4 Intimate Partner Violence – General Concepts
Intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault, and rape are crimes with long- lasting effects on victims and are a great cost to society. These crimes happen to both women and men and are often associated with substance use. A recent national survey found that 22 percent of women and 14 percent of men reported experiencing severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetimes.1 IPV is a significant public health issue that has many individual and societal costs. About 35% of female IPV survivors and more than 11% of male IPV survivors experience some form of physical injury related to IPV, and some deaths occur. About 1 in 5 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner, and over half of female homicide victims in the US are killed by a current or former male intimate partner.2
See Figure below3 for a CDC infographic related to IPV.
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 behaviors4 :
- Physical violence: When a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by hitting, kicking, or using another type of physical force
- Sexual violence: 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: 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: The use of verbal and/or nonverbal communication with the intent to harm another partner mentally or emotionally and/or to exert control over another partner
View the following CDC YouTube video on intimate partner violence5 : What is Intimate Partner Violence?
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General. (2016). Facing addiction in America: The surgeon general’s report on alcohol, drugs, and health. [Report]. https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-generals-report.pdf
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General. (2016). Facing addiction in America: The surgeon general’s report on alcohol, drugs, and health. [Report]. https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-generals-report.pdf
- “how-big-is-the-problem-ipv-large” by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in the Public Domain. Access for free at https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 9). Intimate partner violence. https://www.cdc.gov/ violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, May 15). What is intimate partner violence? [Video]. YouTube. All rights reserved. https://youtu.be/VuMCzU54334
Media Attributions
- Figure 15.8
- Video-Camera-Icon-Graphics-4551757-1