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The Association Between Different Types of Intimate Partner Violence Experienced by Women

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Abstract

Those who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) are often subjected to multiple types of victimization such as physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, and stalking. However, relatively few studies have used a national population-based sample and multivariate methods to analyze the associations between these different types of violence. This study uses multivariate methods to analyze a national population-based sample of women in order to document empirically the extent to which different types of IPV overlap, while controlling for personal and behavioral characteristics. Results indicated significant levels of overlap, with victims often experiencing more than one type of victimization by an intimate partner. Findings also indicated that women who had experienced violence by non-intimate partners were often more likely to experience violence by intimates. Finally, women who had experienced stalking by an intimate were more likely to experience more forms of IPV on average than those who had experienced physical violence, sexual violence, or emotional aggression.

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Notes

  1. Two of the items (having a hard time seeing things from another’s point of view and trying to provoke someone) were not used to define whether someone had experienced emotional victimization.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. RTI International, Crime, Violence, and Justice Research Program, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA

    Christopher Krebs

  2. Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Matthew J. Breiding

  3. Vera Institute of Justice, Washington, DC, USA

    Angela Browne

  4. Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA

    Tara Warner

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  1. Christopher Krebs
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  2. Matthew J. Breiding
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Correspondence to Christopher Krebs.

Appendix: IPV Measures

Appendix: IPV Measures

All victimization measures reference incidents occurring since respondents’ 18th birthday. Physical Violence was measured with the questions: “Since your 18th birthday did anyone, including a spouse, partner, date, relative, acquaintance, or stranger…

  • throw something at you that could hurt you?

  • push, grab or shove you?

  • pull your hair?

  • slap or hit you?

  • kick or bite you?

  • choke or strangle you?

  • hit you with some object?

  • beat you up?

  • threaten you with a gun?

  • threaten you with a knife or other weapon besides a gun?

  • attempt to drown you?

  • use a gun on you?

  • use a knife or other weapon on you besides a gun?”

Sexual Violence

Respondents were asked several questions, such as: “Since your 18th birthday, has anyone [including a spouse, partner, dates, relative, acquaintance, or stranger] ever had sex with you after you said or showed that you didn’t want them to or without your consent?” The measure of unwanted sex includes putting a penis, finger, hand, or other object in the victim’s vagina or anus when she did not want this to happen. It also includes unwanted contact between the mouth and the penis, vagina, or anus, and times when the victim was forced or unable to consent because she was drunk or asleep, or because she thought she would be hurt or punished if she refused.

Psychological Aggression

Respondents were asked to indicate whether they were subjected to any of 12Footnote 1 psychologically aggressive behaviors since their 18th birthday. Unlike physical violence, sexual violence, and stalking these questions were only asked about in relation to intimate partners: “Since your 18th birthday, has anyone who’s ever been your partner [spouse, ex-spouse, someone you’ve lived with romantically as a couple, or someone you’ve dated]…

  • had a hard time seeing things from your point of view?

  • been jealous or possessive?

  • tried to provoke an argument?

  • tried to limit your contact with family or friends?

  • called you names or put you down in front of others?

  • made you feel inadequate on purpose?

  • shouted or sworn at you?

  • thrown objects or broken things when angry?

  • intentionally frightened you?

  • prevented you from knowing about or having access to the family income even when you asked?

  • prevented you from working outside the home?

  • insisted on knowing who you were with at all times?”

Stalking

Respondents were asked whether they experienced ten different types of stalking behaviors since their 18th birthday. Questions were prefaced with the following: “I’m going to ask you some questions about harassing and unwanted behaviors you may have experienced since you turned 18 that may have made you feel anxious or frightened. In answering, please think about anyone who may have done these things to you, including family members, people you knew, or strangers. If you’ve worked as a law enforcement officer or served in the military, please do not include any situations that happened while you were on the job. Since your 18th birthday has anyone made you feel anxious or frightened by repeatedly…

  • following you or spying on you?

  • sending you unwanted letters or written correspondence?

  • standing outside your home, workplace, school, or place of recreation?

Since your 18th birthday has anyone made you feel anxious or frightened by…

  • leaving unwanted items for you to find?

  • sending you unwanted presents?

  • monitoring your mail, e-mail, or other types of written or verbal communication?

  • vandalizing your property?

Other than a bill collector, sales person, or law enforcement, since your 18th birthday, has anyone made you feel anxious or frightened by repeatedly…

  • showing up unexpectedly at places you were, even when he or she had no reason to be there?

  • by making unwanted telephone calls to you?

  • by sending electronic communications or e-mail notes to you over the Internet?”

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Krebs, C., Breiding, M.J., Browne, A. et al. The Association Between Different Types of Intimate Partner Violence Experienced by Women. J Fam Viol 26, 487–500 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-011-9383-3

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