ABSTRACT
A body of research confirms that many youth are subjected to intimate partner violence (IPV), challenging our previous understanding of such violence as primarily an adult problem. Nevertheless, scholars have observed that youth IPV differs from adult IPV in certain ways, making it relevant to focus specifically on youth and IPV. Thereby, this chapter presents existing research on youth IPV, structuring it thematically on a societal, social and individual level in order to discuss aspects of youth that arguably affect victimisation and perpetration of IPV for young people. Theoretically, this chapter uses social constructivism theory, and the social studies of childhood and youth as its point of departure, drawing upon the notion that how youth and IPV are understood and constructed, is dependent on the societal and social contexts. Furthermore, by taking an intersectional lens, it is highlighted that youth is not a homogenous group, showing how youths’ vulnerability is impacted by the interaction of different social positions. It is proposed that youth IPV need to be examined on all these three levels, taking a holistic approach to a young person’s experience of IPV. This holistic approach also reflects how youth IPV as a social problem should be tackled: by involving youth, parents, practitioners, researchers and policy-makers, representing all levels. It seems important that we all work together, by sharing information and influence each other’s work, to fully address and prevent youth IPV.
