Prevalence and Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence Among a Sample of Construction Industry Workers

• NCJ Number: 221881
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2008 Pages: 101-112
• Author(s): Carol B. Cunradi; Genevieve M. Ames; Roland S. Moore
• Date Published: February 2008
• Length: 12 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study determined the prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV) among a sample of 100 unionized construction industry workers and tested the reliability of new measures of IPV normative beliefs.

Abstract

The study findings suggest elevated rates of IPV among construction industry workers compared to household population samples that represent a variety of occupations and social classes. The past-year IPV prevalence rate for construction industry workers was 26 percent. Family stress theory may help to explain this finding, as it posits that stressors (including work stressors), resources with which to meet the stressors, and the individual's interpretation of the situation combine to produce a crisis that can result in violence. Thus, IPV may be the outcome of an accumulation of stressors in which perceived demands exceed resources. In addition, study findings indicate that occupational factors may be linked to increased risk of IPV among construction industry workers. Occupational work stressors include workplace racial/ethnic discrimination, interpersonal workplace conflict, and job strain. Study findings also show that IPV normative beliefs may be associated with elevated odds for reporting past-year IPV among construction workers. Of the two IPV normative belief measures, perceived approval for engaging in IPV among coworkers, peers, and family members may be more strongly linked with risk of IPV perpetration than perceived frequency of IPV. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 100 English-speaking unionized construction workers in Northern California, during April-May 2004. All had been married or cohabiting with their partner for at least 1 year prior to their recruitment for the study. Participants were recruited through flyers posted at a local construction site and a union hall. A $50.00 incentive was offered. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that addressed demographics, work stressors, alcohol use, IPV, and IPV normative beliefs. 4 tables and 51 references