Medical Minute: Dating Violence

BOSTON (CBS) - A recent study involving Boston high school students contained some disturbing findings.

[Audio https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/i/cbslocal/wp-content/uploads/sites/3859903/2010/12/december-30-2010-medical-minute.mp3|titles=Dating Violence|artists=Dr. Murray Feingold]

Over 1800 students participated in the study whose objective was to determine the occurrence of dating violence that took place a month before the survey started. The presence of violence against peers and siblings was also evaluated to determine if there was any relationship between these forms of violence.

Students answered survey questions to determine if they perpetrated such violent behavior.

Dating violence consisted of punching, shoving, slapping, hitting, kicking and choking.

Results showed 41% of the students engaged in violence toward their peers, 31% against their siblings, and 19% against their dates.

Students who perpetrated dating physical violence were more likely to have engaged in peer and sibling violence, and, more likely to have behavior problems such as drug use and academic difficulties.

Violent behavior of any sort is unacceptable and obviously this issue needs to be addressed.