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'Economic crisis driving vulnerable youth into exploitive relationships': shelter movement
Sibanyoni said when parents were neglectful or could not consistently provide and meet the needs of a young child, the child's attachment style became insecure.
'In their relationships, they want a sense of security, which makes them vulnerable to a man who appears as a provider.'
Her research highlighted that the young women in intergenerational relationships become psychologically affected because the men sometimes want them to perform acts which they feel are degrading but, because of the lack of resources, the young women find it difficult to leave these relationships.
While formal research has not been conducted on the impact of older women's relationships with young boys and whether they contribute to gender-based violence, Sibanyoni said it could be safe to assume that the psychological impact is the same if there is a form of emotional abuse.
Sibanyoni proposed interventions — to be provided by schools, government agencies, businesses and NGOs — to counter the vulnerability and risk to young women.
These include 'psychoeducation (primary education at school level), comprehensive assessment (brief evidence-based psychotherapy for girls who are already showing signs of distress), and intensive evidence-based psychotherapy (for the severely affected who have possibly experienced gender-based violence)'.
'It is a critical situation, some of these young girls are at the intensive psychotherapy level and are presenting with symptoms of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and have psychosis due to substance abuse,' said Sibanyoni.
TimesLIVE
