Boundaries in teen relationships

Anastasia De Waal, 26 September 2011

The Coalition Government is seeking to address violent teenage relationships with a new advertising campaign. Meanwhile, new light has been shed on the prevalence of such violence.  In view of this new information, are we responding to the problem satisfactorily, asks Therese Wallin.

Research indicates that abuse in intimate relationships between teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds may be higher than previously thought. The issue was examined, for the first time, by the University of Bristol in collaboration with the NSPCC.

Worryingly, many of the study’s subjects appeared to consider violence as an unavoidable evil of relationships.  Christine Barter, lead author and Senior Research Fellow at Bristol University’s School for Policy Studies, expressed concern over the findings.  She stressed the reality that many girls were reluctant to realise the harmful consequences of such relationships; together with not fully acknowledging the violent nature of their partner.

In line with this acceptance, many deprived young women did not report instances of violence to their assigned social workers.  Worryingly, this was because welfare professionals were perceived as not being interested in such information. This strongly signals the need for a re-visiting of working methods when addressing issues faced by disadvantaged youths.  This is particularly so seeing as young mothers may choose to remain in such relationships in a bid to avoid the risk of being stigmatised.

Andrew Flanagan, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, has stressed that young people need to be better educated on violence and violent relationships. A move which he feels will empower affected individuals to seek help.

Certainly education is one part of the jigsaw.  However, establishing a good relationship between youngsters and social workers is equally crucial.  Failure to do so means that issues of this sort will continue to surface only through studies.  A scenario which would continue to leave many affected individuals in dangerous situations.