title: Economic abuse between intimate partners in Australia: prevalence, health status, disability and financial stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Economic abuse is a form of domestic violence that has a significant impact on the health and financial wellbeing of victims, but is understudied. This study determined the lifetime prevalence of economic abuse in Australia by age and gender, and the associated risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 2012 ABS Personal Safety Survey was used, involving a cross-sectional population survey of 17,050 randomly selected adults using face-to-face interviews. The survey-weighted prevalence of economic abuse was calculated and analysed by age and gender. Logistic regression was used to adjust odds ratios for possible confounding between variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lifetime prevalence of economic abuse in the whole sample was 11.5%. Women in all age groups were more likely to experience economic abuse (15.7%) compared to men (7.1%). Disability, health and financial stress status were significant markers of economic abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For women, financial stress and disability were important markers of economic abuse. However, prevalence rates were influenced by the measures used and victims' awareness of the abuse, which presents a challenge for screening and monitoring. Implications for public health: Social, health and financial services need to be aware of and screen for the warning signs of this largely hidden form of domestic violence.
authors.affiliation: School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University, Victoria.
authors.forename: Jozica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kutin
authors.affiliation: School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University, Victoria.
authors.forename: Roslyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University, Victoria.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004467:Economics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: economic abuse; financial abuse; financial stress; gender; violence