Snapshot of Family Violence in Canada - Infographic

Family violence includes intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse. It can be physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse, as well as neglect.

Family Violence

• Accounted for approximately 25% of all police-reported crime in Canada in 2011

Child Maltreatment

• 32% of adults in Canada have reported having experienced some form of maltreatment as a child
  • Types of child maltreatment
    • Exposure to intimate partner violence - 34%
    • Neglect - 34%
    • Physical abuse - 20%
    • Emotional abuse - 9%
    • Sexual abuse - 3%

Intimate Partner Violence

• In Canada, 30% of women experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime
• Aboriginal women are more than twice as likely to experience intimate partner violence
• 80% of intimate partner violence is against women

Elder Abuse

• 53% of abuse of older adults is by family members or acquaintances
• 60% of incidents of elder abuse are physical assaults

Family violence can cause a number of serious health and social problems across the lifespan

• Infants
  • Injury
  • Problems regulating emotions
  • Problems with parent-child bonding
  • Delays in growth & development
• Children
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Behavioural problems
  • Failure at school
  • Problems with friendships
• Teenagers
  • Attempted suicide
  • Obesity
  • Anti-social behaviour (conduct disorder)
  • Alcohol and drug use
  • Other risky behaviors
• Adults
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Diseases and pain
  • Trouble with relationships
  • Lack of stable employment
• Older Adults
  • Isolation
  • Shorter life
  • Dependence
  • Financial problems

Spousal violence alone costs Canadian society $7.4 billion/year.