Study finds widespread physical and sexual violence exposure in the U.S.
· News-MedicalAmong the report's findings:
- Physical and sexual violence are widespread. Fifty-two percent of U.S. adults reported experiencing physical violence during their lifetime, while 49% reported sexual violence during their lifetime.
- Women face particularly high levels of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. Sixty-one percent of women and 45% of men reported experiencing intimate partner violence during their lifetime. Nearly one in five women - 19% - reported potentially lethal IPV, including beating, burning, strangulation or violence involving a knife or gun, compared with 3% of men.
- Violence rises substantially during adolescence and young adulthood. The report found an increase in violence during adolescence that continued into young adulthood, when nearly one-third of adults reported experiencing sexual violence. The researchers identify these stages of life as important opportunities for prevention.
- Economic hardship is strongly associated with violence. Adults who experienced eviction in the previous year were seven times as likely to report recent physical violence, three times as likely to report sexual violence and nearly five times as likely to report intimate partner violence. Among people experiencing homelessness, physical violence was five times as prevalent, sexual violence more than three times as prevalent and intimate partner violence four times as prevalent.
- Violence is closely connected with behavioral health and substance use. People reporting recent violence were significantly more likely to report depression or anxiety, suicidality and substance use.
USVEX surveyed 2,720 adults across all 50 states between October and December 2025 using a nationally representative sample administered by NORC at the University of Chicago. The study was conducted in English and Spanish.
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