Intimate partner domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior used by people to control their intimate partners. It encompasses abusive tactics including, but not limited to, physical and sexual violence; threats of violence; economic, emotional and psychological abuse; and/or the use of privilege.

Here at Purple Service Announcement we define intimate partner domestic violence relationships as partners who are married, formerly married, living together (not as roommates), formerly living together, engaged, formerly engaged, dating, formerly dating, or having a child in common. This includes LBGTQ intimate partner relationships also.

It affects millions of people in the United States each year. Data from CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) indicate:

About 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Injury, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, concern for safety, fear, needing help from law enforcement, and missing at least one day of work are common impacts reported.

Over 61 million women and 53 million men have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.