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Do you feel confident recognising healthy relationships?

23rd - 30th April 2026

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58263

Total votes

12276

5-11 votes

45985

11-16+ votes

A 2024 Youth Endowment Fund survey returned some alarming findings: 27% of 13-17-year olds say they’ve been in a relationship in the past 12 months and half (49%) report experiencing violent or controlling behaviours from their partners. This translates to 13% of all children. The increasingly digital world that young people inhabit also presents new ways that unhealthy or coercive behaviour can present itself in their relationships. Partnering with The Children’s Society, we wanted to know how confident young people are when it comes to spotting the signs of an unhealthy relationship. The Children’s Society is researching ways to further help young people experiencing abuse within their relationships. These findings will be used to assist and inform their work.

58,263 young poeple voted on this topic, with many more participating in discussions. They were asked the following questions:

5-11: "Do you know what a healthy relationship feels like?"

Secondary, 16+ & College: "Do you feel confident recognising unhealthy relationships?"

child

5-11 voter

It's not always easy to understand most relationships because sometimes they can make it seem healthy but actually it is not.

teen

11-16 voter

It is improving. We learn a lot about relationships in PSHRE.

student

11-16 voter

It can be hard to judge sometimes because of different situations you find yourself in. Banter can be hard to judge.

Thank you to Mark Russell, CEO of The Children's Society, for responding to our voters!

87% of those aged 5-11 said they knew what a healthy relationship felt like.

  • Primary pupils were discussing the question, "Do you know what a healthy relationship feels like?"
  • 87% said that they did, referencing relationships in their own lives and adults who support them in navigating conflict in a healthy way.
  • Some said that relationships could be confusing and they were not always sure if they were healthy.
87% of Secondary voters felt they could spot the signs of am unhealthy relationship.

  • 87% of Secondary students voted that they were confident in spotting the signs of an unhealthy relationship.
  • Some shared that they could spot the signs in others but that it might be harder to spot them in their own relationships.
  • Other voters also said that they would not always know what to do once they had spotted the signs.
Many voters said they could spot the signs thanks to PSHE lessons focusing on healthy relationships.

  • Many students discussed how PSHE or tutor time sessions focusing on unhealthy relationships have made them more confident in spotting the signs.
  • Some shared that they have trusted adults they know they can turn to for further support.
  • Lots of voters felt this was an important topic for dicussion and showed the desire to spend more time on it.
16+ & College voters were the most confident. 89% voted that they could spot an unhealthy relationship.

  • 89% of 16+ & College students voted that they felt confident in spotting the signs of an unhealthy relationship.
  • Discussions touched upon the difficulty when it is your own relationship or that of someone close to you.
  • Some spoke about the need for parents/carers to be vigilant to the signs as well.
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