Quick Facts about Sexual Violence and Intimate Partner Violence

Key data findings

• By 8th grade, at least 8% of Minnesota youth have already experienced sexual violence victimization. At least 16% (1 in 6) of Minnesota youth experience sexual violence victimization by 11th grade (Minnesota Student Survey, 2022). This means an estimated 5,700 Minnesota 8th graders and 11,400 Minnesota 11th graders have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. (1)
• By 8th grade, at least 13% of Minnesota youth have experienced intimate partner violence victimization. At least 20% (1 in 5) Minnesota youth experience intimate partner violence victimization by 11th grade (Minnesota Student Survey, 2022).  This means an estimated 9,400 Minnesota 8th graders and 14,300 Minnesota 11th graders have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. (1)

Terms used

Sexual violence and intimate partner violence happens in many different ways and at any age. People who are victimized sometimes experience sexual violence and/or intimate partner violence more than once.

Sexual violence is a broad term that describes many different forms of sexual violence. When used with data, the information that is captured varies by data source. For example, the Minnesota Student Survey data shared above includes sexual abuse by a family/relative, sexual abuse by a non-family/relative, sexual abuse by an intimate partner, or sexual exploitation (2).

Intimate partner violence is a broad term that describes many different forms of intimate partner violence. When used with data, the information that is captured varies by data source. For example, the Minnesota Student Survey data shared above includes verbal, physical, or sexual abuse by an intimate partner (3).

Takeaways

• Sexual violence victimization is common, not rare. Intimate partner violence victimization is also common.
• Sexual and intimate partner violence can be experienced at any age. For this reason, it is important to focus on these forms of violence through early and ongoing prevention efforts. While some communities are more likely to experience victimization than others due to inequities in society, every community and population in Minnesota experiences these forms of violence. For data findings about your community, see “For more information” below.

Actions

• Learn about sexual and intimate partner violence in Minnesota through the stories behind the numbers. Go to “Minnesota reports and studies” on our Data sources webpage.
• Join the Sexual Violence Prevention Network
• Connect with existing experts in your communities who provide services and prevention (see Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition, Violence Free Minnesota, Mending the Sacred Hoop, and Minnesota Children’s Alliance)
• Partner together so that all communities:
  • Have services and supports that are inclusive for all victim/survivors
  • Have real accountability and change for people whose behaviors cause harm
  • Contribute to the prevention of sexual violence and intimate partner violence
  • Work to end victim-blaming and stigma. Sexual violence and intimate partner violence are never the fault of the victim/survivor

For more information

• Additional data is available through Sexual violence and intimate partner violence data
• Questions or data needs? Contact mailto:health.violenceprev@state.mn.us

Footnotes:

1. (1) Percents were calculated using 2022 Minnesota Student Survey data. Counts were calculated using Minnesota enrollment by grade level in public and nonpublic schools for the 2021-2022 school year. Enrollment data was obtained from the Minnesota Department of Education. Minnesota Student Survey data was obtained through the Minnesota Department of Health. The numbers are likely an underestimate for many reasons including but not limited to the following: not all young people are enrolled in schools; some students may not have been at school on the day the school did the survey; question wording does not capture all forms of sexual or intimate partner violence; and because shame and fear can impact even anonymous reporting on these issues.
2. (2) Sexual violence victimization was measured as answering “Yes” to any of the following questions on the Minnesota Student Survey: Have you been in a casual or serious relationship where your partner ever pressured, tricked, or forced you to do something sexual, or did something sexual to you against your wishes? Has anyone who was not a relative/family member ever pressured, tricked, or forced you to do something sexual or done something sexual to you against your wishes? Has any relative/family member ever pressured, tricked, or forced you to do something sexual or done something sexual to you? Have you ever traded sex or sexual activity to receive money, food, drugs, alcohol, a place to stay, or anything else?
3. (3)  Intimate partner violence victimization was measured as answering “Yes” to any of the following questions on the Minnesota Student Survey: Have you been in a casual or serious relationship where your partner ever physically hurt you on purpose (shoved, kicked, slapped, punched, pulled hair, strangled, injured you with an object or weapon, etc.)? Have you been in a casual or serious relationship where your partner ever verbally hurt or controlled you (called you names, told you what you could wear or eat, told you who you could see or talk to, threatened you, etc.)? Have you been in a casual or serious relationship where your partner ever pressured, tricked, or forced you to do something sexual, or did something sexual to you against your wishes?