Healthy & Respectful Relationships – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms about healthy, respectful, and unhealthy relationships, communication, consent, parenting styles, and their impacts on health and development.

Relationship

A connection between two or more people or groups that can be based on love, friendship, support, work, or shared interests.

Healthy Relationship

A relationship characterised by respect, trust, honesty, loyalty, empathy, safety, equality, and good communication, supporting optimal health and development.

Respectful Relationship

A relationship in which all people value each other’s opinions, treat one another thoughtfully, and uphold mutual regard.

Family Relationship

A bond with immediate or extended family members that typically provides love, security, and support, and can exist within diverse family structures.

Friendship

A relationship often based on common interests, offering mutual support, decision-making help, and positive (or negative) influence.

Online Relationship

A connection formed and maintained through social networking platforms that can be positive or negative and helps people stay in touch.

Intimate Relationship

A relationship involving strong emotions or physical attraction, a desire to spend significant time together, and often sexual activity, influenced by individual values and beliefs.

Professional Relationship

Supportive, open relationships within the workplace characterised by good communication, trust, and respect among colleagues.

Teacher/Coach/Mentor Relationship

A bond with educators, coaches, or mentors who act as positive role models and key supporters in a young person’s network.

Parenting Styles

Four general approaches—authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved—that influence a child’s health and wellbeing.

Authoritarian Parenting

A style where strict rules are enforced without question; punishment is common, often leading to lower emotional and mental wellbeing in children.

Authoritative Parenting

A style combining clear rules with exceptions, logical consequences, and positive rewards, fostering good decision-making and social wellbeing.

Permissive Parenting

A style with little discipline where parents act more like friends; can cause authority issues, sadness, and poor mental wellbeing in children.

Uninvolved Parenting

A style where parents show little interest and fail to meet basic needs, often resulting in poor self-esteem and reduced emotional and mental wellbeing in children.

Consent

Freely given permission for an action, especially before sexual activity; must be voluntary, informed, and unpressured, or the activity is illegal.

Verbal Communication

Clearly conveying messages through spoken words and attentive listening.

Non-verbal Communication

Expressing messages through body language, gestures, facial expressions, and mannerisms.

Good Communication

Includes eye contact, active listening, relevant questions, clear speech, appropriate volume and distance, interest, and suitable body language.

Respect

Valuing another person’s opinions and feelings and treating them thoughtfully.

Trust

Confidence in someone’s reliability and dependability and feeling emotionally and physically safe with them.

Honesty

Telling the truth, keeping no secrets, and being open in a relationship.

Loyalty

Sticking by others and providing consistent support, even during challenging times.

Empathy

The capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing by placing oneself in their position.

Safety

Feeling free from physical harm or emotional danger and knowing others have one’s best interests in mind.

Equality

All parties in a relationship are valued, share expectations, and can both give and receive support.

Unhealthy Relationship

A relationship that prevents personal growth, involves put-downs, lack of appreciation, or fear, and diminishes self-esteem.

Abusive Relationship

An extremely unhealthy relationship involving physical, emotional, or sexual harm that endangers the victim’s wellbeing.

Physical Abuse

Intentional bodily harm such as hitting, kicking, biting, or punching.

Emotional Abuse

Harm through repeated insults, put-downs, lack of affection, financial control, or social isolation.

Sexual Abuse

Unwanted touching or sexual activity without consent.

Financial Abuse

Controlling or restricting another person’s access to money or financial resources.

Social Isolation

Preventing someone from seeing friends or family, limiting their social interactions.

Impact on Physical Health

Healthy relationships can promote activity and prevent injuries, whereas abusive ones can cause harm and illness.

Impact on Emotional Health

Positive relationships help recognise and manage emotions; unhealthy ones increase sadness, anxiety, or fear.

Impact on Mental Health

Supportive relationships lower stress and build self-esteem, while negative ones raise anxiety and depression risks.

Impact on Social Health

Healthy relationships encourage positive interaction and support; unhealthy ones may cause withdrawal and poor social skills.

Impact on Spiritual Health

Supportive relationships foster belonging, connectedness, meaning, and purpose.

Impact on Physical Development

Encouraging environments (e.g., sports teams) enhance motor skills; conflict-filled settings can limit participation and growth.

Impact on Social Development

Positive bonds teach cooperation and communication; abusive relationships may impede these skills.

Impact on Emotional Development

Healthy relationships allow safe expression and regulation of emotions; negative ones hinder emotional growth.

Impact on Intellectual Development

Supportive peers and teachers promote learning and problem-solving, while stress-filled relationships can impede cognitive progress.