Want to know if highschool relationships are pointless? Have a crush on someone? Need some guidance? Well, the best advice is pure fact, and I’m here to tell you why highschool relationships can not only be dangerous, but can be detrimental to teenager’s mental health if not handled properly.
A survey conducted by Alcs Peer Conference concluded that positive peer relations, non-romantic included, have a positive effect on students’ grades while negative peer relations and bullying have the opposite effect.
So let’s relate this back to relationships, in the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2019 concluded that one in twelve high schoolers have experienced abusive relationships, and one in twelve experienced sexually abusive relationships.
The likelihood for a negative relationship increases for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students. The American Psychological Association reported that 19% of teens have experienced sexual or physical dating violence and about 65% have experienced psychological abuse. Highschool relationships are more likely to be abusive, but less likely to be reported or dealt with compared to relationships between adults.
Some signs of abusive relationships include stalking, extreme jealousy, manipulation, isolation, physical violence, emotional manipulation, and so much more. Abuse can be displayed in a million different ways. If you find any signs of abuse in your relationships, you can talk to your school’s therapist, a trusted adult, a peer, or anyone in your life that you trust. Remember to see both sides of the situation and do not shut people out for giving you an answer you do not want.
The amount of high school relationships that are abusive is eye opening. Think of how many high school relationships are abusive, and how that leads to future mental health problems, lower grades, and low self-esteem.
Studies have shown that among teens, friendships with the opposite-sex can lead to lower GPAs, specifically in math and science. Highschool relationships do not only make you more susceptible to abuse, but lower grades as well.
But, of course the counterargument is, you can’t help who you love. Teenagers are more likely to have a “crush” on someone because their brains are not fully developed yet, and their hormones are fluctuating.
So, go for it. Crazy I know, just remember these things. You’re going to graduate soon, grades come first, be safe, recognize and report abuse as soon as you see signs, and you need to love yourself completely before you love someone else. So, go have fun, enjoy your teenage years, but remember, you are the most important person in your life.
