Healthy Relationships in Adolescence

During adolescence, young people learn how to form safe and healthy relationships with friends, parents, teachers and romantic partners. Both boys and girls often try on different identities and roles during this time, and relationships contribute to their development. Peers, in particular, play a big role in identity formation, but relationships with caring adults — including parents, mentors or coaches — are also important for adolescent development. Often, the parent–adolescent relationship is the one relationship that informs how a young person handles other relationships. Unfortunately, adolescents sometimes develop unhealthy relationships and experience or exhibit bullying or dating violence.

Bullying

Bullying is a serious problem, but it can be prevented or stopped when those involved know how to address it. Many adolescents have experienced bullying, whether they were bullied, bullied someone else or saw someone being bullied.¹ Although definitions vary, bullying usually involves an imbalance of power, an intent to hurt and repetition of the behavior.¹ Adolescents who bully use their power to control or harm, and those being bullied sometimes feel powerless to defend themselves. Many schools and communities have anti-bullying initiatives in place; new resources are being developed by the federal government and other institutions to help adolescents, parents and others understand bullying and cyberbullying.

Dating

Dating during adolescence is common and can be part of healthy development.² However, serious and exclusive dating relationships can lead adolescents to have sex earlier than they would have otherwise.³ Those who have sex at an early age are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors.^4,5 The prevalence of adolescents who have ever had sex significantly declined from 1991 to 2015. This change was also significant between 2013 (47 percent) and 2015 (41 percent).⁶ Of adolescents ages 15-19 who have had sex, approximately one-third have had just one partner.⁷ Among female adolescents, 16 percent have had two partners, 32 percent have had three to five partners, and 17 percent have had six or more partners.⁷ Among male adolescents, 15 percent have had two partners, 33 percent have had three to five partners, and 22 percent have had six or more partners.⁷ Many adolescents are engaging in sexual behaviors other than vaginal intercourse: Nearly half have had oral sex and just over one in 10 have had anal sex.⁸

Did you know? As adolescents age, their views about dating grow more similar to adults' views, such as valuing a relationship that is positive and respectful.

Dating Violence and Adolescents

Some adolescents get involved in unhealthy dating relationships. One in 10 adolescents reported being hit or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend at least once in the previous year.⁹ Controlling and demanding behaviors often happen before violence occurs. For example, one partner may tell another what to wear and with whom to spend time.¹⁰ Over time, controlling and demanding behavior may become increasingly violent, and that violence can have negative effects on physical and mental health throughout life (including depression, eating disorders and suicidal thoughts).^11,12,13 Adults can help by paying attention and talking to adolescents about how to build healthy, respectful relationships.¹⁴

Did you know? About half of students who experience dating violence report some abuse occurring on school grounds.

Healthy Friendships in Developing Adolescents

Friendships play a major role in the lives of adolescents.¹⁵ A circle of caring and supportive friends can help adolescents transition to adulthood.¹⁶ Parents, teachers and other adult role models can help young people learn how to make and keep good friends.¹⁷ Still, forming and maintaining friendships during adolescence can be challenging. Peer pressure — good and bad — often affects decisions young people make.¹⁷ Adults can set good examples, teach interpersonal skills and help adolescents nurture positive friendships. One important lesson is that friends can say "no" to each other and remain friends.¹⁸

Did you know? Friends are a strong influence in an adolescent's life, making peers a valuable resource for promoting healthy behaviors.

LGBT Youth

Among adolescents ages 18-19, just under 8 percent of females and just under 3 percent of males identify as homosexual or bisexual.¹⁹ Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adolescents are happy and thrive during their teenage years. However, as a group they are more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience difficulties: LGBT adolescents are at increased risk for suicide attempts, homelessness, alcohol use and risky sex.^20,21 Parental response to their LGBT adolescent can have a tremendous impact on the teen's current and future mental and physical health. Supportive reactions can help adolescents cope and thrive.^21,22,23,24

Did you know? Inclusive educational resources and support groups such as gay–straight alliances can decrease suicidal thoughts by LGBT students.

References

1. Stopbullying.gov. (n.d.). What is bullying? Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.stopbullying.gov/
2. Child Trends Databank. (Updated 2015, December). Dating. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.childtrends.org/
3. Kirby, D., & Lepore, G. (2007, November). Sexual risk and protective factors: Factors affecting teen sexual behavior, pregnancy, childbearing and sexually transmitted disease. Washington, DC: ETR Associates and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://thenationalcampaign.org/
4. Kaplan, D. L., Jones, E. J., Olson, E. C., & Yunzal-Butler, C. B. (2013, May). Early age of first sex and health risk in an urban adolescent population. Journal of School Health, 83(5), 350–356.
5. Collins, W. A., Welsh, D. P., & Furman, W. C. (2009). Adolescent romantic relationships. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 631–652.
6. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2016, June 13). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2013. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(6). Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/
7. Martinez, G., Copen, C. E., & Abma, J. C. (2011, October). Teenagers in the United States: Sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth: National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics, 23(31). Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/
8. Chandra, A., Mosher, W. D., Copen, C., & Sionean, C. (2011, March 3). Sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual identity in the United States: Data from the 2006–2008 National Survey of Family Growth: National Center for Health Statistics [National Health Statistics Report, 36]. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/
9. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014, June 13). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2013. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(4). Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/
10. Break the Cycle. (n.d.). Warning signs. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from http://www.breakthecycle.org/
11. Banyard, V. L., & Cross, C. (2008). Consequences of teen dating violence: Understanding intervening variables in ecological context. Violence Against Women, 14(9), 998–1013.
12. Johnson, W., Giodano, P., Longmore, M., & Manning, W. (2014). Intimate partner violence and depressive symptoms during adolescence and young adulthood. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 55(1), 39–55.
13. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006, May 19). Physical dating violence among high school students—United States, 2003. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 55, 532–535. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/
14. Break the Cycle. (n.d.). A parent's guide to teen dating violence. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from http://www.breakthecycle.org/
15. Vaquera, E., & Kao, G. (2008). Do you like me as much as I like you? Friendship reciprocity and its effects on school outcomes among adolescents. Social Science Research, 37(1), 55–72.
16. Jellinek, M., Patel, B., & Froehle, M. (2002). Bright futures in practice: Mental health—Vol. 1. Practice guide. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.brightfutures.org/
17. Spelling, M. (2005). Helping your child through early adolescence. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Communications and Outreach. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.ed.gov/
18. The Cool Spot. (n.d.). Peer pressure. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.thecoolspot.gov/
19. Chandra, A., Mosher, W. D., Copen, C., & Sionean, C. (2011, March 3). Sexual behavior, sexual attraction, and sexual identity in the United States: Data from the 2006–2008 National Survey of Family Growth (Table 12 and Table 13) [National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Statistics Reports, 36]. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/
20. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, June 10). Sexual identity, sex of sexual contacts, and health-risk behaviors among students in grades 9–12—Youth risk behavior surveillance, selected sites, United States, 2001–2009. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 60(SS07). Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/
21. Coker, T. R., Austin, S. B., & Schuster, M. A. (2010). The health and health care of lesbian, gay, and bisexual adolescents. Annual Review of Public Health, 31, 457–477.
22. Espelage, D. L., Aragon, S. R., & Birkett, M. (2008). Homophobic teasing, psychological outcomes, and sexual orientation among high school students: What influence do parents and schools have? School Psychology Review, 37, 202–216.
23. Ryan, C., Huebner, D., Diaz, R. M., & Sanchez, J. (2009). Family rejection as a predictor of negative health outcomes in white and Latino lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults. Pediatrics, 123, 346–352.
24. Bouris, A., Guilamo-Ramos, V., Pickard, A., Shiu, C., Loosier, P. S., Dittus, P., Gloppen, K., & Waldmiller, J. M. (2010). A systematic review of parental influences on the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth: Time for a new public health research and practice agenda. Journal of Primary Prevention, 31, 273–309.