This form of abuse occurs when there is any kind of physical, sexual, emotional or financial abuse or coercive control exercised between children.
There will usually be a power imbalance, whether that be age, status or some other factor. In some cases, the perpetrator will also be the victim in another relationship with a power imbalance. Behaviour may be intimate or non-intimate.
Symptoms of possible peer on peer abuse may include:
- absence from school
- physical injuries
- mental or emotional issues
- inability to sleep
- alcohol or substance misuse
- changes in behaviour
- inappropriate behaviour for age
- being abusive to others.
Peer on peer abuse and can take many forms. This can include (but is not limited to) bullying (including cyberbullying); sexual violence and sexual harassment; physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting, hair pulling, or otherwise causing physical harm; sexting and initiating/hazing type violence and rituals.
