October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness about a serious issue that affects millions of people and to explore ways we can help. Domestic violence (DV) isn’t just physical harm. It can also include sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse. Most often, it is committed by a partner. Nearly half of women and over 40% of men in the U.S. have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. And it often starts young: more than 70% of female victims and more than 60% of male victims first experience intimate partner violence before they turn 25.
DV can have lasting effects on survivors’ physical and mental health. It can also impact families, communities and even future generations. Research can help us better understand DV, find ways to prevent it and support survivors.
At the University of Washington, we have been studying how laws and policies—including those in schools, workplaces and legal systems—can go beyond short-term fixes and make a real difference. For example, most states have passed laws addressing teen dating violence in secondary schools. These laws can mandate schools to write policies, teach students about healthy relationships, train staff and involve families. But just having a law isn’t enough. Our research shows that how schools actually put these policies into practice matters. If schools don’t follow through, even strong laws may not help as much as they could.
We’re also studying other policies that support survivors who are experiencing DV. One example is “safe leave,” which lets people take time off work to deal with DV-related issues, like going to court, seeing a doctor or finding a safe place to stay. Another policy allows survivors to ask courts for protection orders that can stop abusive partners from having firearms. Research shows that firearm-restriction policies that include relinquishment provisions are associated with lower intimate partner homicide rates. While policies can positively shape experiences of violence, how they are carried out in practice makes a big difference.
Our research is most meaningful when it centers survivors and the communities most affected by DV. Using trauma-informed approaches, we try to respect the experiences and honor the needs of those who’ve experienced abuse. Ending DV isn’t just about responding to violence—it’s about preventing it before it starts. To find solutions that work across systems, we must bring together experts from different fields like law, education, healthcare and social services.
As we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we want to highlight the role research plays in creating real change. By studying what works and where improvements are needed, research can help build safer communities and stronger support systems for survivors.