Examining Patterns of Vulnerability to Domestic Violence Among African American Women

Abstract

The study discussed in this article explored the relationship between child abuse and neglect, other traumatic events, background variables, and HIV status as they relate to the continuum of conflict in adulthood, specifically verbal conflict and physical abuse that can increase women's risk for domestic violence. The sample included 135 African American women, ages 19 to 61, of mixed HIV serostatus. Almost half of the women reported both physical and verbal conflict and moderate to severe levels of physical abuse with current or recent intimate partners. Simple correlations and multiple regressions revealed that women with histories of child abuse were more likely to experience partner violence as adults. Other traumatic events were not associated with partner violence. Income and HIV status were related to specific patterns of partner violence. The influence that early experiences have on African American women eventually entering abusive adult intimate relationships is discussed.