Rates of Intimate Partner Violence of Women with Substance Abuse

Abstract

Intimate partner violence continues to be a serious problem in the United States. Recent studies deomonstrate that the highest rate of intimate partner violence (IPV) occur in substance abusing women. Those in addiction recovery programs reported the highes rate of IPV with more than 36% reporting IPV in the previous year, and a lifetime prevalence of 73%. There is conflicting data regarding the relationship of age, education and income to rates of violence. This study looks at significance of these 3 factors as being independent predictors of IPV. This study was conducted with 99 women in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties in Michigan who attend Alcoholic's Anonymous meetings and completed written surveys about 12 months and lifetime prevalence of IPV. Demographic data including age, income and years of formal education were collected, and the relationships of these factors as determinates of IPV were studied. Lifetime and 12 month rates of violence were consistent with national rates. The only statistically significant indicator of IPV was years of education (p = .035). Nurse practitioners should implement screeing of women for IPV, with special attention paid to those who are alcoholic and with less years of formal education. Further research should examine the relationship of participation in a substance abuse recovery program and decreasing rate of IPV among alcoholic women.