A new national study has uncovered the widespread impact of violence in the United States, revealing that more than half of U.S. adults have experienced physical violence, and nearly half have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives. This study, known as the U.S. National Study on Violence Experiences Across the Lifespan (USVEX), was conducted by researchers from the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University and the University of California San Diego. It is the first comprehensive national survey to examine physical, sexual, and intimate partner violence across people's entire lives, while also exploring how these experiences connect with factors like mental health, economic hardship, neighborhood safety, and substance use. According to the findings, 52% of U.S. adults have experienced physical violence, and 49% have experienced sexual violence. Women are especially affected by intimate partner and sexual violence, with 61% of women and 45% of men reporting such experiences. Nearly one in five women—19%—said they had faced potentially life-threatening intimate partner violence, such as being beaten, burned, strangled, or attacked with a knife or gun, compared to just 3% of men. The study found that violence is most common during adolescence and young adulthood. Nearly one-third of adults reported experiencing sexual violence during these formative years, which the researchers say highlights critical periods for prevention efforts. They emphasize that understanding these patterns can help develop more effective strategies to reduce violence and support those affected. Economic hardship is strongly linked to higher rates of violence. Adults who had been evicted in the past year were seven times more likely to report recent physical violence, three times more likely to report sexual violence, and nearly five times more likely to report intimate partner violence. People experiencing homelessness faced even higher risks, with physical violence being five times more common, sexual violence more than three times more common, and intimate partner violence four times more common than in the general population. The study also found that violence is closely tied to mental health and substance use. Individuals who had recently experienced violence were more likely to report depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and substance use. The research highlights that experiences of violence are not evenly spread across the population, with women and LGBTQ+ individuals reporting disproportionately high levels of sexual and intimate partner violence. Economic vulnerability was also consistently linked to higher exposure to all forms of violence. This study builds on earlier research called Violence Experiences Across the Lifespan, which was conducted in several U.S. states. USVEX is the first nationally representative survey of its kind, asking people directly about their experiences of violence rather than relying on formal reports. This method helps researchers understand the full scope of violence, including cases that may never be reported to authorities. The study surveyed 2,720 adults from all 50 states between October and December 2025, using a sample administered by NORC at the University of Chicago. The survey was conducted in both English and Spanish to ensure a more inclusive representation of the population.