INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE AMONG MARRIED AND COHABITING COUPLES

• NCJ Number: 60113
• Author(s): K YLLO; M A STRAUS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH27557; T32 MH15161
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Corporate Author: University of New Hampshire
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THIS PAPER IS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILY VIOLENCE RESEARCH PROGRAM PRESENTED AT THE 1978 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON FAMILY RELATIONS

Annotation

DATA FROM A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF 2,143 ADULTS DO NOT SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THERE IS A HIGHER LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IN MARRIAGE THAN IN COHABITING RELATIONSHIPS.

Abstract

INSTEAD THE REVERSE WAS FOUND TO BE TRUE. COHABITORS ARE APPRECIABLY MORE VIOLENT THAN MARRIEDS. HOWEVER, COHABITORS WHO ARE OVER 30, DIVORCED WOMEN, AND THOSE WITH HIGH INCOMES OR WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING TOGETHER FOR OVER 10 YEARS HAVE VERY LOW RATES OF VIOLENCE. THE FACT THAT SOME COHABITORS ARE MUCH MORE VIOLENT THAN MARRIEDS, WHEREAS OTHERS ARE APPRECIABLY LESS VIOLENT, PROVIDES EVIDENCE THAT COHABITATION SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS A UNITARY PHENOMENON. OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COHABITING RELATIONSHIPS, ONLY A PORTION CAN BE REGARDED AS A LIBERAL ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE. THE SOCIAL, LEGAL, AND EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THESES FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE POSITION OF THE UNMARRIED WOMAN WITH A VIOLENT PARTNER IN THIS REGARD, SINCE IN MANY STATES, COHABITATION WITHOUT MARRIAGE IS AN ILLEGAL RELATIONSHIP. ALSO, COHABITING PARTNERS ARE ESTRANGED FROM SOCIAL SERVICES. SUCH PARTNERS SHOULD BE EDUCATED THAT THERE IS INHERENT CONFLICT IN ALL INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP REGARDLESS OF THE MARRIAGE TIE OR LACK OF IT. REFERENCES ARE LISTED. (MJW)