Author: Eden Hoffer, PhD candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western University | Editors: Romina Garcia de leon, Janielle Richards (blog coordinators)| Reviewer: Harman Grewal, MPH
Published: August 8th, 2025
Globally, intimate partner violence is a widespread, significant public health problem, impacting millions of women worldwide. When intimate partner violence is discussed, the focus is usually placed on preventing the immediate violence – how to recognize intimate partner violence and potential ‘red flags’ or warning signs. While recognizing warning signs of abuse is critical, what is often excluded from the conversation is what intimate partner violence victimization does to a survivor’s health and well-being, both in the immediate aftermath of the violence and in the long-term.
What is intimate partner violence?
Intimate partner violence refers to various forms of violence or harm perpetrated by a former or current intimate partner. Intimate partner violence can take many forms, including physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological violence, coercive control, technology-facilitated violence, and financial abuse. Usually, intimate partner violence manifests as a cycle or pattern of violence which escalates in severity over time as opposed to being a one-time, isolated event.
Who experiences intimate partner violence?
Anyone can experience intimate partner violence, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, location, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation. However, research shows that women are disproportionately affected, with most violence being perpetrated against them by current or former male partners. This makes intimate partner violence highly gendered; it is considered the most pervasive form of gender-based violence.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1 in 3 women worldwide experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. While this figure is staggering, the immediate violence is often not where the harms end. Intimate partner violence has severe long-term health implications for those who experience it. These consequences can be profound, affecting both physical and mental health, and leading to challenges in daily functioning and negatively impacting overall quality of life.
However, it is also important to recognize that two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and/or aromantic + (2SLGBTQIA+) individuals also experience alarmingly high rates of Intimate Partner Violence. These experiences of violence are often compounded by systemic marginalization and discrimination. In some cases, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals face unique forms of violence in relationships that are not always acknowledged in mainstream discussions about Intimate Partner Violence. Recognizing the diverse ways Intimate Partner Violence manifests, and the range of relationships it affects, is essential to fully understanding and addressing the issue.
What happens when someone experiences intimate partner violence victimization?
The physical health consequences of intimate partner violence victimization can range in severity. Immediately following victimization, intimate partner violence survivors often exhibit physical injuries, many of which lead to emergency room visits, including:
- bruises,
- broken bones,
- broken teeth,
- and lacerations.
In cases of fatal intimate partner violence, the abuse ends in femicide. Sexual intimate partner violence victimization poses a risk of sexual health concerns, including:
- pelvic pain,
- gynecological disorders,
- unwanted pregnancy,
- sexually transmitted infections,
- urinary tract infections,
- and pelvic inflammatory disease.
The psychological impacts of intimate partner violence victimization are equally as damaging as the physical consequences. Among other serious mental health concerns, intimate partner violence victimization can lead to:
- depression,
- anxiety,
- suicidal ideation and attempts,
- substance use,
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Are the consequences of intimate partner violence only immediate injuries?
IPV victimization can result in various forms of long-term and chronic health concerns, some of which are often not recognized as being related to previous intimate partner violence. Many intimate partner violence survivors experience mental and physical health burdens of victimization long-term after separating from a violent partner.
For example, research has found that survivors continued to experience high levels of depression, chronic pain, and PTSD symptoms after separating from a violent partner. In fact, the impacts of the abuse seemed to accumulate, affecting survivors’ health even years after leaving the relationship.
What can be done to address the health consequences posed by intimate partner violence?
It is crucial to raise public awareness about intimate partner violence, promote healthy, non-violent relationships, provide survivors with survivor-centred supports, and develop proactive trauma- and violence-informed care approaches/policies to address intimate partner violence holistically.
Healthcare providers play a critical role in supporting intimate partner violence survivors. They can offer compassion, empathy, in-hospital or healthcare facility care, referrals to other services, and resources in the community. However, many intimate partner survivors choose not to disclose their experience to healthcare providers due to various barriers, such as feeling that the provider was not listening or not feeling ready to share or address the violence. Alternatively, survivors have shared that they were more likely to report the violence when they felt sure that healthcare providers would keep the abuse confidential, when the provider was a woman, when providers showed sincere concern, and when they did not rush them through their appointment(s).
What’s the bottom line?
Intimate partner violence has profound and far-reaching impacts on survivors’ health, both immediately and long-term. These health consequences can severely affect daily functioning and overall quality of life. It is crucial to raise awareness, promote healthy relationships, and equip healthcare providers with the tools to offer comprehensive, trauma- and violence-informed supports to mitigate these harmful effects.
If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, you are not alone.
There are resources available:
- If you are in immediate danger or require urgent medical care, call 911.
- A list of relevant supports for survivors in each province and territory in Canada can be found here.
- Sheltersafe.ca – Provides information and a clickable map Canada-wide to connect women and their children to the nearest shelter.
iHEAL app – A private, secure, and free app to assist Canadian women who have experienced violence from a past or current partner secure personalized means to find safety.
