I have read lots of posts here about abusive advisors, and I have heard about and even experienced some similar experiences in my own academic life.
Is there any data available for how prevalent this problem is? I am interested in quantitative, objective data to the extent that it is possible to quantify these kinds of things.
To clarify slightly, the kinds of things I would consider abusive could be:
Verbal abuse where the advisor puts their students down in unnecessary and unproductive ways, like name-calling.
Not giving the student due credit for their work or somehow preventing them from making progress.
Discrimination based on race or sexuality. Similarly, discussing or trying to get involved in the student's personal life in an unhealthy way.
Any behavior that normally qualifies as abuse in other relationships and generally shows that the advisor is not interested in advising their students and helping them become a successful academic.
I am not really talking about absentee advisors or advisors who are just kind of blunt that don't display these qualities.