Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality

The authors assessed lifetime prevalence of physical & sexual violence from dating partners among adolescent girls & associations of these forms of violence with specific health risks, including suicidality. They found that physical & sexual dating violence against adolescent girls was extremely prevalent in their study population & was associated with increased risk of substance use, unhealthy weight control behaviors, sexual risk behaviors, pregnancy, & suicidality. (35 refs)