One in five American women will be raped in the course of her lifetime, according to a survey released by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
The shocking detail was part of a comprehensive report on various types of sexual violence. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey is ongoing, CDC officials say, and data is being compiled through telephone surveys throughout the country.
The report highlights several other statistics that highlight the frequency of sexual violence in America, particularly violence that occurs in intimate relationships:
* One in four women has or will be a victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in her lifetime.
* One in six women will suffer a terrifying experience at the hands of an abuser or stalker.
* One in six women has been the victim of a stalker, and the act of stalking often occurs via text messages, social networking sites or unwanted phone calls.
* 80% of rape victims were attacked before the age of 25.
* Men also experience violence in intimate relationships, though they are far less likely than women to report it.
* Roughly 1 in 7 men has experienced severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner at some point in their lives.
* One in every 19 men claims to have been stalked to the point that they believed their lives were in danger.
* More than 25% of male rape victims were first assaulted when they were 10 years-old or younger.
Men and women who are victims of sexual and physical violence are likely to experience chronic pain, emotional distress and numerous ailments that are linked to traumatic experiences and the resulting stress.
“These forms of violence take the largest toll on women, who are more likely to report immediate impacts and long-term health problems caused by their victimization,” said Dr. Linda C. Degutis, director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
“Much victimization begins early in life, but the consequences can last a lifetime.”
