The impact and risk factors of adolescent domestic abuse: A rapid systematic review

    As a phenomenon, abusive behavior between adolescents in intimate relationships remains relatively invisible, due in part to the persistent yet unfounded assumption that domestic abuse is something that occurs between adults. There is an emerging body of evidence indicating that both victimization and perpetration in intimate partner relationships can and do occur well before adulthood.

    This review seeks to improve understandings of intimate partner abuse between adolescents, focusing in particular on younger adolescents below the age of 16 and the impacts and risk and protective factors.

    VISION researchers Dr Ruth Weir, Dr Olumide Adisa and Dr Niels Blom, with their collaborators, conducted a rapid systematic review by searching three electronic databases (PsycInfo, Embase, and Social Sciences Citation Index). The team utilized pre-existing systematic reviews to identify relevant primary studies. Findings of the included studies were described and summarized using narrative synthesis.

    Seventy-nine studies were identified for inclusion. Synthesis of the findings of these studies identified five categories of risk and protective factors, including bullying and parental intimate partner violence, social and cultural factors, school and neighborhood environment and health and wellbeing. However, the review also identified a gap of qualitative research and a lack of attention to how ADA intersects with cultural factors, gender differences, criminalization, and poor mental health. Many of the studies report on school-based settings, limiting understanding of the role of neighborhood factors in prevention, protection and recovery. Participatory research on help-seeking behaviors of adolescents is rare.

    The review synthesized risk and protective factors associated with ADA, especially those occurring between younger adolescents. It highlighted the complex interplay and overlap between using and experiencing violence and abuse and the need for systematic research to inform the development of advocacy, interventions and prevention that is right for young people.

    Highlights from the VISION ADA rapid review: Gaps, limitations & considerations for future research

    • Little recent academic interest on ADA in the UK
    • Focus in existing global literature on physical or sexual violence but less so on coercive control or emotional / psychological abuse
    • Lack of systematic examination of long-term consequences of ADA on wellbeing
    • Lack of intersectional analysis (ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, etc)
    • Little exploration of adolescents’ help-seeking behaviours and attitudes to different kinds of possible support
    • Research design limitations

    To download the paper: Adolescent Domestic Abuse and Its Consequences: A Rapid Systematic Review | Journal of Family Violence

    To cite: Weir, R., Adisa, O., Blom, N. et al. Adolescent Domestic Abuse and Its Consequences: A Rapid Systematic Review. J Fam Viol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-025-00813-4

    For more information on this rapid review, please contact Ruth at ruth.weir@city.ac.uk

    To view and / or download the list of systematic reviews included in this paper:

    SRs included in Weir ADA journal articleDownload

    Further ADA research across the VISION consortium:

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