Couple violence and psychological distress.
Except for anecdotal data, empirical research on the psychological well-being of abused men is scarce. This paper compares the mental health of non-victims with victims of physical and psychological violence among 562 Calgary couples. Physical and psychological violence were assessed by two subscales of the Conflict Tactics Scales and psychological distress was assessed by abbreviated anxiety and depression subscales of the SCI-90, a frequency of symptom measure. Female and male victims of either psychological-only or physical violence reported significantly higher rates of distress than nonvictims. Females exhibited higher depression and anxiety scores than their male counterparts, regardless of whether they were victims or non-victims of either type of violence. Being both a perpetrator and victim of either type of violence is associated with significantly higher levels of psychological distress for both genders. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Grandin
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Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, Alberta. lupri@acs.ucalgary.ca
Lupri
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Brinkerhoff
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MB
D000416:Alberta; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires