What
Rather than Valentine’s Day treats from a romantic partner, many teens face a serious threat of violence in their dating relationships. Every year, nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Psychologists who work with teens, parents and communities can explain how and why teen dating violence occurs, the signs to look for and ways to prevent it. The following American Psychological Association members are available to discuss teen dating violence:
Who
Dorothy Espelage, PhD
Champaign, Ill.
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Phone: (217) 766-6413
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Professor and chair of the Child Development Division at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Espelage specializes in dating violence, bullying and sexual violence.
Carlos Cuevas, PhD
Boston
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Phone: (617) 383-4372
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Clinical psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Northeastern University, Cuevas focuses on dating violence among Latino adolescents, victimization and trauma.
Helen Friedman, PhD
St. Louis, Mo.
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Phone: (314) 781-4500
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A clinical psychologist, Friedman specializes in teenage sexual abuse and treatment, teenage dating and relationships.
Catherine Steiner-Adair, EdD
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
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Phone: (617) 332-2001
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School consultant, author and clinical psychologist, Steiner-Adair can speak about intimacy, dating and violence among teenagers.
Sherry Hamby, PhD
Sewanee, Tenn.
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Phone: (931) 598-1476
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A research professor of psychology at Sewanee, the University of the South, Hamby supervises research on violence and victimization. Hamby is editor of the APA journal Psychology of Violence.
Background
Congress designated February “Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month” in 2010 to raise public awareness about a public health concern that affects millions of young people. For APA resources on the issue, visit the Violence in relationships: Love shouldn't hurt webpage.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes more than 134,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.