How widespread is domestic violence in the United States?

Actually, the most recent study, with the most conservative methodology available, indicates that over 1 million women a year are victims of some form of domestic violence. Other studies indicate that 4 million women suffer a serious assault during an average year. Nearly 1 in 3 women experience a serious physical assault by an intimate partner during their adulthood. On the whole, 28 percent of all violence directed against women annually was committed by an intimate partner.


Remember that domestic violence can come in several forms: physical violence, forced or coerced sexual acts, unwanted fondling or intercourse, insults, threats of either physical or mental violence or psychological blackmail, attacks on self-esteem, or controlling behavior. In most cases, several of these forms occur.