Restored quiz: how many did you get right?
Question 1: What proportion of church-goers experience domestic abuse?
- a: 1 in 400
- b: 1 in 40
- c: 1 in 4
It can be easy to think that domestic abuse doesn’t happen, or is very rare, in church communities. But our research shows that 1 in 4 churchgoers experience domestic abuse – the same proportion as in the general population. This is why it’s so important that we familiarise ourselves with the signs of domestic abuse and make sure that our churches are equipped to respond to it – check out our domestic abuse training courses for more.
Question 2: True or false: legally, only physical violence counts as domestic abuse.
- True
- False
Whilst physical violence might be the most well known or easy to recognise type of domestic abuse, the truth is that there are many forms. Emotional abuse, financial abuse and controlling and coercive behaviour are just a few examples, each specifically included in UK domestic abuse law.
This means that we must take all allegations of domestic abuse seriously, even if it doesn’t appear obvious. Many forms of abuse can be difficult to identify, even to the person experiencing them, as abusers manipulate those around them and are often very good at hiding their behaviour.
Question 3: Which age group experiences the highest levels of domestic abuse?
- a: 16 – 19 year olds
- b: 26 – 35 year olds
- c: 50 – 64 year olds
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 16-19 year olds are more likely to report experiencing domestic abuse than any other older age group. That’s why it’s vital that our youth and children’s work includes teaching on healthy relationships and how to identify the signs of abuse – as well as making sure our young people know who to turn to if they need help.
Question 4: True or false: Mental health challenges, addiction and anger management issues are all causes of domestic abuse.
- True
- False
Whilst these things can be contributing to factors that influence the severity and frequency of domestic abuse, the only root cause of abuse is one persons desire to abuse another. This is often rooted in beliefs about the value of the other person and a desire to exert power over them.
It’s important to be clear about this so that we can hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and respond in appropriate ways. Many support services deal with contributing factors like addiction and anger management, but we must remember that tackling them alone won’t solve the issue, as they aren’t the root cause of abuse. Find out more about why domestic abuse happens in our Church Guide.
Grow your knowledge even more
Want to go deeper into the topic of domestic abuse and become equipped to respond? Our three levels of training will help you do just that.
Find out more about training