NCJ Number
212028
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2005 Pages: 379-391
Date Published
August 2005
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined gender differences in service utilization for physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and average cost per person victimized by an intimate partner of the opposite gender.
Abstract
Although both men and women report intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration, research on the cause, consequences, treatment, and prevention of IPV has traditionally focused on IPV perpetrated by men against their female intimate partners. The purpose of this study was to explore gender differences in intensity of service utilization as a means to estimate average cost per person victimized by an intimate partner of the opposite gender. The intent was to capture costs of female-to-male physical IPV and compare it to that of male-to-female physical IPV. It was hypothesized that, relative to women, the costs for men’s IPV victimization would be less. Data were used from the National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS) to estimate intensity of medical care utilization and extent of losses in productivity for victims of IPV. The results suggest gender asymmetry in physical IPV victimization. The lifetime prevalence of physical IPV was significantly greater among women than men. Likewise, a significantly greater proportion of women than men reported being injured by the most recent physical IPV assault by an opposite gender partner. The results support going beyond rates of perpetration or victimization in order to fully capture IPV and women’s and men’s experiences with the perpetration and victimization of physical IPV. Tables, references