Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners and they take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power. Partners respect each others independence, can make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation, and share decisions.

What are healthy behaviors in a relationship?

Respect for both oneself and others is a key characteristic of healthy relationships. In contrast, in unhealthy relationships, one partner tries to exert control and power over the other physically, sexually, and/or emotionally. Healthy relationships share certain characteristics that teens should be taught to expect.