1 in 3 young people in Canada have faced dating violence, pediatricians warn

A third of Canadian youth have faced dating violence — from physical and sexual abuse to online harassment — warns new guidance for health-care providers to help screen for abusive relationships among kids and teens.

Experiencing relationship-based violence at a young age can lead to “both immediate and long-term adverse health outcomes,” notes the report, released on Thursday by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS). The team defined youth and teens as those in Grade 6 and up, marking the period when dating typically begins.

Health-care providers are seeing an uptick in dating-related violence, said Dr. Megan Harrison, chair of CPS’s adolescent health committee, which can range from stalking to psychological abuse to sexual violence and beyond. 

WATCH | Some young people are more at risk than others, experts say:

3rd of young Canadians aged 11 and up face dating violence, says Canadian Paediatric Society

One in three young Canadians have experienced dating violence, doctors warn, with many facing emotional abuse and cyberviolence. The Canadian Paediatric Society is now calling for health-care workers to look for signs and ask teens about it.

“And part of that has to do, a little bit, with the increased use of social media and technology for teens,” she said.

Violent content that’s easily accessible to teens on social media — and in online pornography — is one major part of the problem, echoed Tracy Vaillancourt, a professor at the University of Ottawa and Canada Research Chair in youth mental health and violence prevention.

“It dehumanizes girls and women,” she said. “And it’s quite problematic to how they see relationships.”

Poverty, discrimination increase risk

Multiple researchers also noted that while anyone can fall victim to violence in a romantic or sexual relationship, certain groups are at a higher risk. 

Data reported by the CPS shows a higher prevalence of victims among cisgender girls and transgender and gender-diverse youth in a national sample of students in Grades 9 and 10.

Poverty, marginality and discrimination can also make some youth more vulnerable, noted Dr. Cécile Rousseau, chair of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at McGill University.

“Sometimes this happens without any explanation, and it’s hard to pinpoint why the relationship is violent and abusive, but there’s also evidence to suggest that what you’ve endured in the past predicts what you’re willing to endure in the future,” Vaillancourt said.

Individuals already experiencing domestic or family violence, or kids who are bullied or rejected by their peer group, are more likely to experience violent relationships as well, she explained. 

Experiencing relationship-based violence at a young age can lead to ‘both immediate and long-term adverse health outcomes,’ researchers said. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

‘No easy answer’

So what should doctors — alongside parents and educators — watch out for?

The CPS now recommends that health-care providers, including pediatricians and primary care providers, aim to initiate conversations about healthy relationships during routine medical visits from their young patients, offer privacy and provide community resources as needed.

“Normalizing these discussions at every visit helps build rapport and provides opportunities to share knowledge with youth and caregivers,” the guidance notes.

But outside experts on dating violence questioned how much health-care providers can do to support teens properly, given the hurdles some young people face in accessing primary care in the first place, and the challenges in linking youth with long-term community support after their visit.

“Studies of adults show that screening for intimate partner violence is only a good thing if you also have resources,” Vaillancourt added. “So asking somebody if they’re in an unsafe situation and then doing nothing about it is actually quite problematic.”

Rousseau, from McGill University, said while health-care providers play a “key role” in tackling youth violence, they face an uphill battle given the complexities around why modern teens end up being victims of abuse — or turn to violence themselves.

“Teen dating violence is a problem, but also self-harm, suicide … all of that is increasing very rapidly,” said Rousseau, who added the rapid shifts in how teens use technology make it hard for researchers to keep up.

“There is no easy answer,” she said.