Marital Violence in the Community

Abstract

A study of women in Islington confirms earlier findings of a high rate of reported marital violence (25% experiencing it at some time in their lives). Women who had experienced marital violence tended not to repeat the same pattern in subsequent relationships. Violence was associated with childhood neglect, but not early violence. Premarital pregnancy and teenage marriage were links between early neglect and marital violence, and were also important correlates of later marital violence, irrespective of such earlier lack of care. These early-adult experiences were also related to spending longer in a violent relationship. Women experiencing marital violence were more likely to have been depressed, and to have had low self-esteem, in the 3-year study period.