NCJ Number
190557
Journal
Crime & Justice International Volume: 17 Issue: 53 Dated: June 2001 Pages: 7-8,25-26,27
Date Published
June 2001
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article presented findings from a 1998 and 1999 investigation into the lives of young Australians and their experience of and attitudes towards domestic violence conducted by the Crime Research Center at the University of Western Australia and Donovan Research.
Abstract
Selected findings were presented from a survey of 5,000 Australian young people (age 12 to years old) in 1998 and 1999 and the effect(s) of witnessing domestic violence on both attitudes and experience and the role these findings play in supporting the "cycle of violence" theory. This research was funded by National Crime Prevention and the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs under the funding plan of Partnerships Against Domestic Violence and undertaken by the Crime Research Center at the University of Western Australia and Donovan Research. The investigation involved gathering both quantitative and qualitative data for a more comprehensive picture of the experience of domestic violence by young Australians. In relation to experience in intimate relationships, the findings indicated the young women from lower socioeconomic areas were significantly more likely to be the victim of relationship violence than those from higher socioeconomic areas and young people growing up in homes where there had been couple violence (both male and female perpetrating and being victimized by domestic violence) were more likely to be victims of relationship violence and perpetrators in intimate relationships. In relation to young people's attitudes, most rejected the use of violence in relationships, yet a small group still retained attitudes supportive of violence. The results of the survey did not suggest a large difference between Australian attitudes and those found in the United States. The most important policy implication of this research was the reinforcement it provided for an approach to domestic violence prevention, recognizing the differences that exist in the community. Prevention efforts should include not only the prevention of domestic violence but in helping children from homes where domestic violence occurs. The strategies in preventing domestic violence must have relevance to disadvantaged communities and their effectiveness must be evaluated to determine the differences they are making to those communities. References