In their lifetime, more than half of US adults have experienced physical violence – and nearly half have experienced sexual violence, according to a startling new national study. The study, led by researchers from Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute and the University of California, San Diego, examined experiences of physical, sexual and intimate partner violence, along with how they intersect with behavioral health, economic hardship, neighborhood safety and substance use, among other factors. The study found that 52% of US adults have experienced physical violence during their lifetime, including cases involving a gun or knife.
The rate was the same among women and men: 52% each. Speaking to the Guardian, Anita Raj, executive director of the Newcomb Institute and co-author of the study report, said the survey pointed to the importance of assessing violence beyond crime reports. The study was conducted in English and Spanish, with its finding arrives months after the Trace – a non-profit newsroom dedicated to reporting on gun violence – calculated that the Trump administration had terminated, redirected or delayed more than $1bn in federal grants related to gun violence, public safety, mental health and other efforts to save lives.
In the past year, one in 20 American adults (5%) experienced physical violence – and 3% reported physical abuse that did not involve a weapon, the study found. Women most often experienced physical violence at the hands of a spouse or romantic partner, at 61%, while men most commonly experienced violence from a stranger, at 38%. Among men, 25% reported violence by a spouse or romantic partner and 24% by a family member, according to the study.
It also found both women and men most often reported experiencing physical violence at home, at 69% and 34%, respectively. Men also reported experiencing violence in public spaces at a rate of 30%. Physical violence was also associated with significant mental health consequences.
Among those who experienced physical violence in the past year, 48% of women and 26% of men said the experience resulted in anxiety or depression. Only a minority of those affected filed formal complaints, including 10% of women and 17% of men. The study also found that 49% of US adults have experienced sexual violence during their lifetime, with a significantly higher prevalence among women, at 68%, than men, at 29%.
In the past year, 7% of Americans – about one in 14 – experienced sexual violence, the survey found. The rate was 9% among women and 4% among men. The study noted that sexual harassment accounted for much of this violence.
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