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Teenage Relationship Abuse

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1 in 4 teenage girls have been hit by a boyfriend (with one in nine reporting severe physical violence)Home Office 2010

18 % of boys reported some form of physical partner violence.Home Office 2010

Nearly 75% of girls and 50% boys have reported some sort of emotional partner abuse.NSPCC & Bristol University 2009

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Teenage Relationship Abuse

Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.”*

*This definition includes ‘honour’ basedviolence, female genital mutilation (FGM) andforced marriage

Emotional

Financial

Sexual

Physical

Abuse

Teenage relationship abuse consists of the same patterns of coercive and controlling behaviour as domestic abuse.

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Key risk factors Key protective factors

Previous experience of violence in the homeDepression in childhoodPoor mental healthProblem drug and alcohol misuse from early ageSchool non-attendanceDisruption of family unit / being ‘looked after’Sexual relationshipsHaving a child as a teenagerPoverty Sexual exploitation and sexualised risk taking behaviour

Achievement at schoolHaving a safe havenSupport from positive role modelsAssertiveness (both internal and external)Sense of physical, emotional, and economic security Belief that others have high expectations of themParticipation in engaging and challenging activities Sense of belonging/safety structure

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• No longer socialising with their close circle of friends, • Slipping behind academically• missing school • Being late for school• Arriving early / staying late to avoid abuser• constantly checking their phone, • being withdrawn and quieter than usual, • being angry, and becoming irritable when asked how they

are doing, • making excuses for their boyfriend or girlfriend, • having unexplained scratches or bruises, • showing changes in mood or personality• using drugs or alcohol. • Inappropriate sexual behaviour / language / attitudes• Depression• Pregnancy• Self-harm• Eating disorders or problems sleeping• Symptoms of post-traumatic stress • Bullying / being bullied• Very gendered expectations of career and achievement