Video: Research shows sex, dating violence among tweens

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There's some alarming new information on tweens and dating - tweens being kids ages 11 to 14. Research shows a quarter of those relationships involve sex as well as abuse. In fact, early sexual activity appears to fuel dating violence.

The balloons are for Brije Smith's 16th birthday. She never dreamed of dating at age 11.

"Really, I think that's absurd because I don't understand at 11 and 13 what kind of relationship are you really having?" said Smith, teen advocate.

But a new study from the National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline finds not only are tweens and teens having sex, 65 percent of their relationships are abusive.

"I was 14. Me and my boyfriend starting dating, and it was all OK at first," said Sami Hightshoe, abuse victim. "Then a few months later he started controlling my every move. He told me what to wear, how to act, what to do, who I could hang out with."

Twenty-three-year-old Lindsey Burke was killed by an ex-boyfriend. Ann Burke lost her daughter to an abusive relationship.

"If she were educated, if parents were educated, we would've been able to understand the behaviors that she was exhibiting, we would have known what warning signs to look for and it would've been easier to get her out of that relationship earlier on," said Ann Burke.

Half of all tweens admit they do not know the warning signs of a bad relationship. The abuser tends to be jealous, easily angered and controlling. The abused may cancel plans suddenly, give up what used to be important, experience dramatic changes in appearance or grades. The Burkes want teen relationship abuse education in every U.S. middle and high school.

"Lindsey truly could've been anyone's daughter, typical American girl. If it can happen to Lindsey, it can happen to anybody," said Anne Burke.

Concerned about your teen's relationship? You can take an online quiz on the National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline Web site and find out if the relationship needs a "makeover."