The Differential Effects of Intimate Terrorism and Situational Couple Violence

TLDR

The National Violence Against Women Survey indicates that intimate terrorism and situational couple violence differ in their impact on victims. The study aims to differentiate types of partner violence in survey data to accurately assess the impact of wife abuse. Intimate terrorism victims experience more frequent, persistent assaults, higher injury rates, greater PTSD symptoms, increased medication use, work absenteeism, and are more likely to leave and secure independent housing.

Abstract

Data from the National Violence Against Women Survey show that the two major forms of husband violence toward their wives (intimate terrorism and situational couple violence) have different effects on their victims. Victims of intimate terrorism are attacked more frequently and experience violence that is less likely to stop. They are more likely to be injured, to exhibit more of the symptoms of posttraumatic stress syndrome, to use painkillers (perhaps also tranquilizers), and to miss work. They have left their husbands more often, and when they do leave, they are more likely to acquire their own residence. If we want to understand the true impact of wife abuse from survey data (rather than from agency data), we must make distinctions among types of violence so that the data used to describe battering are not diluted by data regarding other types of partner violence.