Preventing Intimate Partner Violence

What is intimate partner violence?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is abuse or aggression that occurs in a romantic relationship. Intimate partner refers to both current and former spouses and dating partners. IPV can vary in how often it happens and how severe it is. It can range from one episode of violence that could have lasting impact to chronic and severe episodes over multiple years. IPV can include any of the following types of behavior:

• Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force.
• Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a nonphysical sexual event (e.g. sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent.
• Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a partner that causes fear or concern for one's own safety or the safety of someone close to the victim.
• Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and nonverbal communication with the intent to harm another partner mentally or emotionally and/or to exert control over another partner.

IPV is connected to other forms of violence and is related to serious health issues and economic consequences. However, IPV and other forms of violence can be prevented.

How big is the problem?

IPV is common. It affects millions of people in the United States each year. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) indicate the following:

• About 41 percent of women and nearly 26 percent of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an IPV-related impact during their lifetime.
• Over 61 million women and 53 million men have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

IPV starts early and continues throughout the lifespan. When IPV occurs in adolescence, it is called teen dating violence (TDV). TDV affects millions of U.S. teenagers each year. About 16 million women and 11 million men who reported experiencing contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime said that they first experienced these forms of violence before the age of 18. While violence impacts all people in the United States, some individuals and communities experience inequities in risk for violence due to the social and structural conditions in which they live, work, and play. Youth from groups that have been marginalized, such as sexual- and gender-minority youth, are at a greater risk of experiencing sexual and physical dating violence.

What are the consequences?

IPV is a significant public health issue that has many individual and societal costs. About 75 percent of female IPV survivors and 48 percent of male IPV survivors experience some form of injury related to IPV. IPV can also result in death. Data from U.S. crime reports suggest that about 1 in 5 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. The reports also found that over half of female homicide victims in the U.S. are killed by a current or former male intimate partner.

There are also many other negative health outcomes associated with IPV. These include a range of conditions affecting the heart; muscles and bones; and digestive, reproductive, and nervous systems, many of which are chronic. Survivors can experience mental health problems, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. They are at a higher risk for engaging in behaviors such as smoking, binge drinking, and sexual risk activity. People from groups that have been marginalized, such as people from racial and ethnic minority groups, are at a higher risk for worse consequences.

Although the personal consequences of IPV are devastating, there are also many costs to society. The lifetime economic cost associated with medical services for IPV-related injuries, lost productivity from paid work, criminal justice, and other costs, was $3.6 trillion. The cost of IPV over a victim's lifetime was $103,767 for women and $23,414 for men.

How can we stop it before it starts?

IPV is preventable. A number of factors may increase or decrease the risk of perpetrating and experiencing intimate partner violence. To prevent IPV, people must understand and address the factors that put people at risk for or protect them from violence. Promoting healthy, respectful, and nonviolent relationships and communities can help reduce the occurrence of IPV. It also can prevent the harmful and long-lasting effects of IPV on individuals, families, and communities.

Different types of violence are connected and often share root causes. IPV is linked to other forms of violence through shared risk and protective factors. Addressing and preventing one form of violence may have an impact on preventing other forms of violence.

Teach safe and healthy relationship skills through

• Social-emotional learning programs for youth
• Healthy relationship programs for couples

Engage influential adults and peers with

• Men and boys as allies in prevention
• Bystander empowerment and education
• Family-based programs

Disrupt the developmental pathways toward partner violence using

• Early childhood home visitation
• Preschool enrichment with family engagement
• Parenting skill and family relationship programs
• Treatment for at-risk children, youth, and families

Create protective environments:

• Improve school climate and safety.
• Improve organizational policies and workplace climate.
• Modify the physical and social environments of neighborhoods.

Strengthen economic supports for families:

• Strengthen household financial security.
• Strengthen work-family supports.

Support survivors to increase safety and lessen harms with

• Victim-centered services
• Housing programs
• First responder and civil legal protections
• Patient-centered approaches
• Treatment and support for survivors of IPV, including teen dating violence