Exploring the variation within situational couple violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) happens at an alarming rate in the United States; more than one in three women have experienced IPV in their lifetime (Black et al., 2010). Johnson (2008) has indicated that there are different types of IPV with violent coercive control and situational couple violence being the most prominent. There are approximately 6 million cases of situational couple violence each year, and yet this type of violence is mostly understood in comparison to the other types. As researchers differentiate between different types of violence, it is important to consider the variation within types of violence as well. A subsample of 18 divorcing mothers, (from a larger sample of 108) who experienced situational couple violence during marriage, is analyzed using qualitative case analysis and quantitative group analyses. This study examines the variations of frequency and severity of violence, levels of fear during marriage, use of protective strategies during marriage, and harassment experienced after separation among mothers who reported situational couple violence. Group comparison between situational couple violence and violent coercive control and no violence and no control are also analyzed. This study illustrates that there are a wide range of experiences among mothers who report situational couple violence (e.g. minor severity and infrequent violence to severe and frequent violence), and these experiences result in different dynamics and effects for mothers.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human & Community Development

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Nielsen, Samantha

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hardesty, Jennifer L.
• Raffaelli, Marcela

• domestic violence
• situational couple violence
• intimate partner violence
• conflict

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Samantha Nielsen

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34273

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/34273