Intimate Partner Violence: What Is It & How to Prevent It

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), intimate partner violence is a significant problem, and it affects millions of Americans. It can take various forms and have serious negative consequences for victims and their families.

While such violence has the potential to be devastating for families, it is preventable. Here, learn what IPV is, risk and protective factors, and strategies for preventing and responding to IPV.

What is intimate partner violence (IPV)?

Before learning about prevention, it is important to learn what is IPV or intimate partner violence.

The CDC describes intimate partner violence as sexual abuse, physical abuse, stalking, or psychological abuse perpetrated by a person’s current or former spouse or partner. It can happen in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships.

It includes physical abuse in marriage as well as other abusive behaviors like intimate partner sexual violence. Sometimes, there is a misconception that IPV has to include physical or sexual abuse, but emotional and psychological abuse also falls under the category of IPV.

Even if a partner never acts out physically or sexually against a victim, such violence can occur in the form of emotional or psychological violence.

Related Reading: Why Sexual Abuse Stays Hidden

Difference between IPV and domestic violence?

Sometimes people differentiate between intimate partner violence vs. domestic violence.

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but sometimes people reserve the phrase domestic violence to refer to violence against any family or household member, including a parent, child, or spouse.

On the other hand, the intimate partner violence definition includes violence against a spouse or romantic partner only. 

Who experiences IPV?

According to experts, intimate partner violence statistics show that this problem can affect anyone. Most victims are women, but IPV can affect people of all cultures, races, income levels, and religions.

While women tend to be more likely to be victims of IPV, men can also be victims of such violence. In addition, IPV affects children, as 1 in 15 children witness it each year in the United States.

While IPV can happen to anyone, data suggests that it is more common among bisexual women. According to research, 61% of bisexual women have been affected by IPV, compared to 37% of bisexual men, 35% of heterosexual women, and 29% of heterosexual men.

Black women are the most likely to be affected by IPV, with 45% experiencing it, compared to 37% of White women, 34% of Hispanic women, and 18% of Asian women.

Related Reading: The Different Forms of Abuse

4 types of IPV

There are different types of abuse in relationships that fall under the definition. These include:

• Physical Violence: Examples included bruises or black eyes from being hit, kicked, punched, or slapped by an intimate partner.
• Emotional/Psychological Violence: This includes intentional insults and humiliation to a partner. It can also be the act of using threats or intimidation to instill fear in a partner.
• Financial Violence: When a partner controls all the finances and does not allow the other person in the relationship to access money, this constitutes financial violence. Financial violence can also include a partner refusing to let the other person have a job, so that person becomes financially dependent and cannot leave the relationship.
• Sexual Violence: Sexual violence can include a variety of abusive behaviors, such as sexual harassment, unwanted touching, and rape. A partner who is sexually violent may also control a person’s reproductive choices, such as by preventing them from using birth control.

Phases of IPV

Another component of understanding intimate partner abuse is recognizing that there is a cycle of intimate partner violence. This means that there are distinct phases of IPV. 

Phase I: Tension-building stage

During the tension-building stage, an abusive partner begins to experience stress from issues like family conflict, work problems, or illness. This causes feelings of frustration to build, and the person begins to feel angry and powerless.

During this stage, an IPV victim will likely recognize the partner’s distress, become anxious, and take steps to reduce the tension.

Phase II: Abuse stage

Next, the abusive partner moves into the phase of abuse or violence, in which he or she engages in an abusive act, such as a physical attack, sexual violence, threats to harm the partner or name-calling.

Phase III: Reconciliation stage

Following the incident of abuse, the abuser attempts to reconcile and may offer a gift or use loving gestures to move forward from the abuse. Sometimes, this is also called the “honeymoon stage.” 

Phase IV: Calm stage

Afterward comes the final stage, which is a calm period. The abuser may make excuses for the behavior or blame someone else while promising never to act in an abusive fashion again. Unfortunately, tension builds again, and the cycle repeats itself.

Related Reading: Am I Abusive to My Partner Quiz

Identifying IPV

Sometimes, victims of IPV may not be aware they are being abused, or they may wonder if their partner’s behavior qualifies as relationship violence.

The following signs of intimate partner violence can point to IPV violence within a relationship:

• A person uses physical aggression against their partner, which includes hitting, slapping, shoving, or pushing.
• The partner has unpredictable mood swings, going from happy to angry or aggressive with little warning.
• One person in the relationship is extremely jealous or suspicious for no apparent reason.
• The abusive partner controls and monitors the other partner’s time, such as determining where they are allowed to go and checking on their whereabouts.
• One partner controls the finances in the relationship and does not allow the other person to access money.
• The abusive partner is verbally aggressive, such as by name-calling, making threats, or swearing and screaming at the other person.
• One partner may isolate the other person from other people, such as by limiting their use of the phone or forbidding them from visiting with friends and family.
• The abusive partner blames problems and abusive behavior on the other person and refuses to listen to their partner’s feelings.
• A person forces their partner to have sex, even when the partner does not want to do so.

As previously mentioned, IPV also occurs in phases, so you may also notice a pattern of abuse, in which your partner becomes agitated, acts out violently, tries to reconcile, and then is calm before the next incident of agitation and violence.

Is IPV common?

The following Intimate partner violence statistics provide some baseline information about the prevalence of IPV domestic violence:

• During their lives, ⅓ of women and ¼ of men have been physically abused by an intimate partner.
• IPV is responsible for 15% of violent crimes.
• Almost half of both men and women in the United States report they have been psychologically abused by an intimate partner.
• During their lives, one out of seven women and one out of 18 men will be stalked by a partner.
• Around ⅕ of women and one out of 59 men in the United States will be raped during their lifetimes, with half of women and ⅓ of men who are raped reporting that the perpetrator was an intimate partner.

The data shows that various types of intimate partner violence are, unfortunately, relatively common.

Related Reading: Guide for Men to Help Women Recover from Sexual Violence

Consequences of IPV

Not only is IPV rather common, but it also has devastating consequences. For example, victims can suffer from physical problems as well as social and psychological issues because of such violence.

Some specific consequences are as follows:

• Physical health problems, like high blood pressure 
• Mental health issues like depression and anxiety
• Suffering from symptoms of trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Gastrointestinal problems from stress
• Problems like guilt, shame, and low self-esteem
• Problems maintaining a job
• Self-harm and suicidal thoughts or behaviors 

How can we stop it before it starts?

Early intervention plays an important role in violence prevention. This means that people who are at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of domestic violence should receive education about the risks and consequences of IPV.

It is also important for healthcare providers and mental health professionals to screen for domestic violence to identify those who may be in need of support.

Financial security can also be part of an intimate partner violence prevention plan. When people are unemployed or lacking in financial resources, they may become easier targets for abusive partners.

A victim who does not have the ability to support themselves financially may become dependent upon an abuser and more likely to tolerate abuse. Programs and supports that help people to achieve financial stability are therefore an important component of preventing violence.

Related Reading: The Signs and Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Causes & risk factors for IPV?

People often wonder, “Why do men abuse women?”

Remember that women can also abuse men, but the answer to this question is that there are various intimate partner violence risk factors.

These risk factors can be divided into multiple categories that make a person more likely to be a perpetrator of IPV:

• Individual Risk Factors

Low self-esteem, low intelligence level, low income, a history of juvenile delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse, depression and suicidal behavior, anger problems, poor impulse control, borderline or antisocial personality, social isolation, unemployment, belief in strict gender norms, desire to have power or control over a partner, and a history of being a victim of child abuse; all increase a person’s risk of becoming an IPV perpetrator.

• Relationship Factors

Conflict within a relationship, divorce and separation, jealousy and possessiveness within a relationship, unhealthy family interactions, one partner exerting dominance over the other, financial stress, and association with aggressive friends are all risk factors.

• Community Factors

Poverty within a community, poor social interactions and connections within the community, high prevalence of alcohol sales, and the unwillingness of neighbors to intervene in cases of violence are community-related risk factors.

• Societal Factors

Within society, factors like gender inequality, tolerance of aggressive behavior, income inequality, and weak laws can perpetuate domestic violence.

Protective factors for IPV perpetration

Just as there are intimate partner violence risk factors, there are also factors that can prevent IPV. People sometimes ask, “What is the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and marriage?” and the answer is that marriage can be protective against IPV, especially if the marriage is stable.

In fact, a recent study found that over 80% of IPV incidents reported to police involve unmarried couples. Furthermore, people who are dating but not married are more likely to cause injury to their victims and to be arrested.

That being said, marriage can be protective against such a violence. Other protective factors include:

• Relationship Factors: High-quality friendships and available social support, such as neighbors willing to provide support
• Community Factors: Sense of connectedness in the neighborhood and strong coordination among community service/resource providers

Related Reading: Powerful Ways to Support your Sexually Abused Wife

Why don’t women leave violent partners?

People often wonder why such victims do not leave their abusive partners.

There are several reasons for this. Keep in mind that the cycle of intimate partner violence involves calm periods, during which the violent partner promises to change and makes excuses for violent behavior.

• A victim may stay in the relationship because they believe the partner really will change. Victims may also love their partners and want to stay with them, so they justify the violence.
• Partners may also stay in violent relationships because the abuser may threaten self-harm or threaten to harm the victim if the victim leaves the relationship. Victims may be fearful of leaving their partners.
• An abusive partner can also make it difficult for a person to leave by isolating them from friends and family and monitoring their activities and whereabouts.
• Finances are another reason people may refrain from leaving violent partners.

If the abusive partner controls household finances or prevents the victim from working, the victim will become dependent on the abuser and will not be able to afford housing, food, and necessities on their own.

• Sometimes a person will stay in a relationship for the sake of children. If the victim and abuser have children together, the victim may feel that the children are better off with two parents.

The abuser may also threaten to take the children away from the victim if she leaves, which can cause a victim to remain in the relationship.

• Finally, victims may stay because they are ashamed to admit they have suffered from IPV. They may feel that they will be blamed if they admit they have been a victim of IPV, or they may worry that the abuser’s reputation will suffer if they end the relationship because of violence.

For example, the abusive partner may be a respected professional within the community, and the victim may feel guilty about tarnishing the abuser’s reputation or placing the abuser’s job in jeopardy.

Related Reading: Why Do People Stay in Emotionally Abusive Relationships

In the video below, Leslie Morgan Steiner talks about why women tend to stay in the relationship and why it is important to break the cycle of silence.

Strategies for Preventing and Responding to IPV

IPV can have devastating consequences, but there are ways to prevent and manage it.

Prevention is one of the best strategies against intimate partner violence. This means providing children and teens with education on healthy relationships.

Couples would also benefit from learning healthy relationship skills, especially if they are at high risk of such a violence. Some people may grow up witnessing IPV and believe that this is a normal part of a relationship, but education can provide healthier perspectives.

Prevention can begin in early childhood with programs that promote positive parenting and prevent child abuse. Quality preschool programs can also teach children strong social skills and reduce the risk of future domestic violence.

Community-level prevention can also reduce the risk of IPV. When community members are trained in the signs of IPV and how to respond if they suspect or witness IPV, we can reduce the consequences of violence in relationships.

Beyond prevention, IPV treatment is necessary to support victims and reduce their risk of future harm. Intimate partner violence treatment can include services for victims, such as housing programs, legal assistance, and support groups. Shelters and financial support services can also be helpful.

Victims who are in immediate danger because of physical or sexual assault may require intervention from police or a hospital emergency department.

Related Reading: Connecting with Your Partner If They Have Survived Sexual Abuse

Conclusion

Intimate partner violence can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status, and it can have serious consequences, such as physical health problems, depression, and job loss.

People may stay in violent relationships out of fear, love, or financial necessity, but there are ways to stop violence and the consequences that come with it. Through education and support programs, it is possible to reduce its effects.

Those who are victims can reach out to local support services, such as domestic violence shelters.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger from IPV, call 9-11. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available at 1-800-799-7233 to provide victims with support and linkage to resources.

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Jennifer Schulz LCSW

Dr. Jenni Schulz is a licensed social worker with a master's degree in social work from The Ohio State University, and she earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Psychology from National University. She has worked in the social work field for 14 years and is currently a professor at Ashland University.... Read more She writes website content about mental health, addiction, and fitness. Dr. Schulz is licensed as both a social worker through Ohio Board of Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage/Family Therapists and a school social worker through Ohio Department of Education. She currently works primarily as a crisis therapist at her local hospital and jail, while engaging in mental health consulting virtually. Read less

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