NCJ Number
159216
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1995) Pages: 133- 141
Date Published
1995
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The research methodology used by Szinovacz to analyze domestic assault rates was replicated using all items measuring severe violence in the latest Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) with 94 military violence to determine if couple reports of violence indicated higher violence rates than those based on reports by only one spouse.
Abstract
Szinovacz questioned research methodology that used only one spouse to report for the couple and reported higher rates of violence when both spouses responded to six items on Straus's CTS. The participants in the current study were from a military base in the southeastern United States. Military commanders distributed written invitations to participate to a computer-generated list of married military spouses. In addition, an article about the study appeared in the base newspaper for 2 weeks prior to data collection. Monetary door prizes were used as incentives for participation. The survey packet included a demographic questionnaire and the CTS. Results revealed that 40 percent of the husbands and 27 percent of the wives reported physical aggression. The rate of violence in the couples was 56 percent. Thus, findings were similar to those of Szinovacz and support the advisability of using both spouses to report violence in marriages. Tables and 14 references (Author abstract modified)