Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence Among Men and Women in an Inner City Emergency Department

ABSTRACT

The current study surveyed medical or injured patients (men and women) in an inner city emergency department to examine the rates and correlates of intimate partner violence, including substance use patterns. Over a 2-year period, participants (n = 10,744) self-administered a computerized health survey during their emergency department visit that included screening items regarding past year history of intimate partner violence (including victimization and aggression). Overall, rates of any intimate partner violence involvement in past year were 8.7% (7.3% victimization and 4.4% aggression); however, women were more likely than men to report intimate partner violence. When examining participants' substance use patterns, participants who reported using both alcohol and cocaine were most likely to report intimate partner violence. Predictors of partner aggression and victimization were remarkably similar. This article provides unique data regarding correlates of past year intimate partner violence history among a comprehensive sample of male and female emergency department patients presenting for medical complaints or injury.

KEYWORDS:

• Intimate partner violence
• emergency
• screening
• substance use

The authors thank the medical staff and patients at Hurley Medical Center for their support of this research, Mr. Peter De Chavez, who provided statistical analysis and expertise, and Ms. Lynn Massey, who was the project director.

Supported by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIAAA (#AA014665) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA (#DA 016591).

Notes

^a Percentages used in the table are column percentages.

^b Some subjects did not respond or skipped this question.

^c Reference category = “No Substance Use”.

∗∗P <.001;

∗∗∗P <.01.

^a Percentages used in the table are column percentages.

^b Some subjects did not respond or skipped this question.

^c Reference category = “No Substance Use”.

∗ P <.0001;

∗∗P <.001;

∗∗∗P <.01.

^a Reference category = “No Partner Violence.”

^b Reference category = “No Substance Use.”

∗ P <.0001;

∗∗P <.001;

∗∗∗P <.01.

^c Model Statistics: Any IPV: Block 1 χ²(6) = 294.1, P <.0001; Block 2- χ²(12) = 442.5, P <.0001; Full Model χ²(18) = 736.6, P <.0001.

^a Reference category = “No Partner Violence.”

^b Reference category = “Marijuana Only.”

∗P <.0001;

∗∗P <.001;

∗∗∗P <.01.