A new Cornell study reports that teenagers in physically or psychologically aggressive dating relationships are more than twice as likely to repeat such damaging relationships as adults and report increased substance use and suicidal feelings years later, compared with teens with healthy dating experiences. Co-authored by Deinera Exner-Cortens, the findings suggest the need for parents, schools and health care providers to talk to teenagers about dating violence, given its long-reaching effects on adult relationships and mental health.
Deinera is a third year doctoral candidate in Human Development. She holds an MPH in Social and Behavioral Science and a BSc in Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology. Deinera’s research focuses on understanding interpersonal violence in intimate relationships. Her doctoral dissertation focuses on teen dating violence, as well as ways to provide practitioners with an improved understanding of how psychological aggression is used in teen dating relationships, as well as to highlight how depression and substance use may contribute to risk for re-victimization.
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