What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior directed at a former or current partner, spouse, or boyfriend or girlfriend. The abuser uses fear and intimidation to gain power and control over the other person. The abuse can take many forms, including physical battering, emotional abuse, economic abuse, and sexual abuse, and may involve using children, pets, threats, intimidation, and isolation.

Domestic violence affects all types of people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, and religion. It is also called intimate partner abuse, intimate partner violence, family violence, battering, elder abuse, and teen relationship abuse.

Domestic violence is a national problem that touches many lives. It is estimated that 25% of women and 8% of men in the United States have been physically and/or sexually abused by an intimate partner at some point in their adult lives.¹ Domestic violence can have tragic conclusions. In those homicides where the killer is identified, about 33% of female murder victims and 4% of male murder victims were killed by their intimate partners.²

Abuse in dating relationships is common among teens. Relationship abuse in teens often takes the form of extreme possessiveness and jealousy. Many teens do not have the experience or maturity to recognize that they are being abused. If you think you might be in an abusive relationship, talk to your parents, another adult family member, or a school counselor or teacher. You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233).

What are the signs of domestic violence and what makes it more likely to occur?

Domestic violence can begin during dating with subtle jealousy or possessiveness. After the relationship becomes more serious, the abuser may begin making threats, name-calling, and slamming doors or breaking dishes. Abusers often use emotional or financial abuse to try to make the victim feel worthless or helpless. Typically after battering starts, it continues and is likely to become worse. For example, battering that starts with a slap may escalate over time to kicking and shoving and finally choking.³ The abuser might exert control over the victim by threatening violence against his or her children or pets.

Although domestic violence can affect men, a large majority (85%) of its victims are women.² Poverty and alcohol abuse increase the likelihood that it will occur. People who witnessed domestic violence when they were children are at a higher risk for being in a violent relationship as adults, either as the victim or abuser.⁴

What are the harmful effects of domestic violence?

Victims not only suffer serious physical injuries from domestic assaults, but they also commonly have chronic health problems from the repeated injuries and stress of living in a violent relationship. Some of these health problems include post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic neck or back pain, depression, migraine headaches, and arthritis. Additionally, women who are sexually abused by their partners have an increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unwanted pregnancy, and other problems. Women who experience domestic violence are more likely to smoke or abuse alcohol.⁵