Boston University Study Reveals Elevated Risk of Dating Abuse Among Neurodivergent Youth in the USA

A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Emily Rothman at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences unveils alarming data concerning the prevalence of dating abuse among neurodivergent youth in the United States. Published in the esteemed Journal of Interpersonal Violence, this pioneering research provides the first nationally representative evidence revealing that nearly three-quarters of neurodivergent adolescents and young adults who have dated in the past year suffered some form of psychological, cyber, physical, or sexual abuse. Remarkably, these individuals were found to have double the odds of experiencing such abuse compared to their neurotypical peers.

Utilizing a robust cross-sectional dataset comprising a nationally representative sample of 846 youth aged 11 to 21, the study employed advanced ordinal regression statistical models to assess victimization and perpetration linked to conditions spanning anxiety, depression, PTSD, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and learning disabilities. This comprehensive approach allowed for nuanced insights into how mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders intersect with intimate partner violence risks among young people.

The implications of this study resonate deeply within public health and social services domains, given that approximately 15% to 20% of the global population is categorized as neurodivergent, encompassing neurological differences such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. These are not pathologies but natural variations in brain functioning that require tailored support systems. Dr. Rothman emphasizes, “Adolescents and young adults with certain mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions demonstrate heightened vulnerability to interpersonal violence, underlining urgent needs for inclusive prevention strategies.”

Psychological and cyber abuse emerged as the predominant forms of maltreatment, affecting 66% and 56% of victims respectively, while physical and sexual abuse were reported by 28% and 33% of neurodivergent youth. These statistics highlight the multifaceted nature of dating violence and expose the often-invisible digital and emotional harms that accompany physical aggression. The research calls for urgent attention from schools, community organizations, and policy makers to mobilize effective prevention and intervention efforts tailored for neurodivergent populations.

Shari Krauss, director of The Autism Program at Boston Medical Center, underscored the significance of this dataset, noting the absence of prior nationally representative research examining adolescent dating violence among youths with mental health or neurodevelopmental differences. This gap has stymied development of evidence-based resources, leaving a vulnerable demographic underserved in public health planning and resource allocation.

The economic ramifications of dating violence are staggering, with partner violence in the United States annually costing an estimated $11.2 billion. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has consequently prioritized prevention of adolescent dating abuse under its Healthy People 2030 objectives, targeting reductions in sexual and physical dating violence among youth. Dr. Rothman’s findings inject critical urgency into these goals, particularly the imperative to address the unique risks neurodivergent youth face.

Central to the discourse is the stark reality that many neurodivergent adolescents are systematically excluded from sexual and relationship education programs. This exclusion often stems from their placement outside mainstream classrooms or curricula that are ill-equipped to accommodate diverse learning needs and cognitive processing styles. Inequities in educational content accessibility exacerbate vulnerability and hinder these youth from acquiring essential knowledge about healthy relationships and personal safety.

In response, research-based interventions have begun to emerge, with Dr. Rothman’s own Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum (HEARTS) program standing at the forefront. This NIH-funded, rigorously tested randomized controlled trial intervention addresses gaps in relationship education specific to neurodivergent young people, equipping them with skills to identify, prevent, and navigate abusive situations. Coverage in popular media, including a recent article in The New York Times, has catalyzed heightened public interest and advocacy for tailored educational programming.

Moreover, the study underscores the vital importance of training for domestic and sexual violence service providers to enhance their competence in working with neurodivergent clients. Such specialized training can ensure that services are both accessible and responsive to the nuanced needs of this population, fostering safer, more inclusive support ecosystems.

Dr. Rothman’s multidisciplinary research team included experts from Rutgers University, the City University of New York, Northeastern University, and NORC at the University of Chicago. Their collaborative effort, financially supported by the National Institute of Justice under the U.S. Department of Justice, reflects a concerted commitment to addressing intimate partner violence through an equity lens that respects neurological diversity.

Looking ahead, the study’s findings signal a transformative shift in intimate partner violence prevention, emphasizing that without deliberate, inclusive strategies and resource allocation, the vulnerability of neurodivergent youth to dating abuse will persist unchecked. This research challenges stakeholders across education, healthcare, and social services sectors to rethink, redesign, and implement interventions rooted in a profound understanding of neurodivergent experiences.

In sum, this comprehensive study alerts society to a critical, previously under-recognized public health crisis: the elevated risk of dating violence among neurodivergent youth. Bridging research with actionable community responses, it charts a pathway toward empowerment, protection, and health equity for one of today’s most underserved adolescent populations.

News Publication Date: 30-Jan-2026

Web References:

• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08862605251319010
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7732033/
• https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6302a4.htm
• https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/violence-prevention/reduce-sexual-or-physical-adolescent-dating-violence-ivp-18
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8934295/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/health/autism-dating-ucla-love-on-the-spectrum.html

References:
Rothman, E. et al. (2026). Elevated Odds of Dating Violence Among U.S. Youth with Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Conditions: Estimates from a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. DOI: 10.1177/08862605251319010.