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Research

Research

In 2020 and 2021 Women’s Aid, in collaboration with RedC, completed two nationally representative
studies on intimate relationship abuse.

Based on the findings of these studies Women’s Aid published two reports.

One in Five Young Women Suffer Intimate Relationship Abuse in Ireland (PDF)

Yes, It’s Abuse: Young people’s understanding of & attitudes to intimate relationship abuse (PDF)

Key findings: Women’s Aid Research in intimate relationship abuse and young people aged 18-25 in Ireland (PDF)

Our research found that

  • 3 in 5 young people have experienced, or know someone who has experienced, intimate relationship abuse
  • 1 in 5 young women have suffered intimate relationship abuse
  • 51% of young women affected experienced the abuse under the age of 18
  • 1 in 3 young women never spoke to anyone about the abuse they experienced.

Of the young women who had suffered abuse:

  • 1 in 6 young women have suffered coercive control
  • 1 in 2 experienced online abuse
  • 9 out of 10 were subjected to emotional abuse.
  • 3 in 4 were sexually coerced. Over half (51%) were sexually assaulted and 27% were raped.
  • 1 in 2 were threatened with physical violence or experienced ‘less severe’ physical abuse e.g. slapping, shoving. 1 in 3 had experienced more ‘severe’ forms of physical abuse e.g. punching, choking, burning.
  • Almost 1 in 3 were subjected to financial abuse.

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