Young people have only recently become a focus in domestic and family violence (DFV) research and services as victim/survivors in their own right. Adolescence and emerging adulthood are crucial life stages for developing skills for engaging in healthy, intimate relationships. Yet, intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among young people, with recent Australian data finding more than one in four young people aged 18-19 experienced IPV. Child maltreatment, or family violence, is also prevalent in this age group, with one in four young people experiencing three to five forms of child maltreatment such as physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to DFV. Limited development of healthy relationship skills during these life stages can have lasting impacts on all relationships in young people's lives. Young people are also among the loneliest and most socially isolated in our society, with social isolation remaining high after the COVID-19 pandemic compared to older groups. Research on the topics of loneliness and DFV is emerging, with limited understanding of the unique impact on young people (aged 12-25 years).
This presentation will explore the initial findings of a PhD project starting with results of a scoping review focused on social isolation, loneliness, and young people who have experienced or used DFV. In addition, this presentation will outline community service worker’s perspectives on the impact of loneliness and DFV on young people as well as how we can support lonely or isolated young people impacted by DFV. Preliminary data collected from young people will also be discussed, offering their unique perspectives on the impact of loneliness and DFV on their lives. Attendees will be encouraged to reflect on the impact of loneliness and DFV on the young people they work with and how they can support them to connect/reconnect as part of their healing journey.