Surprising stats Domestic violence is a pattern of violent behaviors, including physical, sexual and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion that are used against intimate partners. Definitive numbers don't exist due to numerous complications, including the social stigma that inhibits victims from reporting the behavior. While women are less likely than men to be victims of violent crime overall, women are five to eight times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate partner. The level of injury resulting from domestic violence is severe. In 1996, approximately 1,800 murders were attributed to intimates, and nearly three out of four of these had a female victim.
Children also suffer directly.
Slightly more than half of female victims of intimate violence live in households with children under age 12. The Family Violence Prevention Fund adds that victims of domestic violence also report increased incidence of arthritis, chronic neck or back pain, headaches, stammering, vision problems, sexually transmitted infections, stomach ulcers, spastic colon and frequent indigestion, diarrhea or constipation. Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to exhibit depression, anxiety and violence towards peers. Children of domestic violence are at greater risk for abusing drugs and alcohol, becoming runaways and engaging in prostitution or sexual assaults. Unless a victim comes to this realization, it's very hard to take the next step.