Young People’s Understanding of Coercive Control in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Coercive control and related research have progressed significantly in the past number of years, with an ever-growing evidence base adding to its construct. However, currently there is a lack of evidence on young people’s knowledge and understanding of coercive control. We included a module of questions in the 2020 Northern Ireland Young Life and Life and Times survey (n = 2,069) with the aim of capturing baseline measurable data on understanding of coercive control within intimate relationships among 16-year olds. Only 16% (n = 325) of respondents had heard of the term coercive control and knew what it meant. Findings also revealed that females, compared to males, were less likely to have heard of coercive control. When the victim being subjected to the behaviours was portrayed as female as opposed to male there was stronger recognition of the associated risks, need for support, and the seriousness of the situation. Our study findings call to question young people’s knowledge of unhealthy intimate relationship behaviours beyond blatant and deliberate acts of harm such as those described in the coercive control scenarios. Gender disparities in awareness of coercive control across the study sample also give cause for concern given the increased risk of intimate partner violence among women and girls as well as lower reporting and help seeking among male victims. Results solidify the necessity for dedicated preventative and intervention efforts which focus on intimate relationships and reflect the diverse needs and experiences of young people. Supporting young people to act on their own behalf is an important step change to empowerment within their own intimate relationships.

‘How dare you call that playground banter?!’: Service provider perspectives on coercive control and young people

“…When it's a MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) case you're going, "They've only been together for however long… I feel as if it escalates a lot quicker, so that gives us a shorter period of time to get in." Lagdon et al (2021Lagdon et al ( , 2023 describe behaviours resonant with stereotypically gendered expectations commonplace within coercive control such as restriction of movement and freedom, mirroring Stark's (2007) analysis of this as a liberty crime. This narrative clearly illustrates a primary function of coercive control as being what a young person cannot do, as opposed to what they can do.…”

“…Understanding coercive control as a gendered phenomenon that is experienced by young people presents unique challenges alongside risks, and requires service providers to have the necessary knowledge and skills to recognise, assess and support young people experiencing it. There is a danger coercive control will not be recognised, will be minimised, or young people will fall between the gaps of adult and child services (Lagdon et al, 2023) and this applies particularly to those who are vulnerable and/or disadvantaged (Wood et al, 2011). Simultaneously, legislation potentially contributes to a silencing of coercive control in relationships, which is significant when considering that safeguarding systems primarily manage harm within the home as opposed to extra-familial abuse (Firmin et al, 2019), despite updated guidance within Working Together (HM Government, 2018) creating further ambiguity for service providers.…”

“…In addition, Barter et al (2017) found that for many young people coercive control may be normalised or be deemed a demonstration of love and protection (Barter et al, 2009). If the findings of Lombard (2011), Lagdon et al (2023) and Barter et al (2009) regarding gender inequalities and minimisation are indicative of how young people frame their understandings of coercive control this suggests a significant need for greater education, with service providers being willing to problematise both young people's and their own understandings in this context. If young people are unable to recognise coercive control, then service providers have a delicate line to walk in terms of confronting processes of normalisation whilst maintaining relationships with young people.…”

“…Firstly, was a patterned approach to understanding domestic abuse using a wider frame of reference including a range of coercive, non‐violent behaviours and, secondly, the age range was reduced to include 16–17‐year‐old young people. This was in recognition that young people were increasingly likely to become involved in abusive relationships, but they were less likely to identify this or understand these relationships were controlling or abusive (Barter et al, 2009; Barter et al, 2017; Lagdon et al, 2023; Wood et al, 2011). A shift in legislation to reflect coercive control is evident within the Serious Crime Act s.76 (2015) in England and Wales, the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act (2018) and the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act Northern Ireland (2021) meaning coercive control is now criminalised across the whole of the UK.…”

“…One of the aforementioned omissions lies in young people and coercive control. While there is an abundance of research examining children and young people's experiences of coercive control when this is a feature of parental/caregiver relationships (Arai et al, 2021;Callaghan et al, 2018;Katz, 2015Katz, , 2016Katz, , 2019Women's Aid & Cosmopolitan, 2018) evidence on how young people understand and experience coercive control in partner relationships is comparatively under-researched (Barter et al, 2009;Fox et al, 2014;Lagdon et al, 2023;Women's Aid & Cosmopolitan, 2018;Wood et al, 2011).…”