Gender differences in unidirectional and bidirectional intimate partner violence in addictions

ABSTRACT

Background: Few studies have analyzed the specific characteristics related to uni/bidirectional intimate partner violence (IPV) in patients with addiction problems. Knowing the specific profiles of these patients would allow the development of effective tailored interventions.

Objective: This study assessed gender differences in unidirectional and bidirectional IPV among patients undergoing drug addiction treatment.

Method: We sampled 122 patients (91 male and 31 female) who sought treatment in an addiction treatment center, and collected cross-sectional self-reported data on violent behaviors (physical, sexual and psychological violence), sociodemographic factors, distorted thoughts about women and violence, impulsiveness, and anger.

Results: Ninety-one percent of participants reported experience of IPV (any type and any direction). Sixty-three percent of participants reported bidirectional violence, which was more common among women (83.9%) than men (56.1%). Unidirectional (perpetration only) IPV was reported in 28.7% of participants, and it was more common among men (34.1%) than women (12.9%). No one reported unidirectional (victimization-only) IPV. When only physical and/or sexual violence was considered, bidirectional violence affected 32.0% of the sample; 23.8% were only victims, and 3.3% were only perpetrators (all of them men). Participants who reported bidirectional violence had higher scores for impulsiveness, anger, and distorted thoughts.

Conclusions: Bidirectional IPV is commonly reported among patients seeking treatment for addiction, particularly among women, and should be considered in future research and clinical practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Drug addiction
• intimate partner violence
• gender
• bidirectional violence
• prevalence
• alcohol use disorder
• substance use disorder

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the “Proyecto Hombre de Navarra” program staff for their help in assessing the clinical sample.

Disclosures

Authors do not have any financial interests that may be interpreted as influencing the research.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by a grant (code PSI2016–76511-R) from the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) of the Spanish Government and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional of the European Union (FEDER, EU). These Departments had no role in the study design collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.