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Summary
Domestic violence is a type of abuse. It usually involves a spouse or partner, but it can also be a child, older relative, or other family member.
Domestic violence may include
- Physical violence that can lead to injuries such as bruises or broken bones
- Sexual violence
- Threats of physical or sexual violence
- Emotional abuse that may lead to depression, anxiety, or social isolation
- Economic abuse, which involves controlling access to money
- Stalking, which causes fear for your own safety
The first step in getting help is to tell someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or co-worker. You can also contact your doctor or another health care professional, an emergency shelter, or a domestic violence helpline.
The first step in getting help is to tell someone you trust.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related Issues
- Abuse, Maltreatment and PTSD and Their Relationship to Migraine (American Migraine Foundation)
-
Building Social Bonds: Connections That Promote Well-Being
(National Institutes of Health)
Also in Spanish
- Common Reactions After Trauma (National Center for PTSD) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Domestic Violence against Men: Know the Signs (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Domestic Violence against Women: Recognize Patterns, Seek Help (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Intimate Partner Violence (American College of Nurse-Midwives) - PDF
- Know Your Rights: Domestic Violence (American Bar Association) - PDF
- Leaving an Abusive Relationship (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
- Violence and Abuse in Rural America (Rural Health Information Hub)
Statistics and Research
- Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence and HIV in Women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Intimate Partner Violence in the United States - 2010 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2010 (Department of Justice) - PDF
- National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Violence against Women (World Health Organization) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Domestic Violence
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Prevalence and health outcomes of domestic violence amongst clinical populations in...
- Article: Women's attitude and reasons toward justifying domestic violence in Ethiopia: a...
- Article: Readiness of newly licensed associated degree registered nurses to screen for...
- Domestic Violence -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
-
Civil Domestic Violence Resources
(National Institutes of Health)
- Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
- Violence against Women: Resources by State (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
Children
- Helping Children Exposed to Domestic Violence (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
- When Your Parents Fight (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Abuse (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Dating Violence (National Center for Victims of Crime)
- Expect Respect: Healthy Relationships (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
- Is Your Teen in an Abusive Relationship? (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Sexual Harassment and Sexual Bulllying (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation)
- Stalking (National Center for Victims of Crime)
- Teen Dating Violence (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Patient Handouts
- Domestic violence (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish