Self-reported exposure to intimate partner violence among women and men in Sweden: results from a population-based survey

Abstract

BackgroundFew population-based studies assessing IPV among randomly selected women and men have been conducted in Sweden. Hence, the aim of the current study was to explore self-reported exposure, associated factors, social and behavioural consequences of and reasons given for using psychological, physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) among women and men residing in Sweden.MethodsCross-sectional postal survey of women and men aged 18–65 years. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with exposure to IPV.ResultsPast-year IPV exposure rates were similar in women and men; however, earlier-in-life estimates were higher in women. Poor to moderate social support, growing up with domestic violence and being single, widowed or divorced were associated with exposure to all forms of IPV in men and women. Women and men tended to report different social consequences of IPV.ConclusionsOur finding that women reported greater exposure to IPV earlier-in-life but not during the past year suggests the importance of taking this time frame into account when assessing gender differences in IPV. In-depth, qualitative studies that consider masculinities, femininities power and gender orders would be beneficial for extending and deepening our understanding of the gendered matter of IPV.

Intimate partner violence: a study in men and women from six European countries

“…Recent studies have reported that sex-differences might be only found in lifetime victimization and perpetration estimates when compared to past year estimates, reflecting women's more severe experiences (Lovestad and Krantz 2012;Nybergh et al 2013). However, an analysis of lifetime prevalence for the four types of IPV assessed (Supplementary Tables 5, 6) revealed the same crosscountry differences as noted for past year estimates and sex-differences within each site also followed the same pattern found for past year estimates.…”

“…Nevertheless, the British Crime Survey (Khalifeh et al 2013) points to past year estimates of physical IPV against men of 1.3 % and of 2.0 % against women, whereas in Denmark (Sorensen et al 2012) these were 6.4 % in men and 5.0 % in women, lower than our results. Two studies conducted in Sweden (through post), one using the WHO tool (Nybergh et al 2013) and another using the CTS2 (Lovestad and Krantz 2012) showed that past year physical IPV against men was 7.6 and 11 %, respectively, and against women it was 8.1 and 8 %, while sexual IPV male victims were 2.3 and 0.6 % and female victims were 3.0 and 3.2 %. Also a study conducted among women living in Germany (Stockl et al 2011) showed that 15 % ever experienced physical violence and 17 % experienced physical or sexual violence.…”

“…In the Swedish general population more past year sexual coercion victimization was also found in women [3.2 vs. 0.6 % with the use of the CTS2 (Lovestad and Krantz 2012) and 3.0 vs. 2.3 % with the WHO tool (Nybergh et al 2013)] while perpetration was declared by 5.2 % of men and 0.8 % of women. As with other self-reported sensitive and private issues, gender and country-specific stigma about IPV perpetration may impact on self-disclosure, although if this was the case, we would expect larger within-country differences than those noted.…”

Toward an integrated approach in research on interpersonal violence : Conceptual and methodological challenges

“…Also, ignoring gender when considering violence ignores the impact violence have on also those not directly exposed, such as fear of rape among many women (Muehlenhard and Kimes, 1999 (Nybergh et al, 2013a) and 27% (Lovestad and Krantz, 2012). Among men, the figures have been reported to be 8% (National Board of Health and Welfare, 2014b), 14% (Nybergh et al, 2013a) and 21% (Lovestad and Krantz, 2012). In this thesis I report figures of 10% for women and 3% for men.…”

“…On a societal level, power imbalances with gender norms supporting male dominance in families and in some cases even men's use of violence against their female intimate partners, facilitate intimate partner violence against women (Baker et al, 2013). Also, ignoring gender when considering violence ignores the impact violence have on also those not directly exposed, such as fear of rape among many women (Muehlenhard and Kimes, 1999 (Nybergh et al, 2013a) and 27% (Lovestad and Krantz, 2012). Among men, the figures have been reported to be 8% (National Board of Health and Welfare, 2014b), 14% (Nybergh et al, 2013a) and 21% (Lovestad and Krantz, 2012).…”