The Impact of Dating Violence

How does dating violence impact success in school? One study in particular indicated an increase in the prevalence of dating violence as grades in school became poorer, with the prevalence lowest among adolescents earning mostly As and highest among those earning mostly Cs, Ds, and Fs.

Studies have also shown that¹:

• Witnessing violence has been associated with decreased school attendance and academic performance.
  
• Adolescents who report witnessing and experiencing violence may internalize these experiences or act out as a result―leading to both depression and behavior and emotional issues.
  
• At-risk middle and high school students' perceptions of danger at school can negatively influence their confidence in their ability to meet school-related demands and challenges.
  
• Teens who are physically and verbally aggressive in the classroom may have a negative impact on the education of their classmates by diverting their teachers from teaching and reducing the amount of time students are engaged in learning.
  
• Approximately one in four teens (7th through 12th graders) agreed that the threat of violence at their school interfered with their teacher's effectiveness, disrupting their learning.
  

What Can Educators Do?

• Look into programs that may be available to teens in your community. Teens who find themselves in unhealthy relationships can be helped through educational programs that teach them how to avoid future unhealthy relationships, and how to overcome the negative consequences of dating violence.
  
• Check out the Activities section for ideas that you and other educators can employ to help foster healthy dating relationships at school.