To better understand
Many young people have their first intimate and romantic relationships during their teen years. These relationships, heavily charged with emotion, play an important role in developing a teen’s identity and sexuality. While these intimate relationships are often healthy and respectful, unfortunately many are tainted by violence.
In teen dating, violence may take various forms: insults, jealousy, controlling the other and who they can see, manipulation, blackmail and threats, punching, non-consensual sexual contact, etc. These experiences of violence may occur in a face-to-face relationship or in a virtual relationship (cyberviolence). All young people can become victims of intimate partner violence regardless their sex, gender, sexual orientation and culture. All teens are susceptible to becoming victims, perpetrators of or witnesses to violence.
Whatever form violence takes in an intimate relationship, physical, psychological, verbal, or sexual, it scars the victim and can lead to a multitude of consequences on their mental, physical and sexual health, such as a more negative self-perception, psychological distress, anxiety or substance abuse.
What can be done about this particularly concerning reality? Several possible actions can contribute to reducing the incidence of intimate partner violence. As parents, you therefore play a crucial role in preventing and countering incidences of violence in young people’s intimate relationships.
Violence and teens in the Montérégie region
- 39 % of young people who have had an intimate relationship have experienced violent behaviours perpetrated by their partners;
- 25 % of young people who have had an intimate relationship have acted violently towards their partners;
- Psychological violence is the most common form of violence suffered and inflicted in romantic relationships involving young people.
Want to dive deeper?
Learn more statistics, important facts and tips to help families, the school and the community to take action through our information leaflets.
To better support
If you are a victim of domestic violence, do not hesitate to ask for help to get out of this situation.
Consult SOS violence conjugale.
Tips and tricks
- Use videos or newspaper articles to facilitate discussing this issue with your teen; these tools provide concrete examples of violence in romantic relationships and allow them to ground the ideas in reality.
- Be a positive model for your teen by making sure your relationships, with your partner and the other members of your family, are healthy, harmonious and inclusive.
In short
Many young people experience violence in their intimate relationships. As a parent, it’s essential that you take action to prevent and counter this violence. This can be a difficult topic to discuss, but it’s crucial that you talk about it with your teen. It’s also of utmost importance that you guide them in developing healthy and inclusive relationships and that you actively engage them in preventing violence. Absolutely no form of violence can be tolerated! Don’t hesitate to ask for guidance from school staff, community organizations or health professionals.
Practical resources and tools
1. If you need support :
Are you dealing with a situation that worries you? Ask for help:
2. For more information :
- Ado 101 : guide pour les parents et l’entourage (French only)
- Page web Faire vivre de la violence ou en vit – Ligne Parents (French only)
- Fiche PDF – Flash PAJ #1 – La violence subie dans les relations amoureuses chez les jeunes. (French only)
- Site de l’AQPV – Cyberviolence in teen intimate relationships
- Projet Mosaïk : promotion et prévention en matière de sexualité jeunesse (French only)
- Fiche PDF Projet Mosaïk – La violence dans les relations amoureuses à l’adolescence. (French only)
If your safety or your teen’s safety is being threatened, call 9-1-1 or contact your municipal police department.
The police department can help you in cases of violence, bullying, street gang prevention, delinquency and other offences.
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