Abstract
Objectives
We aimed to assess intimate partner violence (IPV) among men and women from six cities in six European countries.
Methods
Four IPV types were measured in a population-based multicentre study of adults (18–64 years; n = 3,496). Sex- and city-differences in past year prevalence were examined considering victims, perpetrators or both and considering violent acts’ severity and repetition.
Results
Male victimization of psychological aggression ranged from 48.8 % (Porto) to 71.8 % (Athens) and female victimization from 46.4 % (Budapest) to 70.5 % (Athens). Male and female victimization of sexual coercion ranged from 5.4 and 8.9 %, respectively, in Budapest to 27.1 and 25.3 % in Stuttgart. Male and female victims of physical assault ranged from 9.7 and 8.5 %, respectively, in Porto, to 31.2 and 23.1 % in Athens. Male victims of injury were 2.7 % in Östersund and 6.3 % in London and female victims were 1.4 % in Östersund and 8.5 % in Stuttgart. IPV differed significantly across cities (p < 0.05). Men and women predominantly experienced IPV as both victims and perpetrators with few significant sex-differences within cities.
Conclusions
Results support the need to consider men and women as both potential victims and perpetrators when approaching IPV.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all men and women who generously participated in the DOVE project in the different cities across Europe. This work was supported by the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers—European Commission [contract number: 20081310] and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia [SFRH/BD/66388/2009 and PTDC/SAU-SAP/122904/2010].
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Costa, D., Soares, J., Lindert, J. et al. Intimate partner violence: a study in men and women from six European countries. Int J Public Health 60, 467–478 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0663-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0663-1