Family violence (also called domestic violence) takes many forms: it can be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, spiritual or legal abuse. All forms of family violence are illegal and unacceptable. If youre affected by family violence, help and support are available.
What are some types of abuse that can occur within a family?
The different forms of abuse can also occur in a range of relationships and contexts. Some examples of various types of family violence are intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, violence based on so-called honour and forced marriage.
Neglect is the most common form of child abuse, followed by physical abuse, sexual abuse, and psychological abuse. In 2018, about 16% of children who were abused experienced more than one kind of maltreatment. Boys and girls experience similar rates of childhood abuse (48.6% and 51% respectively).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classify the types of child abuse as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect. Abuse often involves one or more of these types. Bullying is not included in these categories, but it is a way of delivering different kinds of abuse.