90% of U.S. Teens Killed by an Intimate Partner are Girls
An analysis funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development finds that girls comprised 90% of teens killed by an intimate partner. The study led by Avanti Adhia, Sc.D., was published in JAMA Pediatrics.
The authors noted that while homicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents, few studies have been conducted on intimate partner violence (IPV) among U.S. adolescents. Findings showed that death most commonly resulted after the victim ended a relationship with the perpetrator, or that the victim would not enter a relationship with them. Adolescents may have difficulty controlling their behavior during the end of a relationship, and may lack the skills to handle their emotions during such a conflict. The goal of the analysis was to learn the extent of IPV among U.S. teens and any associated risk factors.
