Intimate Relationship Violence: The Incidence Of Families In General, Gender Differences And Influencing Factors

This paper examines the prevalence, characteristics, and causal relationships of intimate partner violence in a representative sample of 1000 couples in Lanzhou. Results underline a much lower prevalence rate of 5.6 per cent in the past 6 months, compared with shelter data and crime surveys, as well as almost equal rates of initiation by men and women. Mutual violence is predominant, which accounts for more than forty per cent. Violence perpetrated by men accounts for about one third, and violence perpetrated by women also occupies a little more than one quarter. In the field of injury caused by physical assaults, women experience more injury, though which is less serious in comparison with shelter data and crime surveys.It is concluded that different causal mechanisms may evolve in violence perpetrated by one partner, and mutual violence. Firstly, low relative income resources help to understand men's perpetration of violence, nevertheless, provide little insight into why women engage in assaults against their male partners and mutual violence. Secondly, conflict theory predicts that the more frequently verbal aggression is performed, the greater likelihood it will result in physical assaults perpetrated by women and by both partners. Together, patterns of communication help to explain intimate partner violence. Thirdly, previous research on higher prevalence rate is proved in violence perpetrated by men. Fourthly, financial inadequacy predicts violence initiated by one partner, whereas alcohol use and drug addiction help to understand mutual violence. Finally, intergenerational transmission effect is consistent with hypothesis, and family life circle affects occurrence of intimate partner violence on a large extent.