Personal Stress, Financial Stress, Social Support and Women's Experience of Physical Violence: A Longitudinal Analysis

• NCJ Number: 243943
• Author(s): Nadine Smith; Don Weatherburn
• Date Published: March 2013
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
• Sale Source: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: NSW Crime and Justice Bulletin, No. 168, March 2013

Annotation

This study from the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research examined the connection between personal stress, financial stress, and social support and a woman's increased risk for experiencing physical violence.

Abstract

This study on the connection between a woman's increased risk for experiencing physical violence and several key factors found that women who reported personal or financial stress, poor social networks, heavy alcohol consumption, were not married, or were young were more likely to be at greater risk for experiencing physical violence. The study also found that changes to personal or financial stress or partner status increased a woman's risk of experiencing physical violence. The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether higher levels of stress and/or lower levels of support at one point in time were associated with a higher risk of experiencing physical violence at a later point in time. Data for the study were obtained waves 2 (2002) through 10 (2010) of the Australian HILDA (Household Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia) survey, a broad economic and social longitudinal survey that was begun in 2001. The sample consisted of survey respondents who were female and had indicated in their responses that they were a victim of physical violence within the past 12 months. The data was analyzed to determine whether factors such as personal or financial stress and/or poor social networks increased a woman's risk for physical violence, or whether changes in these factors also impacted the risk for experiencing physical violence. The findings indicate that higher levels of financial and personal stress and lower levels of social support are associated with increased risk for physical violence both in the current 12-month period and in the following 12 months, and that this association is causal. The question then arises on how to use these findings to reduce violence against women. Study limitations are discussed. Tables, figure, notes, references, and appendix