Information on young people's use of intimate partner violence.
This has page has been organised into themes:
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Research exploring how gender norms and relationship dynamics shape the way young people experience, perpetrate and understand intimate partner violence.
O’Donnell, K., Woldegiorgis, M., Gasser, C., Scurrah, K., Andersson, C., McKay, H., Hegarty, K., Seidler, Z., & Martin, S. (2025). The use of intimate partner violence among Australian men. Insights #3, Chapter 1. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies | read more
Hobbs, C. (2022). Young, in love and in danger: teen domestic violence and abuse in Tasmania | read more
Semenza, D. C. (2021). Gender differences in the victim-offender relationship for on- and offline youth violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(19-20):9255-9276 | read more
Chung, D. (2007), “Making meaning of relationships: Young women’s experiences and understandings of dating violence“, Violence Against Women, vol. 13, no. 12, pp. 1274-1295 | read more
Malhi, N., Oliffe, J. L., Bungay, V., & Kelly, M. T. (2020). Male perpetration of adolescent dating violence: A scoping review. American journal of men’s health, 14(5), 1557988320963600 | read more
Martsolf, D. S., Burke Draucker, C., & Brandau, M. (2013). Breaking up is hard to do: How teens end violent dating relationships. Journal of American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 19(2), 71-77 | read more
Chung, D. (2005), “Violence, control, romance and gender equality: Young women and heterosexual relationships“, Women’s Studies International Forum, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 445-455 | read more
Reed, E, Raj, A, Miller, E & Silverman, JG. (2010), “Losing the ‘gender’ in gender-based violence: The missteps of research on dating and intimate partner violence“, Violence against women, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 348-354 | read more
Mulford, C & Giordano, PC. (2008), “Teen Dating Violence: A Closer Look at Adolescent Romantic Relationships“, National Institute of Justice Journal, vol. 261, no. 1, pp. 34-40 | read more
Hird, M. J., & Jackson, S. (2001). Where ‘angels’ and ‘wusses’ fear to tread: Sexual coercion in adolescent dating relationships. Journal of Sociology, 37(1), 27-43 | read more
Jackson, SM, Cram, F & Seymour, FW. (2000), “Violence and sexual coercion in high school students’ dating relationships”, Journal of family violence, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 23-36 | read more
An emerging body of work examining how young people’s attitudes — including the influence of online ‘manosphere’ culture and social media — contribute to sexist behaviours and relationship violence.
Pfitzner, N., McCook, S., Phelan, A., Wescott, S., Roberts, S. & Scott, B. (2026). An Introductory Guide to the Manosphere and the Impacts for Young People, Teachers and Schools (ANROWS Insights 01/2026). ANROWS | read report
Roberts, S., & Wescott, S. (2025). To quell the problem, we must name the problem: The role of social media ‘manfluencers’ in boys’ sexist behaviours in school settings. Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 41(2), 125-128 | read article
Roberts, S., & Wescott, S. (2024). ‘Manfluencers’, masculinities and the practice of misogyny in educational settings: critical analyses, theoretical advances, and potential solutions for addressing a pernicious problem for gender equality. Gender and Education, 36(1), 817-818 | read article
Coumarelos, C., Weeks, N., Bernstein, S., Roberts, N., Honey, N., Minter, K., & Carlisle, E. (2023). Attitudes matter: The 2021 National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS), Findings for Australia. (Research report 02/2023). ANROWS | read report
Carlisle, E, Coumarelos, C, Minter, K & Lohmeyer, B. (2022), “It depends on what the definition of domestic violence is“: How young Australians conceptualise domestic violence and abuse, ANROWS Horizons | read report
Mackenzie, C & Mackay, T. (2019), ‘I just wanted to keep my boyfriend happy’: Young country women’s perceptions of intimate partner violence, The Australian Alliance for Social Enterprise, University of South Australia, Adelaide | read report
Politoff, V., Crabbe, M., Honey, N., Mannix, S., Mickle, J., Morgan, J., Parkes, A., Powell, A., Stubbs, J., Ward, A., & Webster, K., (2019). Young Australians’ attitudes to violence against women and gender equality: Findings from the 2017 National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) (ANROWS Insights, Issue 01/2019). Sydney: ANROWS | read report
Partnerships Against Domestic Violence. (2001), Young people and domestic violence: National research on young people’s attitudes to and experiences of domestic violence, Attorney-General’s Department, Barton, ACT | read report
Evidence from across the globe on the prevalence and nature of adolescent dating violence, providing important context for understanding the Australian picture.
Deslandes, S. F., Pinto, L. W., Souza, E. R. D., & Flach, R. M. D. (2024). Digital abuse among dating partners: perspectives and experiences of adolescents from two Brazilian capitals. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 29, e15552022 | read more
Exner-Cortens, D, Baker, E & Craig, W. (2021), “The National Prevalence of Adolescent Dating Violence in Canada“, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 495-502 | read more
Beckmann, L & Kliem, S. (2020), “Prevalence of Teen Dating Violence Involvement and Associations with Internalizing Problems and Substance Use in Germany“, Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, vol. 30, no. 8, pp. 1-26 | read more
Barter, C, Stanley, N, Wood, M, Lanau, A, Aghtaie, N, Larkins, C & Øverlien, C. (2017), “Young people’s online and face-to-face experiences of interpersonal violence and abuse and their subjective impact across five European countries“, Psychology of Violence, vol. 7, no. 3, p. 375 | read more
Lehrner, A & Allen, NE. (2018), “A qualitative investigation of the role of gender in young women’s dating violence in the United States“, Violence against women, vol. 24, no. 14, pp. 1697-1717 | read more
Ybarra, ML, Espelage, DL, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J, Korchmaros, JD & Boyd, D. (2016), “Lifetime Prevalence Rates and Overlap of Physical, Psychological, and Sexual Dating Abuse Perpetration and Victimization in a National Sample of Youth“, Archives of Sexual Behavior, vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 1083-1099 | read more
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Research on the use of technology as a tool for coercion and control in young people’s relationships, including tracking, harassment and online abuse.
Carah, N., Demaio, S., Holly, L., Kickbusch, I., & Williams, C. (2025). Beyond banning: Our digital world must be made safer for young people. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 36(1), e938 | read more
eSafety Commissioner. (2025). Track, harass, repeat: Attitudes that normalise tech-based coercive control. Canberra: Australian Government | Read report
McArthur, J., Blais, J., & Ternes, M. (2024). Digital dating abuse: An application of the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(5-6), 1308-1326 | read more
Ferreira, G. L. G. P. (2023). Understanding adolescent digital dating abuse victimisation in Australia and Brazil. QUT Centre for Justice Briefing Papers, December 2023(43), 1-4 | read more
Brown, C., & Hegarty, K. (2021). Development and validation of the TAR Scale: A measure of technology-facilitated abuse in relationships. Computers in Human Behaviour, Reports 3 (100059), 1-10 | read more
Caridade, S., e Sousa, H. F. P., & Dinis, M. A. P. (2020). Cyber and offline dating abuse in a Portuguese sample: Prevalence and context of abuse. Behavioural Sciences, 10(152), 1-14 | read more
Hermida, A., & Hernández-Santaolalla, V. (2020). Horizontal surveillance, mobile communication and social networking sites: The lack of privacy in young people’s daily lives. Communication & Society, 33(1), 139-152 | read more
Hernández-Santaolalla, V., & Hermida, A. (2020). Malicious social surveillance and negative implications in romantic relationships among undergraduates. Surveillance & Society, 18(3), 387-399 | read more 10.24908/ss.v18i3.13149
Flach, R. M. D., & Deslandes, S. F. (2017). Cyber dating abuse in affective and sexual relationships: A literature review. Cadernos De Saúde Pública, 33(7), 1-18 | read more
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2021). Digital dating abuse among a national sample of US youth. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(23-24), 11088-11108 | read more
Mayoyo, N., Likoye Malenya, F., & Ogeno, J. O. (2020). The prevalence and perceptions of cyber dating abuse among undergraduate students in Nairobi County, Kenya. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 25(9), 31-39. 10.9790/0837-2509053139
Reed, L. A., Tolman, R. M., & Ward, L. M. (2017). Gender matters: Experiences and consequences of digital dating abuse victimisation in adolescent dating relationships. Journal of Adolescence, 59, 79-89 | read more
Reed, L. A., Tolman, R. M., & Ward, L. M. (2016). Snooping and sexting: Digital media as a context for dating aggression and abuse among college students. Violence Against Women, 22(3), 1556-1576 | read more
Sánchez-Hernández, M. D., Herrera Enríquez, M. D. C., & Expósito Jiménez, F. (2020). Controlling behaviours in couple relationships in the digital age: Acceptability of gender violence, sexism, and myths about romantic love. Psychological Intervention | read more
Stonard, K. E., Bowen, E., Walker, K., & Price, S. A. (2017). “They’ll always find a way to get to you”: Technology use in adolescent romantic relationships and its role in dating violence and abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 32(14), 2083-2117 | read more
Hamby, S & Turner, H. (2013), “Measuring teen dating violence in males and females: Insights from the national survey of children’s exposure to violence“, Psychology of Violence, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 323-339 | read more
Studies examining the short and long-term consequences of adolescent dating violence on victims’ mental health, wellbeing and social connection.
Kirkman, G., Willmott, D., & Boduszek, D. (2025). The impact of adolescent dating violence and abuse on victims’ mental health and social isolation: a thematic empirical evidence review. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 29(6), 761-773 | read more
Neilson, E. C., Gulati, N. K., Stappenbeck, C. A., George, W. H., & Davis, K. C. (2023). Emotion Regulation and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration in Undergraduate Samples: A Review of the Literature. Trauma, violence & abuse, 24(2), 576–596 | read more
Brown, C., Flood, M., & Hegarty, K. (2022). Digital dating abuse perpetration and impact: The importance of gender. Journal of Youth Studies, 25(2), 193-208 | read more
Burton, CW, Halpern-Felsher, B, Rehm, RS, Rankin, SH & Humphreys, JC. (2016), “Depression and self-rated health among rural women who experienced adolescent dating abuse: A mixed methods study“, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 920-941 | read more
Park, Y, Mulford, C & Blachman-Demner, D. (2018), “The acute and chronic impact of adolescent dating violence: A public health perspective“, in D Wolfe & J Temple (eds.), Adolescent Dating Violence: Theory, Research, and Prevention, Elsevier | read more
Exner-Cortens, D, Eckenrode, J & Rothman, E. (2013), “Longitudinal associations between teen dating violence victimization and adverse health outcomes“, Pediatrics, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 71-78 | read more
Rizzo, CJ, Esposito-Smythers, C, Spirito, A & Thompson, A. (2010), “Psychiatric and cognitive functioning in adolescent inpatients with histories of dating violence victimization“, Journal of aggression, maltreatment & trauma, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 565-583 | read more
Brown, A, Cosgrave, E, Killackey, E, Purcell, R, Buckby, J & Yung, AR. (2009), “The longitudinal association of adolescent dating violence with psychiatric disorders and functioning“, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol. 24, no. 12, pp. 1964-1979 | read more
Research exploring how experiences of IPV differ across communities, including for LGBTQ+ young people, those in rural areas and other groups facing compounding disadvantage and discrimination.
Fedina, L., Bender, A. E., Tibbits, J., Herrenkohl, T. I., & Tolman, R. (2023). Dating abuse and harassment among sexual and gender minority US college students. LGBT health, 10(S1), S79-S88 | read article
Kiekens, W. J., Baams, L., Fish, J. N., & Watson, R. J. (2022). Associations of relationship experiences, dating violence, sexual harassment, and assault with alcohol use among sexual and gender minority adolescents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(17-18), NP15176-NP15204 | read article
Taylor, S & Xia, Y. (2020), “Dating Violence Among Rural Adolescents: Perpetration and Victimization by Gender“, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol. 37, no. 9-10, pp. NP7729-NP7750 | read article
Eaton, AA & Stephens, DP (2018), “Adolescent dating violence among ethnically diverse youth“, in D Wolfe & J Temple (eds.), Adolescent Dating Violence: Theory, Research, and Prevention, Elsevier | read article
Literature centring young people’s own experiences of family and intimate partner violence, including their help-seeking journeys and encounters with crisis and legal systems.
Ellard, R., Young, S., Lazzaro, E., Hard, N., Ogilvie, K., Dobson, D. and Campbell, E. (2025). Unsafe and Unseen: Spotlighting the needs and experiences of unaccompanied young people seeking shelter, RMIT University, Melbourne | read report
Fitz-Gibbon, K. (2025a) Seeking help in their own right: Young victim-survivors’ experiences of family violence crisis responses in Victoria. Final Report. Sequre Consulting and Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre, Victoria, Australia | read report
Fitz-Gibbon, K. (2025b). Silence and inaction: Children and young people’s experiences of violence and systemic failure in South Australia [Report prepared for the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.]. Sequre Consulting | read report
Gillfeather-Spetere, S., & Watson, A. (2024). In their own right: Actions to improve children and young people’s safety from domestic, family and sexual violence (ANROWS Insights, 01/2024). ANROWS | read report
Joshi, A., & Truong, M. (2024). The role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in adolescent use of violence. Policy and practice paper. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies | read report
Cheung, SP & Huang, C-C. (2022), “Childhood Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Teen Dating Violence“, Journal of Family Violence, pp. 1-12 | read article
Wagers, SM, Piquero, AR, Narvey, C, Reid, JA & Loughran, TA. (2021), “Variation in Exposure to Violence in Early Adolescence Distinguishes between Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration among Young Men Involved in the Justice System“, Journal of Family Violence, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 99-108 | read article
Wood, M, Barter, C & Berridge, D. (2010), ‘Standing on my own two feet’: Disadvantaged Teenagers, Intimate Partner Violence and Coercive Control, NSPCC | read report
Evidence on the heightened risks of IPV during pregnancy and early parenthood, with a focus on young families and targeted intervention approaches.
Campo, M. (2015). Domestic and family violence in pregnancy and early parenthood Overview and emerging interventions, Child Family Community Australia, Australian Institute of Family Studies | read report
Mann, C., & Duell, R. (2024). Young parents and family and intimate partner violence: 7 year analysis 2015-2022. Fact Sheet. Brisbane Youth Service: Brisbane QLD | read factsheet
Wynter, K., Francis, L. M., Borgkvist, A., Dixson, B., D’Souza, L., Duursma, E., May, C., Sher, L., & George, J. S. (2024). Effectiveness of Father-Focused Interventions to Prevent or Reduce Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy and Early Parenthood: A Systematic Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 26(1), 167-182 | read article
Practice frameworks, guidelines and program evaluations focused on what works to prevent and respond to young people’s use and experience of intimate partner violence.
Nicholas, L. Hanckel, B. Burgin, R. Kilvington-Dowd, L. Johnston, B. Mills, X. & McGregor, J. (2025). Improving responses to young men’s use of intimate partner violence: Towards a best practice approach. Western Sydney University | read report apo-nid332516.pdf
Victoria Legal Aid [VLA] (2025) Feeling Supported Not Stuck, Melbourne | read report
Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) (2025). Youth Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Practice Framework Snapshot | read report
Nikula, J., Berg, L., Levell, J. & Pauncz, A. (2024). Guidelines for working with young men who use violence against intimate partners, Working With Perpetrators European Network | read report
Carlson, B., Day, M., & Farrelly, T. (2024). What works? A qualitative exploration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healing programs that respond to family violence (Research report, 02/2024). ANROWS | read report
Buchanan F, Borgkvist A & Moulding N. (2023). What Helps Young People in Australia Create Healthy Relationships After Growing up in Domestic Violence?. Journal of Family Violence, 40, 847–861 | read article
Cerda-Smith, J, Gönültaş, S & Mulvey, KL (2022), “Adolescent peer aggression judgments and expected bystander intervention in teen dating violence“, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, vol. 79 | read article
Fitz-Gibbon, K., Meyer, S., Boxall, H., Maher, J., & Roberts, S. (2022). Adolescent family violence in Australia: A national study of service and support needs for young people who use family violence (Research report, 18/2022). ANROWS | read report
Aguilera-Jiménez, N., Rodríguez-Franco, L., Rohlfs-Domínguez, P., Alameda-Bailén, J. R., & Paíno-Quesada, S. G. (2021). Relationships of adolescent and young couples with violent behaviours: Conflict resolution strategies. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(6), 3201 | read article
Pfitzner, N., Ollis, D., Stewart, R., Allen, K. A., Fitz-Gibbon, K., & Flynn, A. (2022) Respectful relationship education in Australia: National stocktake and gap analysis of respectful relationships education material and resources final report. Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre, Monash University | read report
Piolanti, A., Jouriles, E. N., Foran, H. M. (2022). Assessment of Psychosocial Programs to Prevent Sexual Violence During Adolescence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 5(11):e2240895 | read article
Power, J., Kauer, S., Fisher, C., Bellamy, R., & Bourne, A. (2022). The 7th national survey of Australian secondary students and sexual health 2021. (ARCSHS Monograph Series No. 133). The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University | read report
Lopes Gomes Pinto Ferreira, G. (2021), “Technology as both a facilitator of and response to youth intimate partner violence: Perspectives from advocates in the global-south“, in J Bailey et al. (eds.), The Emerald International Handbook of Technology-Facilitated Violence and Abuse, Emerald Publishing Limited | read article
Blagg, H., Tulich, T., Hovane, V., Raye, D., Worrigal, T., & May, S. (2020). Understanding the role of Law and Culture in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in responding to and preventing family violence, Ngarluma/Jaru/Gooniyandi (Hovane), Kimberley and Pilbara region, WA, Jabirr Jabirr/Bardi (Raye), Dampier Peninsula and Kimberley region, WA, Gooniyandi/Gija (Worrigal), Kimberley region, WA (Research report, 19/2020). Sydney: ANROWS | read report
Campbell, E., Richter, J., Howard, J., & Cockburn, H. (2020). The PIPA project: Positive interventions for perpetrators of adolescent violence in the home (AVITH) (Research report, 04/2020). Sydney, NSW: ANROWS | read report
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety [ANROWS]. (2019). R4Respect: Lessons from a peer-to-peer respectful relationships education program: Key findings and future directions (Research to policy and practice, 02/2019). Sydney, NSW: ANROWS | read report
Lourenço, R. G., Fornari, L. F., Santos, D. L. A. D., & Fonseca, R. M. G. S. D. (2019). Community interventions related to intimate partner violence among adolescents: scope review. Revista brasileira de enfermagem, 72, 277-286 | read article
Spiteri‐Staines, A., Diemer, K., Absler, D., Humphreys, C., (2019) Keeping Safe Together: Independent evaluation, Summary of Findings and Recommendations. Melbourne, University of Melbourne | read report
Douglas, H & Walsh, T. (2018), “Adolescent Family Violence: What Is the Role for Legal Responses?“, Sydney Law Review, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 499-526 | read article
Ellsberg, M, Ullman, C, Blackwell, A, Hill, A & Contreras, M. (2018), “What works to prevent adolescent intimate partner and sexual violence? A global review of best practices“, in D Wolfe & J Temple (eds.), Adolescent Dating Violence: Theory, Research, and Prevention, Elsevier | read article
Hamby, S, Nix, K, De Puy, J & Monnier, S. (2012), “Adapting dating violence prevention to francophone Switzerland: a story of intra-western cultural differences“, Violence and Victims, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 33-42 | read article
Murphy, KA & Smith, DI. (2010), “Adolescent girls’ responses to warning signs of abuse in romantic relationships: Implications for youth-targeted relationship violence prevention“, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 626-647 | read article
Research on how the pandemic affected rates of dating violence, young people’s social development, and the visibility of abuse occurring within homes.
Wood, L., Baumler, E., PettyJohn, M. E., & Temple, J. R. (2024). Teen dating violence and the COVID-19 pandemic: trends from a longitudinal study in Texas. Injury prevention, 30(6), 481-487 | read article
Kindred, R., & Bates, G. W. (2023). The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on social anxiety: A systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 2362 | read article
Pfitzner, N., Fitz-Gibbon, K., Walklate, S., Meyer, S., & Segrave, M. (2023). In the Shadow of COVID-19: The Invisibility of Children’s Experiences of Violence in Homes During the Pandemic. In Violence Against Women During Coronavirus: When Staying Home Isn’t Safe (pp. 53-74). Cham: Springer International Publishing | read chapter
Bennett, E. R., Snyder, S., Cusano, J., McMahon, S., Zijdel, M., Camerer, K., & Howley, C. (2021). Supporting survivors of campus dating and sexual violence during COVID-19: A social work perspective. Social work in health care, 60(1), 106-116 | read article
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The information provided on this Family Violence Sexual Violence Knowledge Hub is curated to be the most recent and relevant available. While the content is continually being developed and will be regularly updated to reflect the latest insights and best practices, these resources are not exhaustive. While we strive to maintain the accuracy and timeliness of the information, we encourage users to check back frequently for new and refreshed materials, and to contact the relevant peak body if you would like more information about family violence, sexual violence and/or working with children and families in this context.
