An official website of the United States government
The Basics
Intimate partner violence (IPV), including teen dating violence (TDV), is a major health concern for youth and adults, affecting millions of people each year in the United States. The impacts can be devastating and last a lifetime, but preventing IPV and TDV is possible.
Risk Factors
Research shows that a combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to an individual’s risk of experiencing IPV. For example, some risk factors include witnessing or being a victim of violence as a child, belief in strict gender roles, economic stress, and traditional social norms.
Learn More
Protective Factors
Research has identified factors that help protect individuals from experiencing TDV, including high empathy, a positive relationship with one’s mother, and connectedness to school. Research is still identifying what factors make IPV less likely to occur, but some evidence suggests that increased economic opportunity and secure housing may be protective against IPV.
Learn More
Consequences
Injury, disability, and death can result from experiencing IPV. Its consequences may cause illness, symptoms of depression and anxiety, suicidal ideation, and social difficulties that can last long after the violence ends. Victims may try to cope with trauma in unhealthy ways by smoking, drinking, or taking drugs.
Learn More- Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence
The strategies in this resource include those with a focus on preventing IPV from happening in the first place, including teen dating violence (TDV).
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence
This is a resource to help states and communities leverage the best available evidence to prevent ACEs from happening in the first place as well as lessen harms when ACEs do occur. It features six strategies drawn from the CDC Resources for Action to Prevent Violence.
- Infographic: Help Prevent Intimate Partner Violence
Share this infographic with your community to help people learn more about how to prevent intimate partner violence.
* The titles of these documents changed in July 2023 to align with other Prevention Resources being developed by CDC's Injury Center. The original titles are noted in each document's suggested citation section.
- National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey
The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey is an ongoing survey that collects the most current and comprehensive national- and state-level data on intimate partner violence, sexual violence and stalking victimization in the United States.
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System monitors six categories of health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults.