NCJ Number
108784
Journal
Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1986) Pages: 934-951
Date Published
1986
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A survey of 107 adults receiving residential treatment for substance abuse was conducted to determine characteristics of domestic violence in relationships.
Abstract
The survey incorporated instruments to measure the degree of substance abuse (the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test or MAST) as well as types and frequencies of domestic violence (the Conflict Tactics Scale or CTS-N). Findings are then compared to a national study of 2,143 normals (Straus, Gelles, and Steinmetz, 1980) to ascertain differences in domestic violence. Findings indicate that 83 percent of alcoholic subjects behaved violently in past relationships, compared to 28 percent of the normal population. Fifty-five percent of the alcoholics had been violent in a relationship during the past year, compared to 16 percent of the normals who were violent during that time. The findings also indicate that violence in alcoholic relationships is far more frequent and severe than in nonalcoholic relationships. The implications of these findings for clinical practice are discussed. (Publisher abstract)