Trauma-Informed Approaches to Adolescent Relationship Abuse and Sexual Violence Prevention

Adolescent relationship abuse and sexual violence are prevalent throughout adolescence and are associated with serious physical and mental health consequences. Trauma-informed approaches to care balance adolescent confidentiality, autonomy, and a young person's safety. The provision of trauma-informed care can include universal education and brief counseling about healthy relationships with all adolescent patients during clinical encounters to promote healthy adolescent sexual relationships, ensure youth know about resources for relationship abuse and sexual violence, and facilitate connections to advocates who serve survivors of abuse. Providers can integrate evidence-based relationship abuse and sexual violence prevention into their work with adolescents. [Pediatr Ann. 2019;48(7):e274-e279.].