More than a million girls and young women in the UK have experienced economic abuse in the past year, with one in three estimated to be affected before reaching adulthood, according to new research by the charity Surviving Economic Abuse.
What is economic abuse?
Economic abuse involves controlling a current or ex-partner's finances, often used to trap someone in a relationship or exert control after it ends. Tactics include hijacking income, restricting money use, damaging property, or running up debts without consent. Perpetrators may also control access to transport or technology needed for work.
The charity estimates one in six women in the UK have experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner. Research by Ipsos UK on behalf of Surviving Economic Abuse shows it is twice as prevalent among younger women and girls.
Early onset in relationships
In many cases, economic abuse starts within weeks. Among 16 to 18-year-olds, 17% said it began within the first month of the relationship—more than double the 8% rate for women aged 22 to 24. One woman told the charity: 'Young people are encouraged to move in together, share finances and plan their futures, but very little is discussed about what happens when it all goes wrong. I think parents, schools and young people need to talk about economic abuse much more openly because it can start at such a young age.'
Prevalence and forms of abuse
Nearly a fifth of respondents (18%) said a current or former partner pressured them to give money in the last 12 months. A similar proportion were made to buy things they did not want, while 17% had belongings deliberately destroyed or damaged. One in ten (12%) experienced control of their mobile payment accounts.
The abuse extends beyond finances. Among the 36% of young women who experienced economic abuse, more than a quarter (27%) said the abuser prevented them from working, studying, or training—equivalent to 346,000 young women.
Charity response and resources
Sam Smethers, chief executive of Surviving Economic Abuse, said: 'Parents, teachers and education professionals need to recognise the warning signs early. Challenging harmful behaviours before they escalate could make a life-changing difference.'
The charity encourages families to use its 'spotting the signs challenge' interactive tool to recognise economic abuse and signpost support. Durham University Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse, in partnership with Surviving Economic Abuse and Tender, has also produced the 'shifting the dial toolkit' to educate young people about economic abuse and build respectful relationships.
Ipsos UK surveyed more than 1,900 women aged 16 to 24 across the UK in March.
