Trudy Simpson, Gleaner WriterA NEW study showing that teenage boys and girls have endured forced sex, physical assaults, threats and other forms of verbal and physical abuse from romantic partners their own age has prompted researchers to advocate that health officials teach children and adolescents about avoiding domestic and partner violence. The researchers say education must begin with children under 10 years old.
The study, carried out between 2001 and 2003 among 1,565 school children aged 15 to 16 years old, showed that several adolescents experienced verbal aggression, minor violence (acts similar to corporal punishment) and major violence comparable to child physical abuse from other teenagers.
The study also showed that while the majority of teenagers in romantic relationships reported that they felt their partners cared about them, several experienced abuse in their relationships. Among those reporting abuse, girls far outnumbered boys.
FORCED INTO SEXUAL ACTIVITY
For example, data showed that 5.3 per cent of girls compared to 1.6 per cent of boys reported forced sexual activity in their relationships. "Already we have two out of every 100 adolescent (females) being forced into sexual activity by their boyfriends," said Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughan, who presented the data on Wednesday, the first day of the Fifth International Conference on Adolescent Health and Welfare and the World Youth Forum, being held at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Kingston.
Data showed that nearly 15 per cent of girls compared to 10 per cent of boys said they had been insulted and more girls reported that their teenage partners threatened to hit them. More girls also reported being beaten with an object; having an object thrown at them and being pushed, grabbed or slapped by their partners.
Although the percentages of adolescents who reported abuse in the study are small, Dr. Samms-Vaughan said this evidence of partner violence in early adolescent relationships is worrying because teenagers appear to accept the practice.
