Spotlight on Economic Abuse for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
By Ana Lopez Van Balen
February 24, 2025
Do you have teens in your life who are dating? You want to make sure they remain safe and understand healthy relationships? February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month — an opportunity for teens, educators, parents and all who care for young people to learn to recognize and respond to teen dating violence.
Teen dating violence includes physical, psychological, economic, or sexual abuse, harassment, or stalking. In the United States, about 1 in 10 teens reported experiencing sexual dating violence, and 1 in 12 reported experiencing physical dating violence.
An often overlooked form of dating violence is Economic Abuse, which involves the use of financial control to create dependency and block pathways to safety and overall well-being. This abuse can disrupt education, employment, and financial stability and can have long-term impacts affecting future earnings.
What does teen economic abuse look like?
- Sabotage: A teen encourages their partner to skip class, impeding their partner academically and limiting future opportunities
- Financial Control: A teen dictates how their partner can spend money
- Exploitation: A teen gains access to their partner’s sensitive financial information, using it for financial gain
FUTURES conducted a national survey in 2021 to better understand the prevalence of teen economic abuse, with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and with funding from the Allstate Foundation. Of the 2,845 youth who responded, many had experience economic abuse:
- 68% said a partner interfered with their school work
- 67% experienced interference with their employment
- 65% said a partner had taken control of their finances
In 2023, FUTURES piloted a teen fellowship program to center youth voices in the response. We invited 20 teens in San Francisco and in Charlotte, NC to learn more about economic abuse and how to raise awareness in their communities. The teens created a digital awareness campaign, video, and public presentations, including for educators at SXSW EDU. At the end of the process, the teen fellows had reached more than 200,000 people.
FUTURES will be presenting our findings about teen economic abuse May 2025 at the National Youth Employment Coalition Annual Forum in Minneapolis. Register and join us!
What can educators, teens, parents and caregivers do?
Educators, Parents and Caregivers
- Raise awareness: Use our Campus Action Toolkit to find student-created activities and digital outreach
- Identify the signs: Is a student missing class or slipping academically? Reach out.
- Provide support: Connect the students to professionals who can help them
- Engage: Have open conversations with teens about healthy relationships, financial safety, and the warning signs of economic abuse.
- Empower: Teach teens about financial safety and encourage them to advocate for themselves and others
- Educate: Ensure teens understand how to stay safe online and protect their finances
- Offer a judgement-free space: Be empathetic, share resources, let them know you can be trusted to help
Teens
- Learn: Recognize the signs of economic abuse
- Advocate: Speak up for financial independence and healthy relationships
- Spread the word: Use social media and talk with friends about economic abuse
- Seek help: Reach out for support from trusted adults, educators, or youth organizations if you or someone you know is experiencing economic abuse
If you or someone you know is experiencing teen dating violence, Contact Love is Respect: 1.866.331.9474 or text “LoveIs” to 22522
