In september 2009 Bristol University and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in the UK completed a ground breaking report Partner exploitation and violence in teenage intimate relationships.

The report explored the issues of exploitation and violence in teenage intimate relationships. It provides a detailed picture of the incidence and impact of partnership violence on the lives of young people throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

The study looked at the experience of physical, emotional and sexual violence within the relationships of teenagers today. It explored their coping mechanisms and views on what was an acceptable level of violence or control and how they sought help.

Aims of the Report:

  1. The nature, frequency and dynamics of different forms of partner violence
  2. If any groups were particularly vulnerable to becoming victims and/or assailants
  3. Wider social processes and structures which underpin such violence.

The authors, Christine Barter, Melanie McCarry, David Berridge and Kathy Evans used both a confidential survey given to 1,353 young people and conducted 91 in-depth interviews with 62 girls and 29 boys aged between 13 and 17 years old.  A young people’s and an adult advisory group provided advice and consultation throughout the two-year project.

Main findings

  • Violence in young people’s intimate relationships should be viewed as a significant child-welfare problem.
  • Girls, compared to boys, reported greater incidence rates for all forms of violence.
  • Girls also experienced violence more frequently and described a greater level of negative impacts on their welfare.
  • Most young people either told a friend about the violence or told no one. Only a minority told an adult.
  • Young people with experience of family violence were more likely to have experienced a relationship at an earlier age than young people with no history of family violence.
  • Girls with a history of family violence had an increased likelihood of having an older partner.
  • For girls, having an older partner, and especially a “much older” partner, was associated with the highest levels of victimisation.  Overall, 75% of girls with a “much older” partner experienced physical violence, 80% emotional violence and 75% sexual violence.

The fact and figures:
Physical partner violence
25% of girls and 18% of boys reported physical partner violence.
10% girls and 4% of boys reported severe physical violence.
75% of girls and 14% of boys said that the physical violence had negatively impacted on their welfare.

Emotional partner violence
75% of girls and 50% of boys reported emotional partner violence.
33% of girls and 6% of boys said that the emotional violence had negatively affected their wellbeing.

Sexual partner violence
33% of girls and 16% of boys reported sexual partner violence.
70% of girls and 13% of boys said that the sexual violence had negatively impacted on their welfare.

The report recommended the recognition of teenage partner violence as a significant child welfare problem. The report found that partner violence was a major concern for young people’s wellbeing.

The report also recommended that a gender division be recognised with the impact of partner violence undoubtedly affecting girls more than boys; girl victims reported a much higher level of violence and negative impact on their lives than boys did.

The importance of recognising all three forms of partner violence (physical, emotional and sexual) was clearly shown in the research findings. The presence and recognition of coercive control in young people’s relationships, and the isolation from support networks this caused was recognised.

Other alarming factors that came to light during the research included the revelation that boys minimised their own use of violence as “messing around” and therefore their actions were acceptable.

Also worrying was the amount of exploitation and coercive control in some young people’s relationships. Many girls experienced high levels of control by their partners as to where they could go and who they could see. New communication technologies such as mobiles and texting meant that many of the girls were under constant surveillance. This often isolated them from their peer and support networks.

Finally, a history of family or peer violence was greatly associated with the susceptibility to partner violence. 

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.
Source: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)