Frontiers | “You’re still online…who are you talking to, love?”: the Affective-Sexual Violence Scale in young couples

March 25, 2026 - 17:37

A new research tool, the Affective-Sexual Violence Scale, is shedding light on the insidious forms of control and coercion young people face in their romantic relationships, particularly through digital means. The scale specifically measures behaviors that constitute affective-sexual violence, which encompasses psychological and emotional abuse within intimate partnerships.

This form of violence represents a growing psychosocial challenge for adolescents and young adults, a situation exacerbated by persistent gender inequalities. The research highlights how digital connectivity has created new avenues for abuse, with behaviors like excessive monitoring of a partner's online activity, demanding constant availability, and controlling who they can communicate with becoming alarmingly common.

Experts note that these controlling acts, often disguised as concern or love, can severely damage a young person's self-esteem and autonomy. The development of this scale is a crucial step for psychologists and educators, providing a concrete method to identify, assess, and ultimately intervene in these harmful dynamics. By putting a name and a measurement to these experiences, the tool aims to foster healthier relationship models and empower young people to recognize unacceptable behavior.