of the teens say they would talk to a parent.

  • A majority (62%) of younger students (14- and 15-year-olds) would turn to their parents if they were in an abusive dating relationship, while only 40% of 16- and 17-year-olds would talk with their parents about such a situation.

  • More than three-quarters of the students (78%) would talk to a peer, while 16% would speak with a teacher and 22% with a guidance counselor or school administrator.

  • Only 36% of students have had discussions with their parents about dating violence and 38% of students have attended school assemblies or discussions on the topic.

The Empower Program/Liz Claiborne Inc. national survey of 477 teens ages 14-17 and 456 parents of teens with at least one child in the same age group was conducted using the Knowledge NetworksTM Web-enabled panel. The interviews took place from December 4 to 14, 2000. The samples were derived from a random digit dial (RDD) telephone methodology that represents all US households with a telephone.

The margin of sampling error is approximately plus or minus 4.9 percentage points for the teen survey and plus or minus 5.0 percentage points for the parent survey at the 95% level of confidence for the full samples. Sampling error is only one form of potential error in public opinion surveys. Complete findings from the survey are available, on request, from Liz Claiborne Surveys, c/o Patrice Tanaka & Company, Inc., 320 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10014.