Shocking new research has revealed that two in every five teenagers in England and Wales have suffered emotional or physical abuse within an intimate relationship.
Survey Uncovers Scale of Teen Relationship Abuse
The extensive online poll, conducted by the research firm Savanta, gathered responses from 11,000 young people aged between 13 and 17. It was commissioned by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF), a government-backed charity dedicated to preventing youth violence.
The report highlights that while teenage relationships can be a source of joy and teach valuable lessons about trust, for a significant number they are marred by control, pressure, or violence. These experiences can severely impact a young person's safety and daily wellbeing.
Detailed Findings: From Control to Coercion
Of those surveyed, 28% reported being in a romantic or sexual relationship in the past year. Within that group, a concerning 39% said they had experienced some form of abuse. The breakdown shows 15% suffered physical or sexual abuse, while more than a third (36%) reported emotional abuse.
The survey detailed specific abusive behaviours, including:
- Partners checking their phone or social media without permission (19%).
- Monitoring their location (14%).
- Criticising their body or appearance (11%).
Furthermore, one in ten felt pressured or forced into sexual activity, 12% were afraid to disagree with their partner, and 13% felt trapped and unable to leave the relationship. Disturbingly, 5% said explicit images of them had been shared online without consent.
Impact and Calls for Action
The consequences of this abuse are profound. Three-quarters of affected teenagers said it impacted their day-to-day lives. Common effects included anxiety, loss of self-esteem (reported by two in five), sleep problems, loss of appetite, and difficulty concentrating (39%).
More than a third (34%) saw their friendships and family relationships suffer, and over one in five (22%) avoided attending school or college as a result.
Jon Yates, the Chief Executive of the YEF, stressed the need for intervention. "Evidence shows high-quality lessons delivered by a trained teacher or youth worker can make a difference," he said. "Every teenager should learn what a healthy relationship looks like."
Youth advisers echoed this sentiment. Zara, a member of the YEF's youth advisory board, called for more conversations about personal boundaries in all relationships. Kay, an 18-year-old adviser for the charity Let Me Know, described a culture where emotional abuse is hard to recognise and where schools often feel "years behind the problem."
Deirdre Kehoe, CEO of Let Me Know, warned that without effective relationship education, young people's understanding of healthy dynamics goes unchallenged "until even further harm is done." The Department for Education was approached for comment on the findings.
