The Distribution of and Factors Associated With Intimate Terrorism and Situational Couple Violence Among a Population-Based Sample of Urban Women in the United States

This article describes the distribution of factors that characterize intimate terrorism & situational couple violence, including controlling behaviours, violence escalation, & injury among a representative sample of 331 physically assaulted women living in 11 American cities. In multivariate analyses, respondent’s young age, violence escalation in the relationship, partner’s access to guns, previous arrests for domestic violence offenses, poor mental health, & previous suicide attempts or threats were associated with intimate terrorism. Results suggest situational couple violence is rare & that moderate & high levels of controlling behaviours are associated primarily with partner factors. (26 refs)