Domestic Violence - Risk Factors, Indicators, and Resources

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence (IPV) or domestic abuse) is abuse or aggression occurring in a current or former intimate relationship. It is characterized by a pattern of behavior used with the intent to gain and maintain power/control over an intimate partner.

While common, domestic violence is not limited to romantic relationships. It can happen in any intimate relationship, ranging from married couples to simply friends. Domestic abuse can happen to any gender too, although it is much more prevalent towards women and those in the LGBTQ+ community. Domestic violence can also manifest in many forms; in many cases, the abuse is not physical, and thus can often go unrecognized and unreported.

Statistics

• 1/3 of women and 1/4 of men report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner.

• 1/5 of women and 1/13 of men report having experienced sexual abuse from an intimate partner.

• 14% of women and 5% of men report having experienced stalking from an intimate partner.

What are some of the risk factors of domestic violence perpetration?

Risk factors of domestic violence can be split into 4 categories: individual, relationship, community, and societal risk factors.

Individual risk factors

• Mental health issues/low self-esteem in abuser

  • Many abusers have been found to struggle with conditions like depression, anxiety, BPD, suicidal thoughts, etc.

• History of abusive, aggressive, and/or criminal behavior

  • Often starts from youth

  • Many times coupled with poor impulse control and/or drug/alcohol addiction

• Exhibits antisocial/isolated personality traits

• Desire for dominance in the relationship

  • Can be caused by a heavy belief in gender roles, hostility and anger towards women, and/or a desire for power and control over another person

Relationship risk factors

• Relationship conflict

  • Including jealousy, separation, possessiveness, a desire for dominance, etc.

• Economic and financial stress

• History of experiencing abuse from parents

• History of witnessing domestic violence between parents

Community risk factors

• Communities with high poverty rates

• Communities with high crime rates

• Areas with low community involvement/interaction

  • A lack of friends and support from the community can cause domestic violence to continue more intensely and for longer periods of time

• Communities with access to drugs/alcohol

Societal risk factors

• An environment/culture that emphasizes the following of strict gender roles (males should be dominant and aggressive, females should be feminine and weak)

• An environment/culture that encourages violence

• Income inequality

• Political instability/weak enforcement of laws

Am I being abused? Indicators of domestic violence

When most people think of abuse, they think of physical abuse. However, physical abuse is not the only type of abuse that people face.

There are 6 types of abuse:

Physical Abuse

• Hitting, shoving, kicking, choking, pulling hair, or any other physical harm upon a person, their children, their family, and/or their pets.

  • Includes instances of physical harm under the influence of drugs/alcohol.

• Denying someone medical care.

• Forcing alcohol/drugs upon someone.

Emotional Abuse

• Diminishing someone’s self-worth/self-esteem.

• Can be caused by:

  • Constant criticism.

  • Name-calling.

  • Gaslighting.

  • Damaging their other relationships.

  • Trying to convince them that they deserve the abuse.

• Is often overlooked— many people don’t recognize emotional abuse as abuse, and simply get used to the treatment, thinking that it is “normal.”

Sexual Abuse

• Forcing or attempting to force sexual contact/behavior without the consent of both parties.

  • Includes, but is not limited to rape/marital rape, attacking/harming sexual parts of the body (genital mutilation), grooming, treating someone in a sexually demeaning manner.

• As of 2018, between 14% and 25% of women had experienced sexual assault by an intimate partner during their relationship, and between 40% and 50% of women in abusive relationships experienced sexual assault.

Economic Abuse

• Controlling/retaining a person’s ability to earn and spend money.

  • Can include:

    • Preventing people from going to work or school.

    • Exerting undue influence over a person’s economic resources.

    • Manipulating someone in order to restrict a person’s access to financial resources.

Psychological Abuse

• Includes, but is not limited to

  • Using intimidation as a method of control.

  • Threatening harm to themselves, their partner, their children, etc.

  • Threatening to and/or destroying pets and property.

  • Forcing isolation from friends, family, coworkers, etc.

  • Using one’s sexuality, gender identity, or other aspect of their identity as a means of control

Technological Abuse

• Similar to cyberbullying, but oftentimes on a larger scale.

• Any behavior intended to harm, threaten, stalk/track, exploit, or monitor someone using any form of technology is considered technological abuse.

What should I do if I am being abused?

• Tell someone you trust as soon as possible. This can be a family member, a friend, a teacher, a coworker, a spiritual advisor, etc. Don’t delay in reporting the abuse unless you are in an unsafe position to do so (in which case, calling a hotline or emergency services may be appropriate). The sooner you tell someone, the sooner you can get help.

• Call or text a domestic violence hotline. Abusive partners often strive to isolate someone from their support group. While you may feel that you cannot tell anyone close to you, it is still important to tell someone so they can help you. If you are not comfortable telling people close to you, you can call or text a domestic violence hotline. They will be able to provide crisis intervention and advice for next steps, and can refer you to resources, such as nearby women’s shelters.

  • You can call +1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788 to be connected to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. You can also find their website at thehotline.org.

• Contact a healthcare provider or a counselor. Medical professionals can help treat injuries, while counselors can provide mental health support. Both can direct you to the nearest women’s shelter.

• Go to a local women’s shelter or crisis shelter. These shelters provide protection for victims of domestic abuse. They typically provide 24-hour emergency shelter, as well as legal advice and support access to support groups.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse, know that the abuse is not your fault. The actions of others are never because of something you did, no matter what they may say. Abusers often try to convince their victims that they deserve the abuse, and that it's their fault that they are experiencing the abuse, but in reality, that is false. It's important to report the abuse as soon as possible, so that you can get the help you need to live a happy life, free of abuse.

Citations

Domestic violence. (2019, May 16). https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence

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Get help. (n.d.). The Hotline. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/

Nations, U. (n.d.). What is domestic abuse? United Nations. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/what-is-domestic-abuse

Ncadv | national coalition against domestic violence. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://ncadv.org/blog/posts/quick-guide-domestic-violence-and-sexual-abuse

Recognize the signs of domestic violence against women. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/domestic-violence/art-20048397

Risk and protective factors|intimate partner violence|violence prevention|injury center|cdc. (2021, November 5). https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/riskprotectivefactors.html