Running from 25 November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10 December (Human Rights Day), the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a key time to reflect on what we know about acts of violence committed against women and girls.
To mark this important time, we want to bring attention to the existing research we have linking neurodivergence with an increased risk of facing domestic abuse – insight that highlights the importance of effective support for neurodivergent women and girls to reduce risk, better education around signs of domestic abuse, and inclusive interventions.
Table of contents
- What is domestic abuse?
- How many people experience domestic abuse overall?
- What is the link between neurodivergence and domestic abuse?
- What could explain the link?
- What needs to be done to counter this?
What is domestic abuse?
According to the Domestic Abuse Act, domestic abuse consists of any of the following:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Violent or threatening behaviour
- Controlling or coercive behaviour
- Economic abuse
- Psychological, emotional or other abuse
Where the victim and perpetrator(s) are aged 16 or over and are “personally connected” to each other. It does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct for classification as abuse.
How many people experience domestic abuse overall?
Data shows that domestic abuse impacts one in four women and one in seven men. Between March 2023 and March 2024, an estimated 2.3 million people aged 16 and over were victims of domestic abuse, 1.6 million of which were women and girls. At its most extreme, women are at the highest risk of death as a consequence of domestic violence, with 276 reported victims of domestic homicide between March 2018 to 2020 in the UK.
What is the link between neurodivergence and domestic abuse?
Studies have shown that across all forms of domestic abuse, neurodivergent adults were roughly two to three times more likely to experience abuse from a partner compared to neurotypical adults. Meta-analysis of a variety of studies found that, overall, 84% of neurodivergent individuals reported having experienced some form of domestic violence. It has also been found that, where a neurodivergent young person experiences one case of victimisation, they are more likely to experience further victimisation that same year. For neurodivergent people assigned female at birth, 60% and 90% reported some form of serious sexual assault or domestic violence experience.
What could explain the link?
Research has found that decreased social inference in neurodivergent women may be one contributing factor towards greater social and sexual vulnerability in relationships. Participants stressed that they had trouble identifying behaviour in a partner that was wrong despite knowing that it made them uncomfortable. Recognising domestic abuse can be a challenge for anyone but, with an emphasis on needing to understand complex cycles of behaviour and covert malice, this can be especially difficult for those with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Another aspect of domestic abuse risk that is highlighted in studies is the comorbidity between neurodivergence and PTSD. Those with PTSD have been found to have higher risk of experiencing further interpersonal trauma or allowing trauma to occur for a longer period. When we consider that around 61% of neurodivergent children experience bullying, this cycle is extremely concerning.
What needs to be done to counter this?
Alongside efforts to raise awareness and create resources for those experiencing domestic violence across the population, a focus on education and supporting those with neurodevelopmental conditions is key to reducing risk in this group.
Open conversations about what grooming, coercive control, and early signs of abusive behaviour look like are essential for helping people to identify them in their own relationships. There are resources that outline signs of abuse in a way that is accessible to those with NDDs, such as this one by All Neurotypes. They also have a useful resource on neurodiversity-focused forms of abuse here.
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