Evidence of gender asymmetry in intimate partner violence experience at the population-level Janet Fanslow, Brooklyn M. Mellar, Pauline Gulliver and Tracey McIntosh
By: Fanslow, Janet L.
Contributor(s): Mellar, Brooklyn M | Gulliver, Pauline | McIntosh, Tracey.
Material type: ArticleSeries: Journal of Interpersonal Violence.Publisher: Sage, 2023Subject(s): ABUSED WOMEN | ABUSED MEN | COERCIVE CONTROL | DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | ECONOMIC ABUSE | GENDER SYMMETRY DEBATE | INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE | PHYSICAL ABUSE | PREVALENCE | PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE | SEXUAL VIOLENCE | SURVEYS | VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE | 2019 NZ Family Violence Study | He Koiora Matapopore | NEW ZEALANDOnline resources: DOI: 10.1177/08862605231163646 (Open access) In: Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2023, First published online, 9 April 2023Summary: Claims of “gender symmetry” in intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence are contested, with resolution of the issue complicated by methodological and measurement challenges. This study explores gendered differences in the distribution of IPV exposure at the population-level, considering multiple types of IPV exposure. The subjects comprised of 1,431 ever-partnered women and 1,355 ever-partnered men. Data from a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional survey were used to compare men and women’s IPV experiences. Twenty-three IPV acts were assessed across IPV types (moderate physical, severe physical, sexual, psychological, controlling behaviors, economic). Proportions were presented by gender for the number of individual IPV acts experienced per IPV type, and the frequency of these acts (none, once, few times, or many times). A composite exposure score was developed to assess the number of acts and their frequency within types by comparing scores in tertiles and across types by correlations. Women reported greater overall prevalence of 20 of the 23 individual IPV acts assessed. Across all assessed acts, women comprised a substantially greater proportion of those who reported experiencing individual acts “many times.” Women experienced more severe and more frequent IPV than men based on self-reported experience of IPV acts, and by the frequency with which acts were experienced. Significant differences between men and women’s exposure scores were observed for all six assessed types, with greater proportions of women scoring in the upper tertiles. This study provides evidence of gender asymmetry in experiences of IPV at the population level. While men do experience IPV victimization, there remains need for directed and substantial resource allocation for intervention and therapeutic responses to women’s exposure to IPV, and for primary prevention with men. Going forward, IPV measurement tools that consider frequency, severity, or co-occurring types of IPV are needed. (Authors' abstract). Record #8086Item type | Current location | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
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Access online | Family Violence library | Online | Available | ON23040015 |
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2023, First published online, 9 April 2023
Claims of “gender symmetry” in intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence are contested, with resolution of the issue complicated by methodological and measurement challenges. This study explores gendered differences in the distribution of IPV exposure at the population-level, considering multiple types of IPV exposure. The subjects comprised of 1,431 ever-partnered women and 1,355 ever-partnered men. Data from a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional survey were used to compare men and women’s IPV experiences. Twenty-three IPV acts were assessed across IPV types (moderate physical, severe physical, sexual, psychological, controlling behaviors, economic). Proportions were presented by gender for the number of individual IPV acts experienced per IPV type, and the frequency of these acts (none, once, few times, or many times). A composite exposure score was developed to assess the number of acts and their frequency within types by comparing scores in tertiles and across types by correlations. Women reported greater overall prevalence of 20 of the 23 individual IPV acts assessed. Across all assessed acts, women comprised a substantially greater proportion of those who reported experiencing individual acts “many times.” Women experienced more severe and more frequent IPV than men based on self-reported experience of IPV acts, and by the frequency with which acts were experienced. Significant differences between men and women’s exposure scores were observed for all six assessed types, with greater proportions of women scoring in the upper tertiles. This study provides evidence of gender asymmetry in experiences of IPV at the population level. While men do experience IPV victimization, there remains need for directed and substantial resource allocation for intervention and therapeutic responses to women’s exposure to IPV, and for primary prevention with men. Going forward, IPV measurement tools that consider frequency, severity, or co-occurring types of IPV are needed. (Authors' abstract). Record #8086