Avanti Adhia

Assistant Professor of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, University of Washington-Seattle Campus

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About Avanti

Adhia's research focuses on preventing interpersonal violence by (1) understanding its causes and consequences and (2) evaluating the role of laws, policies and interventions in reducing violence. She examines social and structural determinants of intimate partner violence and sexual violence and engages communities to enhance the health of marginalized populations.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | Member Spotlight | In the News | Publications

Contributions

Preventing Dating Violence by Implementing School-Based Education Laws

Key Findings Brief, October 2025

In the News

Opinion: "Teen Dating Violence: State Laws on School Prevention and Response," Avanti Adhia, Public Health Post, February 28, 2023.

Research discussed by Clark Merrefield, in "The ‘Boyfriend Loophole’ in Federal Gun Law: What the Research Says," The Journalist's Resource, January 29, 2020.

Quoted by Maya Salam in "Teenage Girls and Dating Violence: Why We Should be Paying Attention," In Her Words, The New York Times, May 21, 2019.

Quoted by Brittney McNamara in "Teen Girls are Killed by a Current or Ex Partner More Often Than We Think," Teen Vogue, April 18, 2019.

Quoted by Rhitu Chatterjee in "Teen Dating Violence Can Lead to Homicide — And Girls are the Most Common Victims," Shots, NPR, April 15, 2019.

Publications

"State Laws Addressing Teen Dating Violence in US High Schools: A Difference-in-Differences Study" (with Unmesha Roy Paladhi and Alice M. Ellyson). Preventive Medicine 182 (2024).

Examines effectiveness of enacting state laws addressing teen dating violence in high schools. Findings show no association between teen dating violence laws and past-year physical dating violence.

"Assessment of Variation in US State Laws Addressing the Prevention of and Response to Teen Dating Violence in Secondary Schools" (with Melanie Kray, Deirdre Bowen, Mary A. Kernic, and Elizabeth Miller). JAMA Pediatrics 176, no. 8 (2022): 797-803.

Examines the content and comprehensiveness of US state laws addressing prevention of and response to teen dating violence (TDV) in schools. Findings show that most US states had laws addressing TDV in schools, but there was significant variation in the content and comprehensiveness of the laws.

"The Earned Income Tax Credit and Intimate Partner Violence" (with Amy T. Edmonds, Caitlin A. Moe, Stephen J. Mooney, Frederick P. Rivara, Heather D. Hill, and Ali Rowhani-Rahbar). Journal of Interpersonal Violence 37, no. 13 (2021).

Explores whether the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps reduce intimate partner violence (IPV), particularly among low-income women who are at higher risk. Finds no significant association between EITC generosity and IPV.

"Intimate Partner Homicide of Adolescents" (with Mary A. Kernic, David Hemenway, Monica S. Vavilala, and Fred Rivara). JAMA Pediatrics 173, no. 6 (2019).

Investigates intimate partner homicides (IPHs) among adolescents. Finds that adolescents, particularly girls, in dating relationships may face risk of homicide, especially in circumstances of a breakup or jealousy and when perpetrators have access to firearms.

"The Role of Intimate Partner Violence in Homicides of Children Aged 2–14 Years" (with S. Bryn Austin, Garrett M. Fitzmaurice, and David Hemenway). American Journal of Preventive Medicine 56, no. 1 (2019): 38-46.

Examines child homicides related to intimate partner violence (IPV) and finds that child homicides related to IPV are significantly underreported in official data.