Weaver, Terri L.; Kilpatrick, Dean G.; Resnick, Heidi S.; Best, Connie L.; et al.

An examination of physical assault and childhood victimization histories within a national probability sample of women.

in: Out of darkness: Contemporary perspectives on family violence.; Kantor G.K., Jasinski J.L. (eds) Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, US, p. 35-46 (1997)

American Sociological Assn, Aug, 1994, Los Angeles, CA, US

Abstract

To examine the relationship between childhood history and adult assault, childhood physical and sexual abuse was assessed within the national sample. It was expected that (a) both physical assault groups would have significantly higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared with nonvictims of assault, and (b) that the national sample of victims of romantic partner assault would report significantly more experiences of series assaults compared with victims of stranger assault. Following univariate analyses, logistic regressions were conducted to examine multivariate relationships between variables predicting series assaults and between variables predicting stranger/romantic partner assault. Information on the demographics, victimization screening, and PTSD symptoms were collected for 4,008 women aged 18-34 yrs.... Results indicate that factors distinctive for physical assault by romantic partners include younger victims, increased likelihood of employment, more series assaults, increased injury, and perpetrator under the influence of alcohol. Increased rates of childhood victimization, PTSD, and life threat appear to be more generally related to physical assault rather than to relationship with the perpetrator.