1.11.4 Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence affects survivors in many ways, including injury and chronic health problems that come from prolonged stress.

The more severe the abuse is, the greater the impact is on a survivor’s physical and mental health.

Injury and physical health: This can include many types of injuries all over the body. In addition to injury, survivors can also experience illnesses that have no clear cause, often described as ‘stress-related conditions’. Survivors of intimate partner violence are twice as likely to report poor health and physical and mental health problems–even if the intimate partner violence occurred years prior.

Mental health and suicide: Survivors of intimate partner violence have higher rates of depression, anxiety and fear and are more likely to experience emotional distress and thoughts of suicide or to attempt suicide.

Additionally, intimate partner violence has also been linked to the following in survivors:

  1. Alcohol and drug abuse,

  2. Eating disorders,

  3. Sleep disorders,

  4. Physical inactivity,

  5. Poor self-esteem,

  6. Post-traumatic stress,

  7. Smoking and other self-harming behavior, and

  8. Unsafe sexual behavior.

Sexual and reproductive health: Survivors of intimate partner violence may experience unintended and unwanted pregnancy, pregnancy complications, an abortion (perhaps an unsafe abortion), or sexually-transmitted diseases including HIV, urinary tract infections or sexual dysfunction.

Violence during pregnancy: Intimate partner violence presents significant risks for pregnant individuals and has been associated with:

  1. Miscarriage,

  2. Late entry into prenatal care,

  3. Still birth,

  4. Premature labor and birth,

  5. Fetal injury, and

  6. Low birth-weight infants.

Homicide and other mortalities: Research from a variety of countries indicates that most female murder victims were killed by a partner, often in the context of intimate partner violence. Intimate partner violence also increases the risk of a survivor committing suicide.

Effects on children: Intimate partner violence has negative social and health consequences on children, including anxiety, depression, poor school performance and negative health outcomes. Children in households where there is intimate partner violence are also more likely to become either perpetrators or survivors later in life. Research also indicates that children in households with intimate partner violence have a greater likelihood of dying before the age of five.