title: Prevalence of interpersonal violence against community-living adults with disabilities: a literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the empirical literature on the prevalence of interpersonal violence (IPV) against people with disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors searched for, obtained, and reviewed 6,000 abstracts published between January, 2000 and August, 2010 via searches in PsycINFO and PubMed. Subsequently, 177 potentially applicable full-text articles were independently assessed for inclusion; 22 articles describing 21 individual studies were included in this review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of IPV varied depending on the time frame, the definition and type of violence, perpetrator, and disability. Prevalence of any type of IPV among women with disabilities ranged from 26.0%-90.0% for lifetime; 4.9%-29.1% for the past 5 years; and 2.0%-70.0% for the past year. In some studies, when compared to women without disabilities, women with disabilities experienced more lifetime, 5 year, and past year physical and sexual IPV. Prevalence of any IPV in men with disabilities ranged from 28.7%-86.7% for lifetime; 24.9% for the past 5 years; and 36.7% for the past year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPV occurs at elevated and disproportionate rates among women and men with disabilities, especially when assessed over the course of their lives. Future research that relies on standard definitions of disability and violence, uses accessible measurement, and examines IPV in diverse populations of people with disabilities will strengthen future reviews and better inform research and policy priorities on disability and violence.
authors: Rural Institute on Disabilities, University of Montana, USA. rhughes@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
authors: Rosemary B
authors: RB
authors: Hughes
authors: Emily M
authors: EM
authors: Lund
authors: Joy
authors: J
authors: Gabrielli
authors: Laurie E
authors: LE
authors: Powers
authors: Mary Ann
authors: MA
authors: Curry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*