According to The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. This equates to more than 10 million women and men, per year. Physical abuse is just one aspect of intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV is defined as physical and/or sexual violence, stalking and psychological aggression by a current or former intimate partner (Violence Prevention, 2017). The frequency and severity of IPV can vary dramatically. The terms domestic violence and intimate partner violence are often used interchangeably, for this proposal the term intimate partner violence will be used, as it encompasses a broader understanding of violence in various relationships, beyond husband
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IPV affects more than 12 million people each year (Get the Facts & Figures, n.d.). On an average day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotline nationwide ((NCADV | National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, n.d.). Such large numbers indicate that intimate partner violence is a public health issue. IPV can have physical, psychological, social and behavioral effects on victims that can last a lifetime. Physical consequences of IPV are a direct result of physical violence, such as bruises, wounds, broken bones or from the impact of chronic stress from IPV on their cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine and immune systems. Emotional and psychological abuse, within IPV, can lead to various psychological problems for the victim, such as anxiety, depression, emotional detachment, suicidal behaviors among females, flashbacks, etc. A victim’s social environment and behaviors may change as a result of IPV. Victims may experience restricted access to services, homelessness, and isolation from social networks. Risky health behaviors are associated with IPV, such as high risk sexual behavior, substance abuse, unhealthy diet-related behaviors and overuse of health services. Women with a history of IPV are more likely to display behaviors that present further health risk than women without a history of IPV (Violence Prevention,
IPV affects more than 12 million people each year (Get the Facts & Figures, n.d.). On an average day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotline nationwide ((NCADV | National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, n.d.). Such large numbers indicate that intimate partner violence is a public health issue. IPV can have physical, psychological, social and behavioral effects on victims that can last a lifetime. Physical consequences of IPV are a direct result of physical violence, such as bruises, wounds, broken bones or from the impact of chronic stress from IPV on their cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine and immune systems. Emotional and psychological abuse, within IPV, can lead to various psychological problems for the victim, such as anxiety, depression, emotional detachment, suicidal behaviors among females, flashbacks, etc. A victim’s social environment and behaviors may change as a result of IPV. Victims may experience restricted access to services, homelessness, and isolation from social networks. Risky health behaviors are associated with IPV, such as high risk sexual behavior, substance abuse, unhealthy diet-related behaviors and overuse of health services. Women with a history of IPV are more likely to display behaviors that present further health risk than women without a history of IPV (Violence Prevention,