ISSUES
: Domestic Violence
Chapter 1: Domestic violence
19
describing domestic abuse among
young people, since there are myriad
terms attached to this behaviour and
they are mostly focused on abuse
in adult relationships. Much of the
evidence, mainly from the US, focuses
on using ‘dating violence’, which does
not take into account other forms of
abuse young people experience.
Other terms include ‘intimate partner
violence or abuse’ and ‘teenage
partner violence or abuse’.
Impact among young people
What we know about teenage partner
violence testifies to its serious
consequences for the well-being of
victims and their future life prospects.
Relationship
abuse
negatively
impacts on young people’s well-
being, initiating feelings of anger, hurt
and fear
14
.
More girls than boys report severe
emotional reaction, fear and physical
injuries; more boys report being
unperturbed
15
. One study found that
more than half of victims reported
feeling ‘bad about themselves’
alongside feelings of anger, sadness,
depression and low self-esteem
16
.
For some, partner abuse is a
continuation of violence in their
lives, and, for others, it is their first
experience of this type of behaviour.
Some studies have indicated that
abuse in adolescent relationships
can be a precursor for abuse in adult
relationships
17
.
Risk factors
The research has identified some
risk factors, which include previous
experiences of parental domestic
violence, physical and sexual abuse,
and violent peer groups
10 14 18
.
While less researched, it appears that
parental neglect, especially lack of
supervision and involvement/interest
in their teenage children’s lives, also
14
Victims of Dating Violence Among High School Students:
Are the predictors different for males and females?
O’Keefe M
and Treister L, Violence Against Women (1998)
15
Dating Abuse: Prevalence, consequences, and predictors
,
Foshee et al (1996).
16
Risk Factors Associated with Date Rape and Sexual Assault
of Adolescent Girls
, Vicary et al, Journal of Adolescence (1995).
17
Can We Prevent the Hitting? Recommendations for
preventing intimate partner violence between young adults
,
O’Leary et al (1989).
18
Importance of Gender and Attitudes about Violence in the
Relationship between Exposure to Interparental Violence and
the Perpetration of Teen Dating Violence
, Wolfe et al, Child
Abuse and Neglect (2013)
has a negative impact on young
people’s vulnerability to partner
violence
19
, although what constitutes
‘neglect’ for adolescents has still to
be fully explored within the research
literature.
However, the research has identified
key protective factors, which include:
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Achievement at school.
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Having a safe haven.
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Support from positive role-
models – in school and outside of
school.
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Assertiveness (both internal and
external).
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Sense of physical, emotional and
economic security.
What can schools and
teachers do?
As outlined above, this is a growing
area of study, especially in the UK.
Work has been undertaken however,
not least by the NSPCC
13
that does
suggest young people in the UK
suffer from violence in adolescent
relationships at a comparable level to
their US peers.
The expansion of intervention
programmes related to the teaching
of consent specifically, and healthy
relationships more generally, should
be welcomed.
However, the majority of these
programmes will operate only at the
universal level, delivering interventions
across entire youth population groups.
As with all universal programmes, it is
hard to see how universal messages
will be effective for young people
already in abusive peer relationships.
It would seem however that a
need for higher-level intervention
programmes for young people who
are experiencing abuse and violence
in their own romantic relationships
should be considered. To ensure
their effectiveness, the provision
of screening and assessment
tools to help professionals identify
these young people should also be
considered as part of any targeted
intervention programmes.
Schools have a vital role, not only
to educate their young people in
relation to this issue, but to identify
19
Parenting Processes and Dating Violence: The mediating
role of self- esteem in low and high SES adolescents
, Pflieger
and Vazsony, Journal of Adolescence (2006).
those experiencing this issue or at an
increased risk. Schools and teachers
could ensure that:
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Training on domestic abuse is
provided to all staff with a specific
focus on young people.
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Training includes risk and
protective factors related to
adolescent dating violence.
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Consideration is given to the
specific needs of children
experiencing domestic abuse.
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Family
interventions
are
supported by and where
appropriate delivered within the
school.
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Timely and appropriate referrals
to social care and/or specialist
services are made for young
people and families.
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Universal
and
targeted
programmes and interventions
are implemented, ensuring that
the most appropriate support can
be offered.
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The
teaching
of
healthy
relationships and consent is an
embedded part of the schools
PSHE
provision
(universal
provision).
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The implementation of an
evidence-based
and
fully
evaluated life-skills programme
focused on vulnerable young
people is considered (targeted
provision).
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When using outside agencies and
speakers care is taken to ensure
that delivery is consummate with
the available evidence-base.
Mark Bowles is director of The
Training Effect, a provider of health-
based interventions on topics such
as substance misuse, families
with complex needs, risk-taking
behaviour, emotional and mental
health.
2 July 2015
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The above information is reprinted
with kind permission from The
Training Effect. Please visit www.
thetrainingeffect.co.uk for further
information.
© The Training Effect 2016
