Intimate Partner Violence & Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to shed light on a pervasive issue that affects millions of people worldwide. I wanted to share information about Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an issue that falls under the domestic violence umbrella and transcends boundaries of age, gender, and socio-economic status. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is physical, sexual, and/or verbal abuse, psychological coercion and aggression, and stalking committed by a current or former dating partner, significant other, spouse, or sexual partner (Breiding, 2015). IPV can occur between any two people regardless of living situation, or relationship status.
Alarming Statistics
Intimate Partner Violence is a widespread issue that affects countless individuals. To fully understand the significance of this problem, consider the following statistics [1] :
1 in 5 women report experiencing contact sexual violence by an intimate partner (rape, coercion, unwanted sexual contact)
42% of US women report experiencing physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner (slapped, punched, pushed, choked, suffocated, kicked).
13.5% of women report being stalked by an intimate partner
49% of women report experiencing psychological aggression (coercive control, entrapment, personal belongings being destroyed, isolation)
Fatal Outcomes: IPV can have tragic consequences. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States alone. This equates to over 10 million women and men annually. Domestic violence is a leading cause of injury to women, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined (dosomething.org).
Impact on Children: Children exposed to IPV are at a higher risk of various emotional and behavioral issues. Witnessing violence in the home can have a long-lasting impact on their psychological well-being.
Underreporting: Unfortunately, IPV is often underreported due to fear, stigma, or lack of awareness about available resources and support systems. The true extent of this issue may be even more significant than the reported statistics.
Recognizing the Signs
Recognizing the signs of intimate partner violence is crucial for preventing further harm. Here are some common signs to watch for:
Physical Abuse: Visible injuries such as bruises, cuts, or broken bones are clear indicators of physical abuse. These injuries may be explained away as accidents, but patterns of injuries are often telling.
Emotional/Psychological Abuse: Emotional abuse is less visible but equally damaging. It can include verbal insults, humiliation, manipulation, and isolation from friends and family. Because it is less visible, survivors/victims often don't report it because they feel they will not be believed, or because they don't realize that it is abusive.
Control and Coercion: An abuser may attempt to control every aspect of their partner's life, from finances to personal decisions. Coercion can take the form of threats, intimidation, or withholding support. In a study of college women, some abusers tried to control the courses, majors, and careers that there partners were selecting (Gentry, 2022).
Stalking: More than 60% of women stalking victims are stalked by a current or former intimate partner (NCADV.org).
Fear and Anxiety: Victims of IPV may display signs of fear and anxiety, often appearing on edge, nervous, or withdrawn when their partner is present.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month plays a crucial role in raising awareness about IPV and encouraging victims to seek help. It provides an opportunity for communities, organizations, and individuals to unite against domestic violence. Check out my social media campaign here. Organizations including NNEDV, NCADV, The National Domestic Violence Hotline put out information and campaign to raise awareness by working to:
Educate the Public: By sharing information about the signs of abuse and available resources, we can empower individuals to recognize and respond to IPV.
Support Victims/Survivors: This month is a time to show support and solidarity with survivors of domestic violence. It's essential to let them know they are not alone and that help is available.
Advocate for Change: Advocacy and policy changes are instrumental in addressing the issue at a systemic level. Domestic Violence Awareness Month helps generate momentum for change.
Getting Help
It can be difficult to name abuse, and even more difficult to seek help. Seeking counseling, a bed in a shelter, or preparing to leave is difficult but there are a lot of places you can go for help.
You can connect with a Live Advocate through The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
Call 800.799.SAFE
Chat with a Live Advocate
Text START to 88788
Privacy Policy. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out.
844.762.8483 | Helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline866.311.9474 | For young people experiencing abuse or curious about healthy relationships
Video phone: 855.812.1001 | Helpline for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing
Sometimes people are unsure of what they are experiencing but want to discuss their feelings. Reaching out to a counselor is a good first step.
DVAM 2025
This year the DVAM campaign is With Survivors, Always [2]. I will be posting here throughout the month with more information about DV/IPV and on my Instagram
Citations
[1] Leemis R.W., Friar N., Khatiwada S., Chen M.S., Kresnow M., Smith S.G., Caslin, S., & Basile, K.C. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 Report on Intimate Partner Violence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[2] https://www.dvawareness.org/blog/DVAM2025