NCJ Number
236085
Date Published
August 2011
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study conducted by the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research examined the association between financial stress, personal stress, social support, and violence against women.
Abstract
The study found that higher levels of financial and personal stress were strongly associated with an increased risk of violence against women; women exposed to personal stress and with little or no social support were at an increased risk of violence; an increased risk of violence due to financial stress was not affected by whether or not the victim had social support; and the correlation between financial stress and actual or threatened violence was more pronounced among women exposed to high levels of personal stress and vice versa. This study from the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research examined the association between financial stress, personal stress, social support, and violence against women. Data for the study were obtained as part of the General Social Survey, a large national representative sample survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2006. Information was obtained from the 7,125 female respondents to the survey. The study examined two primary questions: was there a relationship between financial stress and violence against women, and if the relationship existed, was it mediated by personal stress and/or social support. The study's findings indicate that financial stress, personal stress, and lack of social support are strong indicators of violence against women. Limitations of the study are discussed, along with recommendations for further research. Tables, figure, and references