NCJ Number
222227
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2008 Pages: 9-24
Date Published
January 2008
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study addressed whether the relationship between illicit drug use/abuse measures and intimate partner violence (IPV) varied across socioeconomic status, racial status, and environmental indictors of a drug supportive culture.
Abstract
The findings showed that the relationship between marijuana use/abuse and the commission of IPV was stronger for minorities and low SES respondents than for Caucasian and higher SES respondents. These findings support the social structural theory of violence and indicate that the effect of marijuana use/abuse on the commission of IPV is dependant on the SES and racial status of respondents. Minorities and those having low SES experienced daily stressors that have been institutionalized in society by racial discrimination and availability of jobs that pay enough money to provide for basic family needs when burdened by unemployment, lack of a high school education, dependent on welfare. Intimate partners who engage in violence frequently argue about alcohol and drug use because of the belief/fear that minorities are usually sentenced to jail for possession of marijuana, and are more likely to be caught due to greater police scrutiny of minorities. Low SES couples' conflicts may escalate to violence due to the diversion of limited financial resources to drug use when basic needs cannot be met. Moderating effects of low SES and minority status occur because these conditions facilitate conflicts that include insults and psychological abuse and the use/abuse of marijuana further escalates yelling and insults, which then indirectly increases the likelihood of committing IPV. Stimulant use, sedative use, and alcohol abuse or dependence had independent direct effects on IPV after controlling for psychological abuse. The finding suggests that treatment providers should address marijuana use/abuse for the low SES and minority respondents and that judges should court-mandate these marijuana users treatment. Data were collected from 19,131 respondents who were living with intimate partners and had not been treated for a substance abuse problem in the last year, and who participated in the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Tables, references