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Abstract
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Racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence and correlates of self-reported spousal violence in a community sample of Anglo, Black, and Mexican American adults are examined. Females, the formerly married, and Black females in particular (up to 60% of formerly married) were most likely to report both being beaten by and beating a spouse. Multivariate analyses controlling for demographic variables, financial stress, social desirability, sex role traditionalism and drinking quantity (and spouse's drinking among the currently married) did not eliminate the greater likelihood of reports of both beating and being beaten among married Black females. There was little consistent evidence to suggest greater violence propensity among Mexican American than Anglo respondents. The findings raise questions about simplistic socioeconomic status or financial stress explanations of observed racial/ethnic differences in spousal violence. Further, curvilinear effects of alcohol quantity and spouse drinking upon reported violence question simple disinhibition arguments and suggest the need for data regarding couple dynamics.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this study by Neff et al. was to empirically evaluate the ethnic and gender differences in self-reported spousal violence.
METHODOLOGY:
A quasi-experimental survey design was employed. Researchers interviewed 1,784 individuals, age 20-60 years old, from urban areas in San Antonio, Texas. A multistage area probability sampling technique was used. Only those districts with income and ethnic variation were used in sample construction. Next, tracts and blocks within these districts were randomly drawn. Finally, individuals who were currently or formerly married within the chosen tracts and blocks were randomly chosen and surveyed.
Because the authors were not only interested in estimating the comparative prevalence of spousal violence between ethnic and gender groups but examining the differing effects of predictor variables between ethnic and gender groups, a number of psychosocial variables were operationalized. A social desirability scale, used by Crowne and Marlowe, was constructed from 29 individual items. Cronbach's Alpha scores were calculated for Anglos (.77), Blacks (.74), and Mexican Americans (.76). A financial stress index, developed by Pearlin and Schooler, was also used. Cronbach's Alpha scores were calculated again for Anglos (.84), Blacks (.82), and Mexican Americans (.82). The authors constructed a 12 item index operationalizing traditional sex role orientation. This index used items identifying marital decision-making, marital division of labor, and belief in women's rights to pursue interests outside of the home. Cronbach's Alpha scores were .83 for Anglos, .87 for Blacks, and .85 for Mexican Americans. Alcohol consumption was measured by three questions gauging self reports of the quantity of consumption, the frequency of consumption, and the total weekly consumption. One additional question asked about the frequency of consumption for the respondent's spouse. Spousal violence was measured by a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale. The data was analyzed using simple descriptive and logistic regression techniques.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The analysis was conducted in two stages. First, the authors examined the distributions of demographic and psychosocial variables to assess the extent that ethnic differences might be expected. Results of descriptive analysis showed that blacks were the most disadvantaged with regard to income and education. Blacks in the sample also exhibited more sex role traditionalism than Anglos. Anglos and Blacks were more frequent albeit lower quantity drinkers than Mexican Americans. Females exhibited less sex role traditionalism and were lighter drinkers than males in the sample. Married females reported a greater frequency of spousal drinking than males. Among the different ethnic groups, Mexican Americans reported a greater frequency of drinking by their spouse than either Anglos or Blacks.
The second stage of the analysis examined the differing effects of predictor variables on the prevalence of spousal violence across ethnic groups and gender. Black females had significantly greater odds of being victimized by their spouses than Anglos. This relationship remained even after the effects of predictor variables were controlled. Results showed that there were no significant differences in victimization reported by males or the formerly married. Financial stress significantly increased the odds of victimization for Mexican American men and women as well as Anglo females. Financial stress also increased the odds of victimization for Anglo males. Results showed that, with regards to drinking, abstainers were significantly less likely to be victimized than higher quantity drinkers. More specifically, large quantity drinking increased the odds of victimization for married Anglo males and Mexican American females. However, when the level of spousal drinking was controlled, this effect disappeared. Mexican American men married to frequent drinkers have significantly lower odds of being beaten by their spouse.
Financial stress significantly and consistently increased the odds of beating one's spouse. This relationship remained even after the levels of other psychosocial variables were held constant. More specifically, this relationship held for married Mexican American males and females, Anglo males and females, and formerly married Anglo females. However, financial stress significantly lowered the odds of beating one's spouse for formerly married Black men. Increases in income significantly reduced the likelihood of beating for married Mexican Americans, Black females, and formerly married Black men. However, when the levels of other control variables were held constant, this relationship held for Mexican American females only. With regard to alcohol consumption, results showed that higher quantity drinking significantly increased the odds of beating for all married females and formerly married Mexican American females. When the levels of other psychosocial control variables were held constant, the magnitude of this relationship was attenuated although it remained statistically significant for married females. Results concerning alcohol consumption for men showed a similar trend although they were not statistically significant. One curious finding reported by the authors was that those individuals married to frequent drinkers had significantly lower odds of beating their spouse compared to those married to less frequent drinkers.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors identified several implications of their research. First, they suggested that the differences in spousal violence between Anglo and Black communities could no longer be accounted for by simple SES and financial stress explanations. Second, the authors suggested that sex role traditionalism does not play a big role in spousal violence, as is stereotypically assumed. They suggest that other cultural variables, such as approval of violence, may play a more important role. Third, the authors suggested that the standard alcohol disinhibition model is too simple to account for their findings. The authors recommended that future research acknowledge all of these issues directly.
EVALUATION:
This study does contribute to our understanding of the differences in spousal violence among different ethnic groups. And this is by no means a small feat. There is a rather large gap in our understanding of this issue. One problem with this study, however, is its unabashed empirical approach. The authors make empirical distinctions between current and formerly married, men and women, ethnic affiliation, and victimization and perpetration. While they substantiate the importance of each distinction, their analysis soon becomes muddled by them. This tendency of purely empirical works to atomize the phenomenon under question is by no means uncommon in either the natural or the social sciences. In fact, can be considered one of the fundamental characteristics of the traditional approach to scientific analysis. As a result, this study's potential contribution to future theorizing about spousal violence may be limited. Hence, readers should note that this study does not attempt in any form or fashion to develop theoretical explanations for ethnic and gender differences. While the authors do draw connections between their findings and current theories of spousal violence, these connections are very tenuous and largely unexplored. This is an unfortunate albeit natural consequence of this kind of atomistic, empirical explanation--the inhibition of theoretical generalization. Nevertheless, the authors do succeed in beginning to paint a picture, albeit via the Pointillist school, of the ethnic differences in spousal violence.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Spouse Abuse Offender
Spouse Abuse Victim
Spouse Abuse Causes
Spouse Abuse Incidence and Prevalence
Domestic Violence Causes
Domestic Violence Offender
Domestic Violence Victim
Domestic Violence Incidence and Prevalence
Caucasian Violence
Caucasian Adult
Caucasian Offender
Caucasian Victim
Caucasian Female
Caucasian Male
Adult Female
Adult Male
Adult Offender
Adult Victim
Adult Violence
African American Violence
African American Adult
African American Male
African American Female
African American Offender
African American Victim
Hispanic Violence
Hispanic Offender
Hispanic Victim
Hispanic Adult
Hispanic Male
Hispanic Female
Demographic Factors
Texas
Racial Differences
Gender Differences
Male Offender
Male Violence
Male Victim
Female Offender
Female Violence
Female Victim
Self Report Studies
Psychosocial Factors
Gender Role Ideology
Offender Substance Use
Victim Substance Use
Substance Use Effects
Psychological Factors
Adult Substance Use
Female Substance Use
Male Substance Use
Socioeconomic Factors
Financial Factors
Sociocultural Factors
Alcohol Use Effects
Partner Violence
Violence Against Women |