intimate partner violence
physical, psychological, or sexual abuse of one person by another in a close relationship. The couple may be heterosexual or same-sex, and they may be (or have been) dating, married, or living together. Apart from violence and threats of abuse, control is a hallmark of the abusive intimate partner relationship, with the aggressor controlling the partner’s access to family and friends, taking control of shared finances, and constantly monitoring the partner’s activities. If rejected, the perpetrator may also stalk the partner. Victims of intimate partner violence are at greater risk for developing depression, substance abuse, and other disorders. See also battered women; domestic violence.