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Home  |  Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S.
Intimate Partner Violence in the U.S.

Injury and Treatment

Threats and attacks | Type of threat | Type of attack | Injury | Medical care

Threats and attacks

On average since 2001, for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

  • about one-third of female and male victims reported that they were physically attacked.

  • approximately two-thirds of female and male victims stated that they were threatened with attack.
Average annual percent of threats, attempted attacks, and physical attacks in nonfatal intimate partner victimization, 2001-2005
Percent of victims of
intimate partner violence
   
Type of violence Female Male
Total 100 % 100 %
  Attempt or threat 67.2 66.3
  Physically attacked 32.8 33.7

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Type of threat

Between 2001 and 2005, for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

  • 27% of female victims and 15% of male victims reported that the offender threatened to kill them.

  • 23% of male victims were threatened with a weapon and 7% had an object thrown at them.

  • about 1 in 10 female and male victims reported that the offender tried to hit, slap, or knock them down.
 Average annual percent of threats, by type, in nonfatal intimate partner violence crime, by gender, 2001-2005
Percent of victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence, 2001-2005
 
Type of threat Female Male
Threatened to kill 26.9 % 15.1 %*
Threatened to rape 0.5 * --
Threatened with harm 59.3 55.3
Threatened with a weapon 17.6 22.9
Threw object at victim 7.5 7.4 *
Followed/surrounded victim 5.9 1.8 *
Tried to hit, slap, or knock down victim 14.1 12.6 *

*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases.
Note: Detail may not add to total because victims may have reported more than one type of threat.
--Information is not provided because the small number of cases is insufficient for reliable estimates.

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Type of attack

On average between 2001 and 2005, for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

  • about two-thirds of female and male victims reported they were hit, slapped, or knocked down.

  • male victims were more likely than female victims to be grabbed, held, or tripped.
Average annual percent of attacks, by type, in nonfatal intimate partner violent crime, 2001-2005
Percent of victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence who were attacked
   
Type of attack   Female Male
Raped   7.2 % 0.8 %*
Sexual assault   1.9 0.9
Attacked with firearm    0.5 * --
Attacked with knife   2.5 8 *
Hit by thrown object   2.1 4.5 *
Attacked with other weapon   0.8 * 1.8 *
Hit, slapped, knocked down   62.7 62.2
Grabbed, held, tripped   54.9 26
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases.
--Information is not provided because the small number of cases is insufficient for reliable estimates.
Note: Detail may not add to total because victims may have reported more than one type of attack.

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Injury

On average between 2001 and 2005, half of all females experiencing nonfatal intimate partner violence suffered an injury from their victimization.

Of female victims —

  • about 5% were seriously injured and about 44% suffered minor injuries.

  • about 3% were raped or sexually assaulted.
Average annual number and percent of injuries sustained by female victims as a result of nonfatal intimate partner violence, 2001-2005
Average annual
Intimate partner victim Number Percent
Total 510,970 100 %
Not injured 248,805 48.7 %
Injured 262,170 51.3 %
  Serious injury 25,710 5 %
  Gunshot wound 595 0.1 *
  Knife wounds 4,940 1 *
  Internal injuries 3,440 0.7 *
  Broken bones 12,155 2.4
  Knocked unconscious 3,730 0.7 *
  Other serious injuries 855 0.2 *
  Rape/sexual assault without
     additional injuries		 13,350 2.6
  Minor injuries only 222,670 43.6
Injuries unknown 435 0.1 *
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases.
Note: Total may not add to 100% due to rounding.

On average between 2001 and 2005, more than one-third of male victims of nonfatal intimate partner violence were injured; 4% were seriously injured and 36% suffered minor injuries.

Average annual number and percent of injuries sustained by male victims as a result of nonfatal intimate partner violence, 2001-2005
  Average annual
 
  Number Percent
Total intimate partner victims 104,820 100 %
Not injured 61,285 58.5 %
Injured 43,540 41.5 %
Serious injury 4,335 4.1 *
Minor injuries only 38,050 36.3
  Rape/sexual assault without other injuries 580 0.6 *
Injuries unknown 570 0.5 %*
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases.
Note: Detail may not add to totals due to rounding.

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Medical care

On average between 2001 and 2005 for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

  • less than one-fifth of victims reporting an injury sought treatment following the injury.

  • about 8% of female and 10% of male victims were treated at the scene of the injury or in their home.

  • females experiencing an injury were more likely than their male counterparts to seek treatment at a hospital.
Average annual percent of medical treatment sought as a result of nonfatal intimate partner violence, by gender, 2001-2005
Average annual
Female Male
Not injured 48.7 % 58.5 %
Injured 51.3 % 41.5 %
  Injured, not treated 32.8   27.9
  Treated for injury 18.5   13.1
At scene or home 8.3   9.8  
Doctor's office or clinic 1.3   0.6 *
Hospital 8.7   2.8 *
  Not admitted 8.4   2.8 *
  Admitted 0.3   --
Other locale 0.2   --  
Don't know --   0.5 %*
*Based on 10 or fewer sample cases.
�-- Information is not provided because the small number of cases was insufficient for reliable estimates.
Note: Detail may not add to totals due to rounding.


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