Most common victims of domestic violence

Domestic Violence Statistics - The Hotline

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Our years of experience offering 24/7 support, information, and advocacy for people in abusive relationships have been informed by the hard realities of domestic violence. Relationship abuse is ugly, even (and especially) when it comes from the people we love. The more informed we keep ourselves and others, the more prepared we’ll be to recognize and stop abuse when it happens. The following domestic violence statistics help inform our work.

Learn the facts about domestic violence. The statistics on this page have been compiled from various sources. You can find the citations by clicking the drop down for the statistic.

General statistics

An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States — more than 12 million women and men over the course of a single year.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly 3 in 10 women (29%) and 1 in 10 men (10%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by a partner and reported it having a related impact on their functioning.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Just under 15% of women (14.8%) and 4% of men in the US have been injured as a result of intimate partner violence that included rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner.: Black, M. C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the US have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Intimate partner violence alone affects more than 12 million people every year.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Over 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Almost half of all women and men in the US have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime (48. 4% and 48.8%, respectively).: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Women ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experience the highest rates of intimate partner violence.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
From 1994 to 2010, approximately 4 in 5 victims of intimate partner violence were female.: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=261262
Most female victims of intimate partner violence were previously victimized by the same offender at rates of 77% for women ages 18 to 24, 76% for ages 25 to 34, and 81% for ages 35 to 49.: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=261262

Sexual violence statistics

Nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) have been raped in their lifetime.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly 1 in 10 women (9.4%) in the US have been raped by an intimate partner in their lifetime.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
81% of women who experienced rape, stalking, or physical violence from an intimate partner reported significant impacts (short-term or long-term) like injuries or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
35% of men reported the same significant impacts from experiences of rape, stalking, or physical violence from an intimate partner.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than half (51.1%) of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner; 40.8% reported being raped by an acquaintance.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S. G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For male victims, 52.4% reported being raped by an acquaintance; 15.1% reported being raped by a stranger.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Estimates suggest 13% of women and 6% of men will experience sexual coercion (unwanted sexual penetration after being pressured in a non-physical way) in their lifetime; 27. 2% of women and 11.7% of men experience unwanted sexual contact.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stalking statistics

1 in 6 women (16.2%) and 1 in 19 men (5.2%) in the US have been a victim of stalking at some point during their lifetime in which they felt fearful or believed that they (or someone close to them) would be harmed or killed.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Two-thirds (66.2%) of female stalking victims were stalked by current or former intimate partners.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Men who were stalked were primarily stalked by partners (41.4%) or acquaintances (40%).: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The most common stalking tactic experienced by both female (78.8%) and male (75.9%) victims of stalking was repeated unwanted phone calls, voice, or text messages.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S.G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Estimates suggest 10.7% of women and 2.1% of men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime.: Black, M.C., Basile, K.C., Breiding, M.J., Smith, S. G., Walters, M.L., Merrick, M.T., Chen, J., & Stevens, M.R. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Child statistics

Children witnessed violence in nearly 1 in 4 (22%) intimate partner violence cases filed in state courts.: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2009/BJS10007.htm
30% to 60% of intimate partner violence perpetrators also abuse children in the household.: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/213503.pdf
40% of child abuse victims also report experiencing domestic violence.: http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf
One study found that children exposed to violence in the home were 15 times more likely to be physically and/or sexually assaulted than the national average.: http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf
According to the US Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, domestic violence may be the single major precursor to fatalities from child abuse and neglect in the US.: http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/BehindClosedDoors.pdf

Teen and young adult statistics

9.4% of high school students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt intentionally by their partner in the previous 12 months.: cdc
Approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men who experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner first experienced some form of partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age.: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/datingmatters_flyer_2012-a.pdf
More than a quarter (28%) of male victims of completed rape were first raped when they were 10 years old or younger.: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/cdc_nisvs_overview_insert_final-a.pdf
Approximately 35% of women who were raped as minors were also raped as adults, compared to 14% of women without an early rape history.: http://www. cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/cdc_nisvs_overview_insert_final-a.pdf
The majority (79.6%) of female victims of completed rape experienced their first rape before the age of 25; 42.2% experienced their first completed rape before the age of 18.: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/cdc_nisvs_overview_insert_final-a.pdf
1 in 10 high school students has experienced physical violence from a dating partner in the past year.: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/datingmatters_flyer_2012-a.pdf
Most female (69%) and male (53%) victims of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner had their first experience with intimate partner violence before the age of 25.: http://www. cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/cdc_nisvs_overview_insert_final-a.pdf
43% of dating college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behaviors including physical, sexual, digital, verbal, or other controlling abuse.: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
Nearly 1 in 3 college women (29%) say they’ve been in an abusive dating relationship .: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
52% of college women report knowing a friend who’s experienced violent and abusive dating behaviors including physical, sexual, digital, verbal, or other controlling abuse.: https://www. loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
57% of college students who report experiencing dating violence and abuse said it occurred in college.: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
58% of college students say they don’t know what to do to help someone who is a victim of dating abuse.: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
38% of college students say they don’t know how to get help for themselves if they experience dating abuse as a victim.: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
Over half of all college students (57%) say it’s difficult to identify dating abuse.: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
36% of dating college students have given a dating partner their computer, email, or social media passwords; these students are more likely to experience digital dating abuse.: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
1 in 5 college women has been verbally abused by a dating partner.: https://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
1 in 6 college women (16%) has been sexually abused in a dating relationship.: https://www. loveisrespect.org/pdf/College_Dating_And_Abuse_Final_Study.pdf
Victims of digital abuse and harassment are twice as likely to be physically abused, twice as likely to be psychologically abused, and 5 times as likely to be sexually coerced.: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf
Almost 1 in 10 teens in relationships reports having a partner tamper with their social media account, which constitutes the most frequent form of harassment or abuse.: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf
Just 1 in 5 victims say they experienced digital abuse or harassment at school during school hours; most takes places away from school grounds.: http://www. urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf
Approximately 84% of victims are psychologically abused by their partners; half are physically abused and one third experiences sexual coercion.: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf
Only 4% of victims experience only digital abuse or harassment. Social media, texts, and emails provide abusive partners with just another tool to cause harm.: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412750-teen-dating-abuse.pdf

Mental health statistics

Survivors are 3 times as likely to meet the criteria for PTSD.: Fedovskiy, K., Higgins, S. , Paranjape, A. (2008). Intimate partner violence: How does it impactmajor depressive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder among immigrant Latinas? Journalof Immigrant and Minority Health, 10(1), 45-51.
Survivors are 2 times more likely to develop symptoms of depression and 3 times more likely to develop a major depressive order.: Beydoun, H.A., Beydoun, M.A., Kaufman, J.S., Lo, B, Zonderman, A.B. (2012). Intimate partnerviolence against adult women and its association with major depressive disorder, depressivesymptoms and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science &Medicine, 75(6), 959-975.
Survivors are 3 times more likely to engage in self-harming behaviors.: Boyle, A., Jones, P., Lloyd, S. (2006). The association between domestic violence and self-harm inemergency medicine patients. Emergency Medicine Journal, 23, 604–607.
Survivors are 3 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 4 times more likely to attempt suicide.: Ellsberg, M., Jansen, H.A., Heise, L., Watts, C.H., Garcia-Moreno C; WHO Multi-country Study onWomen’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women Study Team. (2008). Intimate partnerviolence and women’s physical and mental health in the WHO multi-country study on women’shealth and domestic violence: An observational study. Lancet, 371(9619), 1165-1172.
Survivors are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.: Bonomi, A.E., Anderson, M.L., Reid, R.J., Rivara, F.P., Carrell, D., Thompson, R.S. (2009). Medicaland psychosocial diagnoses in women with a history of intimate partner violence. Archives ofInternal Medicine, 169(18), 1692-1697.
Survivors are 6 times more likely to have a substance use disorder.: Bonomi, A.E., Anderson, M.L., Reid, R.J., Rivara, F.P., Carrell, D., Thompson, R.S. (2009). Medicaland psychosocial diagnoses in women with a history of intimate partner violence. Archives ofInternal Medicine, 169(18), 1692-1697.
More statistics.: National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health.

Workplace statistics

Current or former intimate partners accounted for nearly 33% of women killed in US workplaces between 2003 and 2008.: http://www. annalsofepidemiology.org/article/S1047-2797(12)00024-5/abstract
In 2005, nearly 1 in 4 large private industry establishments reported at least one instance of domestic violence, including threats and assaults.: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osnr0026.pdf
44% of full-time employed adults in the US reported experiencing the effect of domestic violence in their workplace; 21% identified themselves as victims of intimate partner violence.: http://www.caepv.org/getinfo/facts_stats.php?factsec=3
A 2005 survey found that 64% of respondents who identified themselves as victims of domestic violence indicated that their ability to work was affected by the violence. 57% of domestic violence victims said they were distracted; almost half (45%) feared being discovered, and 2 in 5 were afraid of an unexpected visit by their intimate partner (either by phone or in person).: http://www.caepv.org/getinfo/facts_stats.php?factsec=3
Nearly two thirds of corporate executives (63%) say that domestic violence is a major problem in society; 55% cite its harmful impact on productivity in their companies.: http://www.caepv.org/about/program_detail.php?refID=34
91% of employees say that domestic violence has a negative impact on their company’s bottom line; just 43% of corporate executives agree. 71% of corporate executives do not perceive domestic violence as a major issue at their company.: http://www.caepv.org/about/program_detail.php?refID=34
Over 70% of US workplaces don’t have a formal program or policy to address workplace violence.: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osnr0026.pdf
Domestic violence issues lead to nearly 8 million lost days of paid work each year, the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs.: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/ipv_cost/IPVBook-Final-Feb18.pdf
96% of employed domestic violence victims experience problems at work because of the abuse.: http://www.clicktoempower.org/domestic-violence-facts.aspx

Firearm statistics

Women in the US are 11 times more likely to be killed with guns than women in other high-income countries.: http://pubmed. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20571454
Female intimate partners are more likely to be killed with a firearm than all other means combined.: http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2012.pdf
The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500%. More than half of women killed by gun violence are killed by family members or intimate partners.: http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12835191

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NATIONAL STATISTICS

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On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.¹
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.²
- 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered "domestic violence." ¹
- 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.¹
- 1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. Data is unavailable on male victims.1
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime. ¹
1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.¹
On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.⁹
The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.¹⁰
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.²
Women between the ages of 18-24 are most commonly abused by an intimate partner.²
19% of domestic violence involves a weapon.²
Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior.²
Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries.²

RAPE

1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States has been raped in their lifetime. ¹
Almost half of female (46.7%) and male (44.9%) victims of rape in the United States were raped by an acquaintance. Of these, 45.4% of female rape victims and 29% of male rape victims were raped by an intimate partner.¹¹

STALKING

19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked in their lifetime.¹ 60.8% of female stalking victims and 43.5% men reported being stalked by a current or former intimate partner.¹¹

HOMICIDE

A study of intimate partner homicides found that 20% of victims were not the intimate partners themselves, but family members, friends, neighbors, persons who intervened, law enforcement responders, or bystanders.³
72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner; 94% of the victims of these murder suicides are female.⁸

CHILDREN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence. ⁵

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8.0 million days of paid work each year.⁶
The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $8.3 billion per year.⁶
Between 21-60% of victims of intimate partner violence lose their jobs due to reasons stemming from the abuse.⁶
Between 2003 and 2008, 142 women were murdered in their workplace by their abuser, 78% of women killed in the workplace during this timeframe.⁴

PHYSICAL/MENTAL IMPACT

Women abused by their intimate partners are more vulnerable to contracting HIV or other STI’s due to forced intercourse or prolonged exposure to stress.⁷
Studies suggest that there is a relationship between intimate partner violence and depression and suicidal behavior.⁷
Physical, mental, and sexual and reproductive health effects have been linked with intimate partner violence including adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancy in general, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine hemorrhage, nutritional deficiency, abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, chronic pain, disability, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Victims of domestic violence are also at higher risk for developing addictions to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.⁷

Printable Fact Sheets

Click on any of the following to find easily printable and shareable domestic violence fact sheets.

Facts and Statistics

National Statistics

State-by-State Statistics

Forms of Violence and Abuse

Domestic Violence and Economic Abuse

Domestic Violence and Guns

Domestic Violence and Physical Abuse

Domestic Violence and Emotional or Psychological Abuse

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Domestic Violence and Stalking

Domestic Violence in Specific Populations

American Indian/Alaskan Native Women and Domestic Violence

Dating Violence and Teen Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence and the Impact on Children

Domestic Violence in Black Communities

Domestic Abuse in Later Life

Gender-Based Violence in Rural Communities

Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

People with Disabilities and Domestic Violence

Additional Topics

Who is Doing What to Whom?

Why do Women Use Force or Violence in Intimate Partner Relationships?

Additional Sources for Statistics on Domestic Violence

Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence & Stalking (CDC)

Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Data on Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence, and Stalking

National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey Summary Report (2010)

Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization — National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2011

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Psychological violence and ways of coping

Zyuzkina Anastasia Andreevna, psychologist of the health care institution "City Clinical Psychiatric Dispensary"

Often domestic violence against women and children is not perceived as an act of violence.

The topic of psychological abuse is broad, this issue is relevant not only in the field of the family system, but also in the sphere of work.

For example, in the scientific literature, psychological violence is called mobbing - the employer's disrespectful attitude towards employees in the context of labor relations. Situations where periodically (at least once a week) the employee is humiliated and harassed by the team or the manager, the purpose of which is to dismiss the employee during the period of employment. Mobbing is manifested in the oppression of a long period of time and includes negative statements, unfounded criticism, social isolation of an employee, dissemination of deliberately false information about a person, and more. nine0003

Psychological consequences for the object of mobbing are so serious that social significance is perceived as traumatic and compared with murder, rape and robbery. Some people even think about suicide.

Most often, psychological abuse occurs in the family. The main victims of domestic violence are women and children. The consequences of psychological violence include sleep and appetite disorders, alcoholism, reckless committing of traumatic actions, a change in the nature of the personality. nine0003

Psychological violence is a form of influencing the emotions or psyche of a partner through threats, intimidation, insults, criticism, condemnation, etc. That is, a constant verbal negative impact on another person. More often this type of violence is subjected to wives from their husbands, much less often vice versa.

Psychological abuse can escalate into physical abuse.

Domestic violence also spreads in cohabitation as cohabitation. Most often it is a form of psychological abuse. Psychological abuse is on a par with physical abuse, since the personality is violated by suppressing self-esteem. Under such conditions, the person who is targeted by the negative impact does not assess the situation as dangerous and sometimes it is necessary to convince them that they have become precisely the victims. Beliefs are formed as if she herself is to blame, misunderstood, did not tolerate, did not prove, provoked. As a result, personal characteristics are formed: self-restraint, alienation, negativism, refusal to express one's own position. nine0003

Insults, violence, mistreatment in psychology is called abuse. The person who forces to do something, offends, forces to perform actions that are unpleasant to another person, respectively, is an abuser.

The reasons why one partner affects the psyche of another are varied, the most common: the need for self-realization and self-affirmation at the expense of the other, difficulties in the inability to express one's desires and thoughts, past experience, financial dependence on one's partner, the perception of violence as a norm in family behavior, propaganda of violence in the media / movies / video games, psychological deviations in the form of a psychological trauma. nine0003

With constant criticism, the self-esteem of the victim decreases to a certain level and self-confidence is shaky, in this state it is easier for the tyrant to impose his opinion and desired behavior. The victim in such a state of mind doubts the correctness of his actions, a feeling of insignificance and guilt is instilled. By psychologically influencing such a person, another model of life is laid, the position of a tyrant is adopted and control is exercised on his part.

There are many signs of psychological violence and a combination of signs is used to determine it, and not each factor individually:

criticism - a rough assessment of shortcomings, comments about appearance, intelligence, taste preferences, such criticism may be followed by insults.
Humiliation - insults, rough treatment.
Accusation - conviction of guilt, for example, in family failures and shifting responsibility for everything that happens.
Despotism - commanding tone in communication, orders and instructions instead of requests.
Intimidation - Threats of physical violence against the victim and their loved ones, limiting prohibitions on contact with children and threats from the tyrant to commit suicide. nine0038
Prohibition to communicate with relatives, friends, colleagues, deprivation of means of communication.
Prohibited from visiting places outside the home and obtaining permission from a partner to leave the house.
Permanent presence, partner rarely leaves alone.
Monitoring behavior and communication outside the home, checking private messages, checking call lists, checking email, installing software, hidden or open surveillance (video surveillance). nine0038

Emotional abuse also includes jealousy, which manifests itself in constant accusations of adultery.

A psychological abuser has such qualities as: disrespectful attitude towards a partner and his life principles; the imposition of help that was not asked for, generosity that puts you in an awkward position; total control; jealousy; threatening behavior; the presence of double standards “I can, but you can’t”; life credo "a man (woman) is never guilty of anything. " nine0003

There are several types of psychological violence. Gaslighting is one of the most severe forms of psychological abuse. The gaslighter denies their partner or child adequateness using the phrases “it seemed to you”, “it didn’t happen”, “you just don’t understand it”. The victim is instilled that the perception of the environment is erroneous, therefore, the victim is convinced that she is going crazy. Neglect - ignoring any needs, arguing that a person does not need it, deliberate negligence. Sometimes the abuser pushes his partner to plastic surgery, refuses to deal with everyday life and children. In this situation, it is best to isolate yourself from the abuser. nine0009 Visholding - refusal to discuss an exciting topic. Emotional blackmail - ignoring any action of the victim, emotional coldness, silence, blackmail with personal information. The purpose of such behavior is the subordination of another person, deprivation of one's own will, and only by limiting communication can one protect himself from this. Ignoring - emotional withdrawal. Isolation - prohibition of communication with everyone except the abuser himself, so the request for help is difficult to carry out. nine0009 Control - tight control over any actions of the partner. Criticism - pointing out shortcomings and miscalculations, that in front of other people it looks like ridicule. The purpose of such behavior is to form an inferiority complex, after such an impact it is difficult to recover from such a relationship, faith in oneself, partnership is lost.

It is best for the victim to get out of the situation of violence (even run away, disappear from view). Victims of psychological abuse cannot avoid mental problems. Such people are in a state of psychological trauma and experience anxiety, fear, may become depressed, and suicidal attempts are not excluded. There is also emotional dependence, neglect of one's needs, various addictions may arise, for example, alcohol or drugs. nine0003

According to studies, in those families where various types of violence (physical, psychological) are used, signs of a delay in the physical and neuropsychic development of children are noticed.

In each specific case of violence, a psychological consultation is required.

It is important to take responsibility for your life, set your own goals, learn to listen to yourself and your feelings, stop negative influences and report what is unpleasant, not tolerate when something causes negative feelings. nine0003

In difficult social, economic and psychological situations, you should contact crisis centers to receive the necessary assistance.

For psychological support, you can contact the helpline, where they will listen, support and determine the type of assistance.

Last year almost 72% of women killed in Russia died from domestic violence

August 18, 2022

Forbes Woman

Olga Mamikonyan Editorial Forbes

Photo by Getty Images

The Women's Non-Governmental Organizations Consortium found that the proportion of women who have died from domestic violence has increased significantly in the two years of the pandemic. From 2011 to 2019, among all women killed in Russia, 65.8% of the victims of domestic violence became victims of domestic violence, and in 2021 - 71.7%

"Algorithm of light", over the two years of the pandemic, the proportion of women who died from domestic violence among all those killed during this period has increased significantly. The results of the study were published on the official website of the project. nine0003

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According to the researchers, from 2011 to 2019, among women killed in Russia, 65.8% of the victims of domestic violence were victims of domestic violence: 12,209 out of 18,547 women died at the hands of a partner or relative. Analysts said that ratio has remained stable from year to year, occasionally changing by 1 percentage point. After analyzing the sentences for 2020-2021, during the pandemic, the researchers found that the proportion of women killed as a result of domestic violence has increased significantly compared to previous years. In 2020, it amounted to 70.9% women, and in 2021 - 71.7%.

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Between 2011 and 2019, just over half of all women murdered were killed by a partner, and two-thirds in 2020 and 2021. As the researchers note, these data support the hypothesis that the surge in partner violence provoked the regime of self-isolation in the first place. The highest level of domestic violence, according to analysts, over these two years was observed in sentences in St. Petersburg and the Perm Territory - 77%, Omsk, Kurgan and Moscow regions - 75%. nine0003

The researchers concluded that during the pandemic, a serious obstacle for women in situations of violence was the threat of violating the law on quarantine. Fear of prosecution, analysts say, forced women to stay in the house with the aggressor.

“The situation with support for victims of domestic violence during the pandemic in Russia was complicated by the lack of a legislative framework and well-functioning government mechanisms in this area. The work of most government services and institutions was primarily aimed at combating the pandemic.

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