Abuse

Intimate Partner Abuse

Intimate partner abuse is interpersonal violence that occurs between current and former marital partners, cohabiting partners, separated marital partners, or same-sex partners. Several terms are used to describe violence or abuse between intimate partners. These include marital abuse, spouse abuse, and domestic violence. However, the terms intimate partner abuse and intimate partner violence are more commonly used today. Intimate partner violence occurs among heterosexual and same-sex partners as well as across different racial and ethnic groups. It is estimated that IPV occurs in 10% to 20% of intimate couples in the United States. Some research suggests that the prevalence rate may be higher among some marginalized groups, including couples that cohabitate without marriage, rural populations, disabled individuals, and recent immigrants.

Violence against intimate partners includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats of violence, stalking, and psychological abuse. Each act can be placed on a continuum ranging from mild verbal abuse to severe physical violence and even partner homicide. Men and women are equally likely to be initiators of IPV; however, women are more often survivors of severe violence resulting in injury and death.

In addition to physical injury, negative consequences of IPV include psychological stress and financial costs in lost wages and medical fees for treatment. Survivors of IPV often experience strong psychological stress such as helplessness, fear, anger, and anxiety. Some survivors may develop nightmares, intrusive thoughts, intense anxiety, and fears associated with violence. These are common symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Survivors of repeated violence may develop learned helplessness, a psychological condition in which survivors no longer attempt to escape from a painful situation because of previous failed [Page 444]attempts. These strong emotional Stressors may further impair survivors' cognitive and coping skills and even diminish survivors' abilities to leave abusers.

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