GITNUXREPORT 2026

Toxic Relationships Statistics

Toxic relationships are a widespread and devastating crisis affecting countless people.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

1 in 3 teenagers report experiencing digital dating abuse, including hacking and tracking

Statistic 2

Indigenous women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the national average, often by intimate partners

Statistic 3

Men are less likely than women (by 40%) to report being victims of a toxic relationship

Statistic 4

Rural women have an intimate partner violence rate that is 25% higher than urban women

Statistic 5

1 in 3 women in the military report experiencing domestic abuse

Statistic 6

Toxic relationship patterns are 2 times more likely to occur in couples where one partner has untreated addiction

Statistic 7

High-school students who experience dating violence are 3 times more likely to experience it in college

Statistic 8

Only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about it

Statistic 9

LGBTQ+ individuals report rates of domestic abuse equal to or higher than heterosexual peers

Statistic 10

40% of victims of domestic abuse are also disabled

Statistic 11

Toxic relationship behaviors are 15% more prevalent in long-distance relationships due to digital monitoring

Statistic 12

20% of toxic relationships begin with "fast-tracking" or intense commitment within the first month

Statistic 13

1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year

Statistic 14

50% of people who have been in one toxic relationship will enter another without intervention

Statistic 15

Black women are 2.5 times more likely to be murdered by an intimate partner than white women

Statistic 16

1 in 6 men will experience some form of sexual or emotional abuse by age 18, impacting adult relationships

Statistic 17

Digital stalking is the fastest-growing form of relationship toxicity among Gen Z

Statistic 18

Relationships involving a large age gap (10+ years) have a 12% higher incidence of power imbalances

Statistic 19

Use of the term "gaslighting" in online searches increased by 1,740% in the last decade

Statistic 20

45% of cases of domestic violence involve the presence of alcohol by the abuser

Statistic 21

Pregnancy is the leading period for the onset of physical toxicity in 25% of cases

Statistic 22

7% of elder adults report being in a toxic or abusive relationship with a caregiver or spouse

Statistic 23

1 in 5 couples utilize couples counseling to address toxicity, but 40% fail if abuse is present

Statistic 24

Workplace productivity drops by 20% for employees currently in a toxic relationship

Statistic 25

Rates of reported toxic behaviors spiked by 30% during global lockdowns

Statistic 26

60% of people believe that emotional abuse is "just part of a normal relationship," indicating a lack of education

Statistic 27

Wealthy individuals are 50% less likely to report abuse to police due to social stigma

Statistic 28

Intimate partner violence is the most under-reported crime globally, with only 40% of victims coming forward

Statistic 29

The average age for a first experience with a toxic partner is 15

Statistic 30

Economic abuse occurs in 94% to 99% of domestic violence cases

Statistic 31

60% of domestic violence victims lose their jobs due to reasons related to the abuse

Statistic 32

Victims of financial abuse lose an average of $10,000 per year in lost wages and legal fees

Statistic 33

50% of victims are prohibited by their partners from working or attending school

Statistic 34

Abusers stole an average of $1,280 from their partners' personal accounts in a 2018 study

Statistic 35

1 in 5 victims report that their credit score was intentionally ruined by an abusive partner

Statistic 36

37% of victims stayed in a toxic relationship because they could not afford to leave

Statistic 37

Sabotaging a partner's transportation is a tactic used in 30% of financial abuse cases

Statistic 38

75% of victims admitted they were unaware of their household's financial status

Statistic 39

40% of victims reported that their partner hid assets during a separation

Statistic 40

Women in low-income brackets are 3 times more likely to experience financial coercion

Statistic 41

Coerced debt (taking out loans in a partner's name) affects 1 in 10 abuse survivors

Statistic 42

Only 34% of people can identify the signs of financial abuse correctly

Statistic 43

Financial abuse is the number one reason why domestic violence survivors return to their abusers

Statistic 44

25% of victims reported their partner spent "rent money" on personal addictions

Statistic 45

15% of abusers demand to see receipts for every cent spent by their partner

Statistic 46

1 in 8 women have experienced "reproductive coercion" (refusing birth control) which has financial implications

Statistic 47

10% of victims report being forced to file fraudulent tax returns by their partner

Statistic 48

$8.3 billion is the estimated annual cost of domestic violence in the U.S. due to medical expenses and lost productivity

Statistic 49

22% of victims were prevented from participating in job training programs

Statistic 50

Identity theft by an intimate partner involves an average of 3 different accounts per victim

Statistic 51

70% of financial abuse survivors have had their utilities shut off due to partner negligence

Statistic 52

1 in 4 women experience "economic sabotage" during the first year of marriage

Statistic 53

55% of victims do not have access to a bank account in their own name

Statistic 54

12% of abusers use child support payments as a tool of financial manipulation

Statistic 55

Financial abuse is present in 90% of cases where the victim is over 60 years old

Statistic 56

The average debt incurred by a victim due to an abuser's actions is $15,000

Statistic 57

65% of survivors report that financial stability is their biggest barrier to safety

Statistic 58

8% of men report being financially controlled by a female partner

Statistic 59

Housing instability is a direct result for 50% of people leaving toxic, financially abusive homes

Statistic 60

Domestic violence victims are 3 times more likely to develop major depression than non-victims

Statistic 61

60% of people in toxic relationships suffer from chronic headaches or migraines due to stress

Statistic 62

70% of survivors of toxic relationships report having "brain fog" or memory issues

Statistic 63

Victims of intimate partner violence are 70% more likely to drink heavily

Statistic 64

On average, a victim leaves a toxic relationship 7 times before staying away for good

Statistic 65

40% of abuse survivors struggle with long-term sleep disorders

Statistic 66

The risk of stroke is 80% higher for women who have experienced long-term relationship stress

Statistic 67

1 in 3 women who seek emergency room care do so for injuries or illnesses related to domestic abuse

Statistic 68

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) reduces PTSD symptoms in 60% of relationship survivors

Statistic 69

survivors of toxic relationships spend an average of 2-5 years in therapy to process the trauma

Statistic 70

50% of survivors report improved physical health within 6 months of leaving the toxic partner

Statistic 71

Suicide attempts are 5 times more common among women in abusive relationships

Statistic 72

Toxic stress in relationships can shorten telomeres, potentially reducing lifespan by 5-10 years

Statistic 73

1 in 4 survivors use yoga or mindfulness as a primary recovery tool

Statistic 74

Survivors have a 50% higher rate of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Statistic 75

Social support networks reduce the risk of returning to an abuser by 40%

Statistic 76

20% of women in toxic relationships develop fibromyalgia or other chronic pain conditions

Statistic 77

Only 1 in 10 victims ever receive professional mental health counseling

Statistic 78

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is effective for 77% of domestic abuse PTSD cases

Statistic 79

45% of survivors report a complete change in their "worldview" regarding trust after recovery

Statistic 80

Cortisol levels in victims remains 30% higher than average even a year after the relationship ends

Statistic 81

30% of survivors find strength in peer support groups within the first 3 months of leaving

Statistic 82

Exercise is cited by 55% of survivors as an essential component of their mental recovery

Statistic 83

15% of survivors pursue a career in advocacy or counseling after their own recovery

Statistic 84

It takes an average of 18 months for a survivor's nervous system to return to a baseline state

Statistic 85

65% of survivors report that getting a pet helped their emotional recovery

Statistic 86

10% of survivors experience "post-traumatic growth," where they feel stronger than before the abuse

Statistic 87

Journaling is used by 40% of victims as a way to "reality check" their experiences

Statistic 88

80% of survivors feel a sense of "identity loss" while in the relationship

Statistic 89

Relapse into another toxic relationship occurs for 33% of people who do not seek therapy

Statistic 90

Nearly 1 in 4 women in the United States have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime

Statistic 91

Approximately 1 in 10 men have experienced intentional physical violence by an intimate partner

Statistic 92

Every minute an average of 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S.

Statistic 93

43% of dating college women report experiencing some form of violent or abusive dating behavior

Statistic 94

Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime in the United States

Statistic 95

1 in 5 women have been raped by an intimate partner at some point in their lives

Statistic 96

1 in 71 men have been raped by an intimate partner during their lifetime

Statistic 97

19.3 million women have been stalked in their lifetime, often by a current or former partner

Statistic 98

Female intimate partner violence victims are 5 times more likely to be killed if the abuser has access to a firearm

Statistic 99

72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner

Statistic 100

94% of murder-suicide victims in domestic situations are female

Statistic 101

1 in 3 women in the UK have experienced some form of domestic abuse

Statistic 102

Sexual violence by an intimate partner affects about 16% of women globally

Statistic 103

Physical violence against women is most prevalent in the 18-24 age group

Statistic 104

Over 50% of female homicide victims are killed by a former or current male intimate partner

Statistic 105

1 in 4 teenage girls report being a victim of physical dating violence

Statistic 106

Roughly 62% of teens who are in a relationship where violence occurs do not tell anyone

Statistic 107

40% of victims of domestic physical violence do not seek medical attention for their injuries

Statistic 108

Physical abuse is often preceded by emotional warning signs in 80% of cases

Statistic 109

1 in 10 adolescent students report being hit or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year

Statistic 110

Partners who use physical violence are 3 times more likely to use weapons compared to verbal abusers

Statistic 111

Strangulation is a significant predictor of future domestic homicide, increasing risk by 750%

Statistic 112

25% of LGBTQ+ individuals experience physical violence from a partner compared to 24% of heterosexuals

Statistic 113

Physical violence in a relationship often escalates during pregnancy for 20% of victims

Statistic 114

30% of women worldwide have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner

Statistic 115

Physical assault by an intimate partner occurs for every 1 in 14 men

Statistic 116

15% of physical partner violence involves the use of a sharp object or knife

Statistic 117

Domestic violence hotlines receive approximately 20,000 calls per day

Statistic 118

60% of intimate partner violence occurs within the home

Statistic 119

Roughly 1 in 2 women who are murdered are killed by intimate partners

Statistic 120

48% of women and 48% of men have experienced at least one psychologically aggressive behavior by an intimate partner

Statistic 121

95% of domestic abuse cases involve some form of emotional or psychological manipulation

Statistic 122

74% of victims report being "gaslighted" by their partner during the relationship

Statistic 123

Emotional abuse is a greater predictor of low self-esteem than physical abuse in 60% of subjects

Statistic 124

1 in 2 women experience some form of verbal aggression from a partner annually

Statistic 125

Excessive jealousy is cited by 70% of victims as a primary tactic of control

Statistic 126

Name-calling and belittling occurs in 85% of relationships identified as toxic

Statistic 127

Isolation from friends and family is reported by 64% of victims of emotional abuse

Statistic 128

Silent treatment (stonewalling) is used as a control mechanism in 50% of toxic relationships

Statistic 129

35% of men report undergoing psychological aggression including public humiliation

Statistic 130

Constant monitoring of locations is experienced by 25% of young adults in toxic pairings

Statistic 131

80% of victims of emotional abuse develop symptoms of chronic anxiety

Statistic 132

Guilt-tripping is used as a primary manipulation tactic in 40% of co-dependent relationships

Statistic 133

90% of survivors of domestic violence report that psychological abuse started before physical abuse

Statistic 134

Emotional abuse increases the risk of developing PTSD by 50%

Statistic 135

Threats to harm pets are used as a control tactic in 70% of abusive households

Statistic 136

1 in 3 teenagers report being texted up to 30 times an hour by a partner asking where they are

Statistic 137

Sleep deprivation is used as a psychological torture tactic in 15% of high-conflict relationships

Statistic 138

Public shaming on social media is a rising form of emotional abuse affecting 12% of digital-native couples

Statistic 139

58% of stalking victims are emotionally abused before the stalking begins

Statistic 140

Victims of narcissists report an average of 4 years of "love-bombing" followed by devaluation

Statistic 141

Hyper-criticism is present in 78% of toxic relationship dynamics

Statistic 142

Ghosting and reappearing (hoovering) is reported by 30% of individuals in toxic dating cycles

Statistic 143

45% of children in households with domestic abuse also witness psychological abuse of a parent

Statistic 144

Threatening suicide to prevent a partner from leaving is reported in 20% of toxic cases

Statistic 145

Gaslighting causes 65% of victims to doubt their own sanity or memory

Statistic 146

38% of women in one study cited emotional neglect as a reason for relationship toxicity

Statistic 147

Emotional abuse is linked to a 40% increase in the risk of obesity due to stress

Statistic 148

70% of people who experience emotional abuse in childhood enter toxic relationships as adults

Statistic 149

Financial threats are considered a form of psychological abuse by 99% of advocacy groups

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Every minute in the U.S., an average of 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner, a shocking statistic that reveals the silent epidemic of toxic relationships hiding in plain sight.

Key Takeaways

  • Nearly 1 in 4 women in the United States have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime
  • Approximately 1 in 10 men have experienced intentional physical violence by an intimate partner
  • Every minute an average of 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S.
  • 48% of women and 48% of men have experienced at least one psychologically aggressive behavior by an intimate partner
  • 95% of domestic abuse cases involve some form of emotional or psychological manipulation
  • 74% of victims report being "gaslighted" by their partner during the relationship
  • Economic abuse occurs in 94% to 99% of domestic violence cases
  • 60% of domestic violence victims lose their jobs due to reasons related to the abuse
  • Victims of financial abuse lose an average of $10,000 per year in lost wages and legal fees
  • Domestic violence victims are 3 times more likely to develop major depression than non-victims
  • 60% of people in toxic relationships suffer from chronic headaches or migraines due to stress
  • 70% of survivors of toxic relationships report having "brain fog" or memory issues
  • 1 in 3 teenagers report experiencing digital dating abuse, including hacking and tracking
  • Indigenous women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the national average, often by intimate partners
  • Men are less likely than women (by 40%) to report being victims of a toxic relationship

Toxic relationships are a widespread and devastating crisis affecting countless people.

Demographics and Trends

  • 1 in 3 teenagers report experiencing digital dating abuse, including hacking and tracking
  • Indigenous women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than the national average, often by intimate partners
  • Men are less likely than women (by 40%) to report being victims of a toxic relationship
  • Rural women have an intimate partner violence rate that is 25% higher than urban women
  • 1 in 3 women in the military report experiencing domestic abuse
  • Toxic relationship patterns are 2 times more likely to occur in couples where one partner has untreated addiction
  • High-school students who experience dating violence are 3 times more likely to experience it in college
  • Only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about it
  • LGBTQ+ individuals report rates of domestic abuse equal to or higher than heterosexual peers
  • 40% of victims of domestic abuse are also disabled
  • Toxic relationship behaviors are 15% more prevalent in long-distance relationships due to digital monitoring
  • 20% of toxic relationships begin with "fast-tracking" or intense commitment within the first month
  • 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year
  • 50% of people who have been in one toxic relationship will enter another without intervention
  • Black women are 2.5 times more likely to be murdered by an intimate partner than white women
  • 1 in 6 men will experience some form of sexual or emotional abuse by age 18, impacting adult relationships
  • Digital stalking is the fastest-growing form of relationship toxicity among Gen Z
  • Relationships involving a large age gap (10+ years) have a 12% higher incidence of power imbalances
  • Use of the term "gaslighting" in online searches increased by 1,740% in the last decade
  • 45% of cases of domestic violence involve the presence of alcohol by the abuser
  • Pregnancy is the leading period for the onset of physical toxicity in 25% of cases
  • 7% of elder adults report being in a toxic or abusive relationship with a caregiver or spouse
  • 1 in 5 couples utilize couples counseling to address toxicity, but 40% fail if abuse is present
  • Workplace productivity drops by 20% for employees currently in a toxic relationship
  • Rates of reported toxic behaviors spiked by 30% during global lockdowns
  • 60% of people believe that emotional abuse is "just part of a normal relationship," indicating a lack of education
  • Wealthy individuals are 50% less likely to report abuse to police due to social stigma
  • Intimate partner violence is the most under-reported crime globally, with only 40% of victims coming forward
  • The average age for a first experience with a toxic partner is 15

Demographics and Trends Interpretation

The data paints a grim mosaic of vulnerability, revealing that abuse weaves through every demographic but targets with cruel precision, magnified by silence, stigma, and the very tools meant to connect us.

Financial and Resource Control

  • Economic abuse occurs in 94% to 99% of domestic violence cases
  • 60% of domestic violence victims lose their jobs due to reasons related to the abuse
  • Victims of financial abuse lose an average of $10,000 per year in lost wages and legal fees
  • 50% of victims are prohibited by their partners from working or attending school
  • Abusers stole an average of $1,280 from their partners' personal accounts in a 2018 study
  • 1 in 5 victims report that their credit score was intentionally ruined by an abusive partner
  • 37% of victims stayed in a toxic relationship because they could not afford to leave
  • Sabotaging a partner's transportation is a tactic used in 30% of financial abuse cases
  • 75% of victims admitted they were unaware of their household's financial status
  • 40% of victims reported that their partner hid assets during a separation
  • Women in low-income brackets are 3 times more likely to experience financial coercion
  • Coerced debt (taking out loans in a partner's name) affects 1 in 10 abuse survivors
  • Only 34% of people can identify the signs of financial abuse correctly
  • Financial abuse is the number one reason why domestic violence survivors return to their abusers
  • 25% of victims reported their partner spent "rent money" on personal addictions
  • 15% of abusers demand to see receipts for every cent spent by their partner
  • 1 in 8 women have experienced "reproductive coercion" (refusing birth control) which has financial implications
  • 10% of victims report being forced to file fraudulent tax returns by their partner
  • $8.3 billion is the estimated annual cost of domestic violence in the U.S. due to medical expenses and lost productivity
  • 22% of victims were prevented from participating in job training programs
  • Identity theft by an intimate partner involves an average of 3 different accounts per victim
  • 70% of financial abuse survivors have had their utilities shut off due to partner negligence
  • 1 in 4 women experience "economic sabotage" during the first year of marriage
  • 55% of victims do not have access to a bank account in their own name
  • 12% of abusers use child support payments as a tool of financial manipulation
  • Financial abuse is present in 90% of cases where the victim is over 60 years old
  • The average debt incurred by a victim due to an abuser's actions is $15,000
  • 65% of survivors report that financial stability is their biggest barrier to safety
  • 8% of men report being financially controlled by a female partner
  • Housing instability is a direct result for 50% of people leaving toxic, financially abusive homes

Financial and Resource Control Interpretation

These statistics reveal that financial abuse is not a side effect of toxic relationships but the central instrument of control, systematically dismantling a victim’s independence, security, and future, trapping them in a cage built from their own stolen resources.

Health and Recovery

  • Domestic violence victims are 3 times more likely to develop major depression than non-victims
  • 60% of people in toxic relationships suffer from chronic headaches or migraines due to stress
  • 70% of survivors of toxic relationships report having "brain fog" or memory issues
  • Victims of intimate partner violence are 70% more likely to drink heavily
  • On average, a victim leaves a toxic relationship 7 times before staying away for good
  • 40% of abuse survivors struggle with long-term sleep disorders
  • The risk of stroke is 80% higher for women who have experienced long-term relationship stress
  • 1 in 3 women who seek emergency room care do so for injuries or illnesses related to domestic abuse
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) reduces PTSD symptoms in 60% of relationship survivors
  • survivors of toxic relationships spend an average of 2-5 years in therapy to process the trauma
  • 50% of survivors report improved physical health within 6 months of leaving the toxic partner
  • Suicide attempts are 5 times more common among women in abusive relationships
  • Toxic stress in relationships can shorten telomeres, potentially reducing lifespan by 5-10 years
  • 1 in 4 survivors use yoga or mindfulness as a primary recovery tool
  • Survivors have a 50% higher rate of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Social support networks reduce the risk of returning to an abuser by 40%
  • 20% of women in toxic relationships develop fibromyalgia or other chronic pain conditions
  • Only 1 in 10 victims ever receive professional mental health counseling
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is effective for 77% of domestic abuse PTSD cases
  • 45% of survivors report a complete change in their "worldview" regarding trust after recovery
  • Cortisol levels in victims remains 30% higher than average even a year after the relationship ends
  • 30% of survivors find strength in peer support groups within the first 3 months of leaving
  • Exercise is cited by 55% of survivors as an essential component of their mental recovery
  • 15% of survivors pursue a career in advocacy or counseling after their own recovery
  • It takes an average of 18 months for a survivor's nervous system to return to a baseline state
  • 65% of survivors report that getting a pet helped their emotional recovery
  • 10% of survivors experience "post-traumatic growth," where they feel stronger than before the abuse
  • Journaling is used by 40% of victims as a way to "reality check" their experiences
  • 80% of survivors feel a sense of "identity loss" while in the relationship
  • Relapse into another toxic relationship occurs for 33% of people who do not seek therapy

Health and Recovery Interpretation

These statistics paint a stark portrait of survival, showing how a toxic relationship doesn't just break your heart but systematically dismantles your mind, body, and spirit, yet the same data proves that with time and support, the human capacity for healing is just as formidable.

Physical and Sexual Violence

  • Nearly 1 in 4 women in the United States have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime
  • Approximately 1 in 10 men have experienced intentional physical violence by an intimate partner
  • Every minute an average of 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S.
  • 43% of dating college women report experiencing some form of violent or abusive dating behavior
  • Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime in the United States
  • 1 in 5 women have been raped by an intimate partner at some point in their lives
  • 1 in 71 men have been raped by an intimate partner during their lifetime
  • 19.3 million women have been stalked in their lifetime, often by a current or former partner
  • Female intimate partner violence victims are 5 times more likely to be killed if the abuser has access to a firearm
  • 72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner
  • 94% of murder-suicide victims in domestic situations are female
  • 1 in 3 women in the UK have experienced some form of domestic abuse
  • Sexual violence by an intimate partner affects about 16% of women globally
  • Physical violence against women is most prevalent in the 18-24 age group
  • Over 50% of female homicide victims are killed by a former or current male intimate partner
  • 1 in 4 teenage girls report being a victim of physical dating violence
  • Roughly 62% of teens who are in a relationship where violence occurs do not tell anyone
  • 40% of victims of domestic physical violence do not seek medical attention for their injuries
  • Physical abuse is often preceded by emotional warning signs in 80% of cases
  • 1 in 10 adolescent students report being hit or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year
  • Partners who use physical violence are 3 times more likely to use weapons compared to verbal abusers
  • Strangulation is a significant predictor of future domestic homicide, increasing risk by 750%
  • 25% of LGBTQ+ individuals experience physical violence from a partner compared to 24% of heterosexuals
  • Physical violence in a relationship often escalates during pregnancy for 20% of victims
  • 30% of women worldwide have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner
  • Physical assault by an intimate partner occurs for every 1 in 14 men
  • 15% of physical partner violence involves the use of a sharp object or knife
  • Domestic violence hotlines receive approximately 20,000 calls per day
  • 60% of intimate partner violence occurs within the home
  • Roughly 1 in 2 women who are murdered are killed by intimate partners

Physical and Sexual Violence Interpretation

Behind every one of these staggering statistics is a person whose story of violation has been tragically reduced to a data point in our collective failure to protect them.

Psychological and Emotional Abuse

  • 48% of women and 48% of men have experienced at least one psychologically aggressive behavior by an intimate partner
  • 95% of domestic abuse cases involve some form of emotional or psychological manipulation
  • 74% of victims report being "gaslighted" by their partner during the relationship
  • Emotional abuse is a greater predictor of low self-esteem than physical abuse in 60% of subjects
  • 1 in 2 women experience some form of verbal aggression from a partner annually
  • Excessive jealousy is cited by 70% of victims as a primary tactic of control
  • Name-calling and belittling occurs in 85% of relationships identified as toxic
  • Isolation from friends and family is reported by 64% of victims of emotional abuse
  • Silent treatment (stonewalling) is used as a control mechanism in 50% of toxic relationships
  • 35% of men report undergoing psychological aggression including public humiliation
  • Constant monitoring of locations is experienced by 25% of young adults in toxic pairings
  • 80% of victims of emotional abuse develop symptoms of chronic anxiety
  • Guilt-tripping is used as a primary manipulation tactic in 40% of co-dependent relationships
  • 90% of survivors of domestic violence report that psychological abuse started before physical abuse
  • Emotional abuse increases the risk of developing PTSD by 50%
  • Threats to harm pets are used as a control tactic in 70% of abusive households
  • 1 in 3 teenagers report being texted up to 30 times an hour by a partner asking where they are
  • Sleep deprivation is used as a psychological torture tactic in 15% of high-conflict relationships
  • Public shaming on social media is a rising form of emotional abuse affecting 12% of digital-native couples
  • 58% of stalking victims are emotionally abused before the stalking begins
  • Victims of narcissists report an average of 4 years of "love-bombing" followed by devaluation
  • Hyper-criticism is present in 78% of toxic relationship dynamics
  • Ghosting and reappearing (hoovering) is reported by 30% of individuals in toxic dating cycles
  • 45% of children in households with domestic abuse also witness psychological abuse of a parent
  • Threatening suicide to prevent a partner from leaving is reported in 20% of toxic cases
  • Gaslighting causes 65% of victims to doubt their own sanity or memory
  • 38% of women in one study cited emotional neglect as a reason for relationship toxicity
  • Emotional abuse is linked to a 40% increase in the risk of obesity due to stress
  • 70% of people who experience emotional abuse in childhood enter toxic relationships as adults
  • Financial threats are considered a form of psychological abuse by 99% of advocacy groups

Psychological and Emotional Abuse Interpretation

These statistics paint a chilling portrait of modern toxicity, proving that the most common weapons in a bad relationship aren't fists but a calculated arsenal of jealousy, words, and mind games that leave no visible bruises but cripple the soul.

Sources & References