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People who experienced emotional abuse from a partner
Measure: Proportion of people who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 12 months
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Baseline value
3.3%
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Latest value
3.3%in 2021–22
Last updated:
Interpretation
A decrease in the prevalence of emotional abuse indicates that people are choosing to use less, or no, emotionally abusive and controlling behaviours in relationships.
This measure captures one aspect of violence in relationships and should be considered alongside data on other forms of violence and abuse, as well as data on other aspects of relationships.
Outcome: 3 Community attitudes and beliefs embrace gender equality and condemn all forms of gendered violence without exception
Sub-outcome: 3.3 People have equal, healthy, and respectful relationships
Indicator: Decreased prevalence of emotionally abusive and controlling behaviours in relationships
Baseline: 2021–22
Latest year: 2021–22
Data source: ABS Personal Safety Survey
Source: DSS 2024.
For information about how this measure is derived, please refer to the Technical specifications for National Plan Outcomes.
Additional National Plan Outcomes data are available from the Data downloads page.
Time series
People aged 18 years and over who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 12 months, 2012 to 2021–22
Year | Per cent |
---|---|
2012 | 3.8% |
2016 | 4.5^% |
2021–22 | 3.3% |
Notes:
- Partner refers to a partner the person lives with, or lived with at some point in a married or de facto relationship.
- While the data are comparable across the time series, the list of emotional abuse behaviours asked about in the survey has expanded over time.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
State and territory
State and territory data are not available for this measure for 2021–22 due to sampling issues. However, supplementary data are available for the proportion of women who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 2 years. See the Supplementary tables for the National Plan Outcomes.
Population characteristics
Sex
People aged 18 years and over who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 12 months, by sex, 2016 and 2021–22
Sex | 2016 | 2021–22 (baseline) |
---|---|---|
Females | 4.8^% | 3.9% |
Males | 4.2^% | 2.5% |
Persons | 4.5^% | 3.3% |
Notes:
- Partner refers to a partner the person lives with, or lived with at some point in a married or de facto relationship.
- While the data are comparable across the time series, the list of emotional abuse behaviours asked about in the survey has expanded over time.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
Age
Data are not available for this measure for 2021–22 due to sampling issues. However, supplementary data are available for reporting on the proportion of women who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 2 years. See the Supplementary tables for the National Plan Outcomes.
Disability status
Data disaggregated by disability status are only available for violence prevalence over the last 2 years (rather than 12 months).
People aged 18 years and over who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 2 years, by disability status, 2016 and 2021–22
Disability status | 2016 | 2021–22 (baseline) |
---|---|---|
Has disability | 7.1^% | 5.7% |
Does not have disability | 5.5^% | 4.1% |
Notes:
- Partner refers to a partner the person lives with, or lived with at some point in a married or de facto relationship.
- Disability refers to any limitation, restriction or impairment which restricts everyday activities and has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least six months.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
Sexual orientation
Data are not available for this measure for 2021–22 due to sampling issues. However, supplementary data are available for reporting on the proportion of women who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 5 years. See the Supplementary tables for the National Plan Outcomes.
Remoteness
Data disaggregated by remoteness are only available for violence prevalence over the last 2 years (rather than 12 months).
People aged 18 years and over who experienced emotional abuse from a partner in the last 2 years, by remoteness, 2016 and 2021–22
Remoteness area | 2016 | 2021–22 (baseline) |
---|---|---|
Major Cities | 6.1^% | 4.5% |
Inner Regional | 5.7% | 4.8% |
Outer Regional/Remote | 5.4% | 5.6% |
Notes:
- Partner refers to a partner the person lives with, or lived with at some point in a married or de facto relationship.
- Remoteness refers to remoteness area at the time of interview. 'Other areas' includes inner regional, outer regional and remote areas.
For more information, see Data sources and technical notes.
^: statistically significant difference to the 2021–22 prevalence rate.
Related material
See the related content in the AIHW Family, domestic and sexual violence website:
More information
DSS (2024) Performance measurement plan, DSS, accessed 8 May 2024.
Related measures
See the related National Plan Outcomes measures:
- Previous page People who experienced intimate partner violence
- Next page People who experienced sexual violence