Third Of Young Women Controlled By Their Partner
But the majority of them don't realise they're a victim of coercive control - according to new research.
A third of young women in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire have been in a controlling relationship but almost all of them didn't realise it was happening.
That's according to new research which also found victims blamed themselves for their partner's coercive control.
This form of domestic abuse was recently made a criminal offence in the UK with offenders facing 5 years in prison.
A new awareness campaign's now been launched by Women's Aid to help tackle the problem.
Sally Dearlove is from the Hull branch of the charity and says coercive control can often be more damaging than physical violence for women. She said:
"From time to time women tell me that they can cope with the physical assaults because the bruises heal and vanish but when it comes to the emotional side it can take years and years for a woman to get over it, if they ever do.
"It can affect their mental health, their self esteem and make them suffer with depression, anxiety, not wanting to leave the house and can even affect their parenting.
"It is very hard to prove and the man can be very manipulative and very charming. Women do stay in the relationship as it's the fear of the unknown too, they ask themselves where will they go? Who is going to believe them if she is believed? She will be thinking she has a home and where will she go with her childre, it's that feeling of entrapment.
"I also think there is a shame factor and sometimes they don't recognise it's going on and even if they have a friend telling them it is really difficult. I think there needs to be more public awareness to ensure people know it is a criminal offence as we have come a long way with domestic violence.
"Once they've got that women controlled, there is no need for the violence. There may have been violence in the past but if anything I think coercive control is more serious because of the level it can reach to and the effects it can have long term on women. Women are often never left alone in controlling relationships to the point where their partner goes with them everywhere like school, GP appointments."