Thousands of British teenagers are being subjected to sexually, physically and mentally abusive relationships by their romantic partners, a new study has revealed.

A survey by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has found that 'far too many' young relationships are being plagued by behaviour that bears all the hallmarks of domestic abuse.

But because young people are only legally recognised as victims of abuse in their own relationships from the age of 16 and above, experts say the true scale of the problem is hidden from view.

The survey by the YEF, which is a government-backed charity that works to prevent children from becoming involved in violence, found that nearly four in ten 13 to 17 year olds who have been in relationships have experienced emotional or physical abuse.

The poll of 10,000 teenagers found that 15 per cent of those who had been in relationships had been physically abused by their partner, while 10 per cent had been forced or pressured into sex.

Campaigners have warned that exposure to violent pornography, harmful gender norms and an increase in sexual violence are twisting what children view as healthy relationships.

They also say abuse experienced by teenagers is often as serious as abuse in adult relationships, including physical violence, emotional/psychological abuse, sexual abuse, coercive behaviour, and abuse carried out via technology or social media.

The report found that 39 per cent of 13-17-year-olds in relationships had experienced at least one form of emotionally or physically abusive behaviour from their partner in the past 12 months.

Jasmine, 16, and not her real name, fell into depression and after her boyfriend shared the images online without her permission in an act of revenge porn for their break up.

Another anonymous 15-year-old girl expressed concerns for her friend after seeing bruises on her arm, allegedly inflicted by her boyfriend, whom she says she loves him too much to end the relationship.

NSPCC (The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) collect case studies of teenagers that have been on the end of the most serious forms of emotional and physical abuse.

Strikingly, 30 per cent of girls and 29 per cent of boys in relationships say they’ve been emotionally or physically abusive to a partner in the past 12 months.

Overall, 47 per cent had either done or experienced emotional or physical abuse in their relationship — equivalent to 13 per cent of all 13-17-year-olds. 

Safelives are a UK charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse and their research shows that young people (aged 13–17) experience the highest rates of domestic abuse of any age group.

Ellen Miller, CEO of SafeLives says: 'SafeLives’ research shows that the abuse they experience is serious and too often overlooked, and the true scale of the problem is likely far greater than we know.