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Partners and Peers: Sexual and Dating Violence in the Lives of NYC Youth
This study was carried out in 2006-2007 by the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault (the Alliance) and the Columbia University Center for Youth Violence Prevention (CCYVP) at the Mailman School of Public Health with funding from the New York City Council and the Centers for Disease Control. The study included surveying 1,312 youth in four public high schools in New York City on the topics of sexual and dating violence.
The goals of this study are to establish baseline data on the prevalence and nature of sexual and dating violence in New York City area schools, including information on perpetration of sexual and dating violence, disclosure of violence, the degree of association with exposure to community violence and the degree of mutual participation in partner violence with the aim of developing effective intervention and prevention programs for youth. [download research summary (pdf)] [download press release (pdf)]
Main Findings
Sexual violence is prevalent among youth in New York City.
- In this study, 16.2% or more than 1 in 6 students surveyed reported experiencing sexual violence at some point in their lives.
- Of these youth, 10.1% reported experiencing non-partner sexual violence (sexual abuse or forced sex), and 14.1% reported experiencing sexual violence from a dating partner.
Youth Experience Sexual Violence from People They Know
- 89% of youth who had experienced sexual violence said it was committed against them by someone they knew.
Dating Violence Includes both Physical and Sexual Violence
- Of youth who report dating violence victimization, 1 in 6 experience only sexual violence.
- Among those reporting sexual dating violence, 9.7% reported their partner touched them sexually when they didn’t want to be touched and 6.7% said they were forced to have sex against their will.
- Among those reporting physical dating violence, more than one quarter (27.4%) reported ever being pushed or shoved by a dating partner and 17% reported ever being slapped or hit.
Youth Tell Their Friends First, If They Tell Anyone At All About the Violence
- Over half (58.7%) of the youth surveyed told someone about their experiences with sexual or dating violence.
- Youth are most likely to tell their friends about any sexual or dating violence they have experienced. 71.8% of youth told their friends first.
Youth Experience Adverse Health Outcomes as a Result of Physical and Sexual Dating Violence
- Victims of sexual dating violence report recent and frequent pain and illness that results in high physical discomfort (31%) and high emotional discomfort (28%).
- Victims of physical dating violence also report fair to poor health (28%) and low self-esteem (25%).
Perpetrating Other Forms of Violence is a Risk Factor for Dating Violence Perpetration
- 28% of youth who report perpetrating sexual violence against their dating partner also reported carrying a weapon in the past month.
- 60% of youth who are physically violent with their dating partners also report engaging in physical fights in the last year.
- Nearly 1 in 5 (22%) of youth who report perpetrating sexual violence against a dating partner also report being a member of a gang.
Recommendations
The high prevalence of sexual and dating violence amongst youth requires a comprehensive intervention and prevention response
Schools and programs that work with youth should include a focus on primary prevention programming.
- Primary prevention focuses on examining and addressing the root causes of violence such that we can end violence before it ever occurs. No one single program will end sexual and dating violence. We believe in utilizing a spectrum or continuum of activities that address multiple levels.
Teens should have access to youth-friendly referral information.
- Given that teens disclose incidents of sexual and dating violence to friends first; providing them with referral information is key to helping them support each other. One such resource that the Alliance developed is the NYC Teen Health Map, a subway map on one side and a service guide for youth on the other, which folds into a discreet card to be tucked into a wallet. Find out more information at the NYC Teen Health Map.
Professionals should be trained on how to properly handle disclosures and refer youth to services.
- Since many youth who have experienced sexual and dating violence tell someone about that violence, it is imperative that all those who work with youth are trained in how to properly handle disclosures and how to refer youth to services. Proper responses to disclosures of sexual and dating violence require sensitivity and respect be given to the survivor. This training should be inclusive of several audiences: youth workers including afterschool program staff; school staff including teachers, guidance counselors, nurses, security guards, and janitors among others; and health professionals.
Methodology
This study was carried out by the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault (the Alliance) and the Columbia University Center for Youth Violence Prevention (CCYVP) at the Mailman School of Public Health. The New York City Department of Education granted researchers permission to enroll New York City high school students anonymously with their parents’ consent and their own permission with the agreement of school principals and district superintendents. Students from four schools, reflecting a range of those in New York’s cultural groups, were asked to participate. Schools were selected through convenience sampling, three in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. In all, 1,454 high school students ranging in age from 13-21 participated in the study. This data collection took place during the 2006-2007 school year.
[download sexual violence definitions and methodology overview (pdf)] [download the survey instrument (pdf)]
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