NCJ Number
116078
Journal
Canadian Journal of Sociology Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1988) Pages: 407-434
Date Published
1988
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This article reports the results of a Canadian study of interspousal violence, identifying aggression, marital conflict, and work strain as major causes.
Abstract
In 1981, 562 married couples in Calgary responded to self-administered questionnaires to identify three types of violence: husband-to-wife, wife-to-husband, and mutual. Respondents were asked to report their violent acts and not those committed against them by their partners. The study findings indicate that interspousal violence is widespread, occurs in all socioeconomic groups, and is triggered by aggression, marital conflict, and work strain. The study also reports that interspousal violence is rarely a one-time occurrence but persists within the relationship. Additionally, even among couples in the study who reported marital satisfaction, nearly 30 percent reported violent incidents in their homes. Thus for some couples in the study, conflict and violence exist simultaneously with love and affection. 84 references. (Author abstract modified)