Citation

Straus MA, Gelles RJ. Public Health Rep. (1974) 1987; 102(6): 638-641.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Association of Schools of Public Health)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The relatively few attempts to estimate the degree of injury and the monetary cost of family violence are based on limited or questionable data and undemonstrated assumptions. Estimates based on the National Crime Survey, for example, are meaningless because of severe underreporting of intrafamily assaults.

The data on intrafamily homicides, however, are much more complete and are probably the most accurate figures on family violence. Intrafamily homicides reached a peak in 1980 (approximately 5,800 cases) and declined steadily to approximately 4,400 cases in 1984. Inclusion of spouse-like relationships (nonmarried cohabiting couples, boyfriend-girlfriend) could increase the number substantially. One estimate put the 1984 cost of intrafamily homicides at $1.7 billion. This estimate, however, can be highly misleading.

First, although the incidence rate data may be accurate, the cost estimates are necessarily based on a series of questionable assumptions. An even more important problem comes from taking the death and the incidents immediately surrounding the death as the starting point for the cost analysis. It is important to know the economic cost of the long period of nonlethal family violence that typically precedes the lethal violence.

The true accounting of the cost of family violence must also include the cost of providing mental health and social services to victims and the cost of treating aggressors. This paper makes a start toward the true cost by providing preliminary data on the increased risk of psychological problems (such as psychosomatic symptoms, depression, and suicide attempts) associated with wife beating and child abuse.