Teen Dating Violence - Healthy Relationships

To finish out our 3-part series on Teen Dating Violence, we will determine what constitutes a healthy relationship. First, however, we will highlight once again some aspects of an unhealthy relationship.

Common examples of unhealthy relationships:

• Your partner actively attempts to isolate you from your family/friends/support system.
• You worry your partner will get so angry that they will harm you.
• You have a sense of being trapped within your relationship.
• Your partner is very dismissive of your emotions.
• Cheating.
• Your partner is coercive when it comes to sex.

Now that we have discussed various aspects of an unhealthy relationship, let’s determine what makes a healthy relationship.

• Mutual respect. Respect means that each person values who the other is and understands the other person’s boundaries.
• Trust. Partners should place trust in each other and give each other the benefit of the doubt.
• Self-confidence. When dating partners have confidence in themselves, it can help their relationships with others. It shows that they are calm and comfortable enough to allow others to express their opinions without forcing their own opinions on them.
• Anger control. We all get angry, but how we express it can affect our relationships with others. Anger can be handled in healthy ways such as taking a deep breath, counting to ten, or talking it out.

Good communication. Each partner should speak honestly and openly to avoid miscommunication. If one person needs to sort out his or her feelings first, the other partner should respect those wishes and wait until he or she is ready to talk. Part of being a good communicator is being a good listener.

• Compromise. In a dating relationship, each partner does not always get his or her way. Each should acknowledge different points of view and be willing to give and take.
• Healthy sexual relationship. Dating partners engage in a sexual relationship that both are comfortable with, and neither partner feels pressured or forced to engage in sexual activity that is outside his or her comfort zone or without consent.
• Fighting fair. Everyone argues at some point, but those who are fair, stick to the subject, and avoid insults are more likely to come up with a possible solution. Partners should take a short break away from each other if the discussion gets too heated.

Now, these characteristics are just a few aspects that make a healthy relationship. However, positive communication and feeling safe within your relationship are key in a healthy relationship at any age.

References:

Characteristics of Healthy & Unhealthy Relationships.” Characteristics of Healthy & Unhealthy Relationships | Youth.gov, youth.gov/youth-topics/teen-dating-violence/characteristics.