Research Suggests Teens Need Programs that Encourage Strong, Healthy Relationships
A recent study published by Child Trends finds that while teens understand what it means to have healthy romantic relationships, many are pessimistic about their own chances of finding the right partner. Experts say that a key factor is relationship violence; other factors include infidelity and having few role models.
“The teens in our study know what they want in a relationship, but they either don’t know how to get it or don’t believe it is realistic,” said Lina Guzman, Ph.D., lead author of the study.
Male and female teens identified respect, honesty, and trust as the main components of a healthy relationship. But they were more likely to define “healthy” by what is not: cheating, disrespect, and violence.
The researchers suggest that programs aimed at teens include more mentors who can share information and experiences about strong, healthy relationships and encourage positive behavior rather than just avoiding the negative. ”Our findings suggest that both mentoring and teen pregnancy prevention programs may benefit from incorporating discussions and activities on how to build healthy romantic relationships,” they wrote.
Moreover, education about healthy relationships should start in the pre- and early-teen years. “[R]elationship habits, expectations, and behaviors formed in adolescence have implications for adult relationships,” the report says. ”Adolescence may be a key window of time to help foster positive behaviors and curtail the cycle of intimate partner violence whose seeds are often planted early.”
The Family Violence Prevention Fund encourages dating violence prevention programs and sexuality education programs to integrate information about healthy relationships.
Every time I would confront him about his lies and unfaithfulness, he would force himself on me sexually. He always refused to wear a condom and would act offended when I suggested he use one."
