Teen Dating Statistics: Undeniable Facts to Know

Knowing more about teen dating statistics can help you understand how you can keep your relationship from becoming unhealthy. When you think of a healthy relationship, what comes to mind?

A healthy relationship is one where both partners are treated with respect and dignity. The statistics we’ll cover in this article help illuminate what a healthy teen relationship should be and some warning signs that demonstrate when a teen relationship is problematic.

There are over 3 million teens in the United States and the chances that one or two of them will get together is high. Whether they’re a couple, married, divorced, dating, having affairs, or just fooling around, millions of these relationships end each year due to teen breakup statistics.

Teenagers today are involved in multiple forms of relationships throughout their adolescence. While this is to be expected, because most people go through at least one relationship before finding their life partner, what’s intriguing is the sheer number of people who have multiple partners at the same time.

Some researchers believe that the number of teenage relationships with multiple partners is on the rise. This means that teen dating statistics results from relationship studies involving teenagers will likely fluctuate if they are conducted in the future.

Facts About Teen Dating Violence 

(Do Something)

There are several facts about teen dating violence. This and many more facts make up teen dating statistics.

Below, you’ll find some facts that are supported by the sources listed at the bottom of this page.

1. Approximately 1.5 million high school students in the U.S., male and female alike, have been physically abused by a dating partner during the last year, making it a significant issue facing our youth today.

2. Teenage dating abuse can lead to several long-term consequences, including alcoholism, eating disorders, and promiscuity.

3. One in three young people will experience some form of abuse or maltreatment while they are growing up.

4. Approximately 33% of American adolescents have been victims of some form of dating abuse.

5. One in four teenage girls who have been physically or sexually abused become pregnant.

6. Young women aged 16 to 24 are 3 times more likely than the rest of the population to fall victim to domestic violence.

7. In eight states, it is not illegal to abuse your partner, if that person is someone whom you are dating rather than married. As a result of this loophole in the law, young people cannot apply for protection from abusive partners through restraining orders

8. Abusive behavior often starts in middle school (6th–12th grade). 72% of 13- and 14-year-olds are “in a relationship.”

9. Many teenagers who are physically or sexually abused attempt to harm themselves.

10. Only one-third of teens who were abused by their romantic partners told someone about the violence.

11. Many survivors of domestic violence are reluctant to seek help and unsure about their rights.

General Teen Dating Statistics

(Soocial)

Teen dating is a major part of the social scene for young people, and it isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon.

It can feel like you’re running out of time to find and keep a boyfriend or girlfriend, but that’s before even considering the hard work it takes.

Understanding dating trends is important to teens who are just starting to date, so they know what kind of relationship they’re getting into.

1. One in Three American Teenage Has Been Involved in a Romantic Relationship

(Pew Research)

According to a 2015 Pew Research study, 35% of teens had some experience with romantic relationships and dating between the ages of 13–17. Only 18% claimed to be in a relationship at the time their peers took part in this survey.

The study also found that 14% of teens considered their relationship to be serious, and 5% felt that dating was not a serious activity. 64% had never been in any kind of romantic relationship before (and another 3.2 percent were unsure).

2. Only 38% of Teenagers Consider Themselves To Be “Going Out With Someone” Or In A Relationship

(Journal of School Health)

The report examined the dating habits of boys and girls across cultures.

A quarter of students were not dating or were dating very little, while over two-thirds said their romantic lives increased when they moved from middle to high school. 38% of respondents said that they dated frequently.

3. Teen Dating Has Never Been More Difficult

(SRCD)

Article: Since 1976, the percentage of 12th graders who had never been on a date has steadily declined.

The number of Americans who had never been in an intimate relationship dropped to a record low in the most recent survey.

The study found that 12th-graders in 2010 were dating as frequently as 10th-graders did a decade earlier when 84% of them reported having ever been on a date.

Instead, the 63% share observed among today’s 12th graders represents an overall decline from previous generations’ dating rates: just 20 years ago (in 1994), 84% of arriving high school seniors had experienced their first date.

Dangers In Teen Dating Statistics

There’s more you should know and they are the facts about the dangers in teen dating statistics.

1. About Half Of All Teens Who Date Say They Have Been Stalked Or Harassed By Their Partners

(Youth and Society SAGE Journals)

Researchers reported that the majority of American teenagers felt uncomfortable with dating each other.

Nearly half of the teens questioned reported having been stalked or harassed by a partner.

When dating someone else, 43% of those surveyed said they had engaged in one or more of the activities mentioned above.

The report found that younger girls and those living in high-crime neighborhoods were more likely to be harassed or stalked.

2. By 2020, More Than A Quarter Of Teens In Romantic Relationships Will Have Experienced Digital Dating Abuse

(Journal of Interpersonal Violence)

With the growing popularity of online dating, fraud and scams have become more commonplace.

According to a 2019 study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28% of teens who had been in romantic relationships during 2018 and 2019 had experienced digital dating abuse, stalking, threats or harassment; sharing personal information without permission; the distribution of intimate images without consent.

The study found that significant others frequently look through their partners’ phones or devices without permission, stop the use of technology themselves, and make threats via text messaging.

The survey found that 35.9% of respondents had experienced some form of offline dating abuse, including verbal aggression and physical assault.

The study found that 81% of students who had been threatened online or bullied also felt verbally assaulted by peers in person.

3. Teenage Boys Are More Likely To Be Victims Of Digital Dating Abuse Than Girls

(Journal of Interpersonal Violence)

In a study by the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, men were more likely than women to experience forms of digital dating abuse (32.3% compared to 23.6%).

Almost all of the students who reported experiencing symptoms of depression had been victims of digital dating abuse.

People who had been in a romantic relationship were twice as likely to experience similar issues, while people who had sent “romantic” text messages were nearly five times more likely.

4. The Higher Rates Of Dating Success Among Males Could Be Due To Their Increased Psychopathic Traits And Better Ability To Manipulate Others’ Emotions

(Journal of Evolutionary Psychology)

The researchers studied the relationship between romantic activity and psychopathic tendencies or delinquencies in young males.

Successful men in the dating world were more likely to engage in delinquent behavior, but this was only part of their story.

For male teens, a greater number of romantic relationships three years later was associated with impulsive and reckless behavior in grade 10.

Among girls, no significant gender difference in susceptibility to ear infections was observed.

5. A Study Found That One In 12 Teens Who Are Dating Or Going Out Have Experienced Being Physically Hurt By The Other Person

(CDC)

In the CDC’s Youth Behavior Survey, 12 percent of participants reported being physically pushed or hit by a partner and 72.5 percent had been in a romantic relationship where they were abused.

Teens who identified as LGBTQ or those unsure about their gender identity experienced higher rates of romantic and physical dating violence than other teens.

6. One in Three Canadian Teens Experience Dating Violence

(Journal of Adolescent Health)

Research conducted by the CDC and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health revealed that, on average, middle school students experience some form of dating violence.

The report found that 1 in 3 young people have experienced dating violence, but parents and caregivers are unlikely to talk with their children about this problem.

7. Over One In Ten Canadian Youths Report Being Physically Hurt By Someone They Were Dating

(Jada Health)

In a Jada Health study of 3,000 Canadian youths, the issue of dating violence was examined.

The study found that 12% of respondents had been assaulted by a dating partner and 18% said their partners used social media to monitor, embarrass or harass them.

28% of the respondents also reported being emotionally abused by a partner.

8. In a Recent Study, 20% Of Women Reported Experiencing Recent Unwanted Romantic Activity By Their Partners

(Journal of Youth and Adolescence)

The Journal of Youth and Adolescence published a study that determined dating violence is common among Canadian youths.

About 20% of women and 7% of men reported having been in a relationship in which the other partner engaged in unwanted romantic activity.

In Canada, two-thirds of all victims of stalking are women, and about half are under 35 years old.

9. 31% of Teens Have Experienced Dating Abuse In Some Form

(Junior Achievement USA)

Between 31% and 40% of teenagers report being victims of financial abuse in their romantic relationships.

A study by Junior Achievement and the Allstate Foundation found that boys and girls reported having had partners who stopped them from going to work or school, or controlled what they could afford.

The survey showed that more than a third of teens felt pressured to give money when their partner asked.

Among teens of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, black and Hispanic youth were more likely than Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders to feel pressured by family members or friends.

10. One in Four Girls Between The Ages Of 15 And 19 Has Experienced Physical Or Emotional Abuse In Her Relationship.

(WHO)

The World Health Organization has found that one in four young women worldwide have been subjected to some form of romantic or physical violence if they’ve already had an intimate partner. About two out of every three such cases ever reported on planet Earth fall into this category.

The survey indicated that about six percent of women aged 15 and over had been abused by a boyfriend or lover at least once during their lives.

Behavior in Teen Dating Statistics

There’s always a way to behave in a relationship but also behavior in teen dating statistics have shown the different patterns partners have shown to exhibit.

1. Only 66% of Teen Daters Have Had Intimate Romance

(Pew Research)

In a survey of teen daters, Pew Research Center found that 30% had experienced romantic intercourse with their partner, while 66% said they’d never romantically engaged.

Some 2% of women did not say whether or not they were sexually active, presumably because it was none of the researchers’ business.

The report found that age was the biggest factor determining whether a teen would be in a relationship or romantically active: teens aged 15-17 were almost twice as likely to say they had been in one of these states (44%) than those who were 13-14. 36% of sexually active 15-17-year-olds also said they were teens.

2. According To A Survey Conducted By The Pew Research Center, 50% Of Teens Have Communicated Their Feelings For Another Person Through Social Media

(Pew Research)

Teenagers use social media to express their interest in the lives of others.

A survey of teens found that 50% had let someone know about their interest by connecting with them on Facebook or social media. Meanwhile, 47% of respondents said they expressed their attraction by interacting with someone’s social posts, such as liking or commenting on a post made by that person.

Other ways that teens show interest in one another include sharing something interesting online (46%) and sending flirty messages.

3. Teens Who Don’t Date Are Less Likely To Report Being Depressed

(Journal of School Health)

The emotional impact of dating on teenagers and students is examined in a report published by the Journal of School Health, which looks at mental health issues among teens.

The study surveyed students about their dating habits and social lives every spring from 6th to 12th grade, then again when they were seniors.

The report found that students who were not in relationships had better or equivalent social skills and leadership abilities compared to those who were dating. Teachers rated the non-dating students higher than their peers for these traits.

Non-dating students reported fewer symptoms of depression than their dating peers.

4. Nearly 60% of Teens Say That Social Media Makes Them Feel Closer To Their Partner

(Pew Research)

A survey of teenagers who have dated found that social media could be beneficial or detrimental to relationships.

More than half of young adults say that social media increases their connection to significant others, while 15 percent feel a lot more connected when they share social media accounts.

47% of the respondents said that social media gave them a place to share how they felt about their partner; 27%, however, reported feeling unsure or jealous as a result.

5. 85% of Teens Expect Their Boyfriends Or Girlfriends To Contact Them Once A Day At Least

(Pew Research)

The Pew Research Center found that 85% of teens in relationships expect to hear from their partner at least once a day.

Of the people surveyed, over 35% expected to be contacted by their partner every few hours, while only 11% wanted their partner to contact them hourly.

72% of respondents said they preferred to communicate with their teen daters by text, 39% liked talking on the phone and 29% favored instant messaging applications.

6. Texting is The Main Way That Teens Spend Time Together When They Are With Their Friends

(Pew Research)

According to Pew Research surveys, 92% of teens in romantic relationships spend a lot of time texting. 87% said they regularly speak on the phone with their partner.

The survey found that 86% of teenagers enjoyed spending time together in person, while only 70% socialized mainly through their computers and phones.

Many couples rely on video chat to feel close when they are separated by distance.

7. Teens Advise That It’s Best To Break Up With Someone In Person

(Pew Research)

According to the Pew Research Study, when it comes to ending a relationship, teenagers have specific preferences—and they don’t involve texting. The worst way for an older teen or young adult is to break up by text message.

62 percent of people said they have experienced breaking up with another person face-to-face, compared to 47 percent who say someone ended a relationship with them in person. 31%, however, more than half the sample size, claim that breakups are common via text messages.

8. About 31% of Teens With Dating Experience Say They’ve Had A Partner Check Up On Their Whereabouts More Than Once Per Day

(Pew Research)

Teenagers often check up on their boyfriends or girlfriends frequently to make sure they are safe and well.

Of the teens surveyed by Pew Research, 31% said that their significant other checks in with them more than once per day, while 21% of teenage girls have had partners go through their phones without permission.

Additionally, texting and social media can be unhealthy ways to communicate. A third of respondents had been pressured into romantic acts by messages sent this way while 16% said they’d been asked to remove other people from their contact lists when previously in a relationship, all because someone else didn’t like that person or felt threatened (by them).

Teen Dating Statistics – FAQ

Final Thought

Finally, on teen dating statistics, we believe many healthy relationships often begin and get off to a great start, but with the excitement that goes along with the new relationship, we sometimes don’t see the problems that will come up later on.

The first few months or couple of years are usually marked by intense feelings of love and romance too, which may be a very strong factor in the beginning stages of a relationship.

It’s natural to want to build the relationship you want no one wants to think about falling out of love with their partner later down the road.

But it’s just as important not to rush things too much and let your relationship progress naturally and grow over time. Just like people, relationships need maintenance and love for them to last.