Distribution of and Factors Associated With Intimate Terrorism and Situational Couple Violence Among a Population-Based Sample of Urban Women in the United States

• NCJ Number: 235214
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 21 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 1286-1313
• Author(s): Victoria Frye; Jennifer Manganello; Jacquelyn C. Campbell; Benita Walton-Moss; Susan Wilt
• Date Published: October 2006
• Length: 28 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 DA/AA11156
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); National Institute on Aging; National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institute of Mental Health; US Dept of Health & Human Services; US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines two distinct forms of intimate partner violence exist: intimate terrorism and situational couple violence.

Abstract

It has been proposed that two distinct forms of intimate partner violence exist: intimate terrorism and situational couple violence. This article describes the distribution of factors that characterize intimate terrorism and situational couple violence, including controlling behaviors, violence escalation, and injury, among a representative sample of 331 physically assaulted women living in 11 North American cities. In addition, respondent, partner, and relationship characteristics associated with each form of violence are identified. Most women who experienced physical assault also experienced controlling behavior by their male partner. In multivariate analyses, respondent's young age, violence escalation in the relationship, partner's access to guns, previous arrests for domestic violence offenses, poor mental health, and previous suicide attempts or threats were associated with intimate terrorism, defined as experiencing one or more controlling behaviors. These results suggest that situational couple violence is rare and that moderate and high levels of controlling behaviors are associated primarily with partner factors. (Published Abstract)