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Abstract #154840

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E. Carolyn Olson, MPH, Bonnie D. Kerker, PhD, MPH, Catherine Stayton, DrPH, MPH, Katherine McVeigh, Gretchen Van Wye, PhD, and Lorna Thorpe, PhD. Division of Epidemiology, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth St., Rm. 315, New York, NY 10013, 212-788-9310, colson@health.nyc.gov

Adding to research on gender disparities in intimate partner violence (IPV), this study examines one aspect of psychological IPV (self-reported fear) and its correlates in a population-based sample of urban men and women. We analyzed pooled data on 9,687 men and 13,903 women ages 18-64 collected in 2002, 2004 and 2005 through random-digit-dial surveys of 10,000 New Yorkers. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine gender-specific associations between IPV and sociodemographic and health factors. There was no significant difference in the age-adjusted prevalence of reported fear of a partner between men (2.2%) and women (2.7%), but multivariate analyses found similarities and differences among risk factors. Among women, fear was correlated with separated marital status, no health insurance, English-language interview, fair/ poor health status, and binge drinking. An interaction between number of sexual partners and household income showed the strongest association with fear to be among low-income women with multiple partners (OR=11.1; CI: 5.2, 23.6). In the men-only model, separated marital status and multiple sexual partners were correlated with fear, and an interaction between binge drinking and household income showed a strong association between binge drinking and fear among low-income men (OR=7.4; CI: 3.1, 17.4). IPV is a health concern for both men and women, but with differing profiles and implications for public health practice. Sexual risk behavior appears a particularly effective marker for IPV screening among low-income women; among men, identification of alcohol misuse could indicate a need for discussion about IPV.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the prevalence of reported fear of an intimate partner among both women and men in a diverse, urban population.
• Examine the gender-specific sociodemographic and health factors associated with reported fear of an intimate partner.
• Generate hypotheses about gender similarities and differences in reported fear of an intimate partner, and consider implications for public health practice.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Gender

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Audio (mp3) recording
• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Multimedia recording