Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV), also called domestic violence, is defined by the American Medical Association as abuse (i.e., physical violence, sexual assault, or psychological abuse) to an individual perpetrated by a current or former intimate partner. While this general definition is widely accepted, there are many nuances in the inclusion criteria for severity and context of IPV. These nuances, in turn, lead to varying estimates of IPV prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes. This entry discusses these estimates, examines health-related and other outcomes of IPV, considers issues related to prevention and intervention, and discusses concerns related to the safety of study participants in IVP research.