Intimate Partner Violence And Sexual Abuse - 2150 Words

â€Å"Intimate partner violence† (IPV) not only includes spousal abuse (as does â€Å"domestic violence†), but also extends to unmarried, cohabiting, and same-sex couples. Moreover, IPV, is also not restricted to physical abuse; threats of physical abuse, or sexual abuse, and emotional abuse are all considered different forms of intimate partner violence. Intimate partner violence is a major public health concern in the United States that often results in terrible consequences for victims, families, and communities at large. According to the CDC, â€Å"[i]n an average minute, about 24 people are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner†. Furthermore, The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that intimate partners†¦show more content†¦Research shows that those who are â€Å"separated†, where conflict may typically be higher, report higher rates of abuse any other marital status. Moreover, those cohabitating are more likely to be victims of IPV than those who are married (Stets and Straus 1990). Other demographic factors such as socioeconomic status seem to play an important role as well. Studies show that women who live in disadvantaged areas are twice as likely to experience violence from a partner as women who live in more well-to-do areas (Benson and Fox 2004). It is estimated that more than half of IPV goes unreported. In one study, most victims revealed that they were abused at least two years before turning to authorities for help (Carlson, Harris, and Holden 1999). Other studies determined that about 29 percent of victims denied abuse all together when confronted by police (Felson, Ackerman, and Gallagher 2005). Such findings makes accurate statistics on IPV considerably difficult to establish. What I found particularly fascinating is that some studies point to the significance of early childhood exposure to familial violence as an important predicting factor toward future partner violence. Some research suggests that â€Å"...children who are exposed to aggression in their families of origin are more likely to use aggression in their relationships as adults than children who are never exposed to familial aggression†(Chui, Ming 2010). This seems to make sense in light of the