Socioeconomic and Psychological Factors Influencing Domestic Violence Incidence

This essay explores the socioeconomic factors that influence domestic violence incidence and also finds a link between the psychological factors and domestic violence episodes. The evaluation of both the two factors will be done by analyzing the eventual impact of the factors on perpetrators or victims of domestic violence.

Running head: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic violence
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

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Domestic violence has become a major public health issue because of the prevalence of
such incidence globally and increase in negative physical, mental, sexual and reproductive
impact on victims. Intimate partner violence and physical violence can lead to depression, post
traumatic stress disorder, suicide attempts and many mental health issues in affected individually
(Ouellet‐Morin et al., 2015). Certain social and psychological factors predispose certain groups
of people in the society to risk of domestic violence. This essay aims to explore socioeconomic
factors that influence domestic violence incidence and also find link between the psychological
factors and domestic violence episodes. The evaluation of both the two factors will be done by
analysing the eventual impact of the factors on perpetrators or victims of domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a phenomenon that defines abuse or harm inflicted to an individual
by the partner or the person with whom they reside in a setting. The most common form of
domestic violence is the intimate partner violence where a woman is mostly likely to suffer if
they have low education, no employment and attitude towards violence (Caetano, Schafer &
Cunradi, 2017). Such factors indicate link between socioeconomic factors and domestic violence
incidents. Low education is a social risk factor that predisposes women to risk of domestic
violence. Trinh et al. (2016) supports the fact that lower educational attainment is one of the key
factors that inculcates violence supportive attitudes among women. They are compelled to accept
such form of abuse because of their low bargaining power in society and dependence on the
partner for livelihood and other means of living. Sabri, Simonet and Campbell (2018) justifies
acceptance of intimate partner violence among women because of cultural normalization of
abuse, fear of losing children and the need to protect family honour. The study has revealed that
women with low education and low socioeconomic status adhere to norms justifying domestic
violence. Hence, by examining the link between education and domestic violence, it can be said

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that there is a need to make education a protective factors against domestic violence for victims
so that they can be empowered to act against domestic violence through education, financial
support and housing.
Apart from low education, unemployment and low income has been found to be effective
factors that lead to domestic violence against women. This is proved by a research study by
Slabbert (2017), which revealed that women with low income are more vulnerable to abuse as
they have limited choices and resources to make their life better. Poverty is a negative element in
their life, which offers no route for them to escape the situation, but accept violence silently. For
many women, housing is also linked to their partner’s employment contract and they fear taking
action against violence because of loss of employment, housing and income. Daoud et al. (2016)
explains that housing instability is most common among victim of intimate partner violence and
their fundamental right of stable housing is violated when victims are not securely housed in
their own home. The situation becomes worst for those women who have low level of education
as it limit their chance of seeking alternative employment and eliminating poverty. It eventually
leads to poor health and exaggeration of exiting health problems among victims (Wong &
Mellor, 2014). Hence, low education and income force victims to accept domestic violence to
meet their basic life needs, whereas perpetrators of domestic violence get the encouragement to
continue with repeated acts of violence because of their female’s partner’s low education, no
income and complete dependence on them for basic life needs.
The patriarchal norm in society and values of masculinity increases risk for victims and
enhances motivation of perpetrators to engage in violence act. Patriarchy is defined as a social
system that promotes institutionalization of male dominance over woman and children and
deprivation of rights and resources for women (Sultana, 2011). Low education and

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unemployment is mostly seen in victims who live in a patriarchal society. Patriarchal
arrangements promote the occurrence of domestic violence because of the dominant power that
is given to the male gender to have social control over the other gender. The patriarchal norms in
certain communities limit women’s opportunity to get education and eventually obtain stable
income source. This eventually reduces the bargaining power of women and empowers the
perpetrators to negative take control of the lives of victims (Rajan, 2018). This ideal can be
understood from the patriarchy theory or feminist theory that regards patriarchal thinking as the
main cause of domestic violence. In patriarchal society, males can resort to violent means to
show their superiority (Khatchvani, 2015). This discussion gives an insight into the role of
patriarchal norm on perpetrator’s motivation to engage in domestic abuse of their partner.
Cultural norms legitimize violence committed by perpetrators and expose women and children to
cycle of emotional and physical abuse (Namy et al., 2017). Poor long term health effects and
negative current health effects such as depression, stress, sexually transmitted disease and
miscarriage is common among victims of domestic abuse.
The influence of psychological factors on domestic violence incidence is understood from
high reported incidence of crime, substance abuse, suicide ideation and developmental and
behavioural problems in women and children who are abused. For example, children who are
exposed to domestic violence at an early stage of their life become vulnerable to developmental
problems evidenced by substance abuse, and mental illness and anti-social behaviour (Patterson,
DeBaryshe & Ramsey, 2017). Westrupp et al. (2018) revealed that physical exposure to inter-
parental conflict increases externalizing problems in children. Hence, it can be said that
children’s exposure to violence increases their risk for domestic violence and developmental
problems in later life too. Herrenkohl and Jung (2016) indicated that 14-19 years boys with

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history of maltreatment are more likely to perpetrate physical abuse in later life. Children who
are abused physically or emotionally have low self-esteem and they are more likely to be robbed,
attacked or assaulted. Therefore, the evidence gives the insight that being abused in childhood
transforms such children to perpetrators of abuse in later life. Such kind of attitude developed
because such children grow in a violent home environment. They normalize such acts and start
favouring violence in their later life. However, the severity of risk for victims or perpetrators can
be understood by the type and timing of exposure to child’s exposure to violence.
Substance abuse is a factor that is most commonly found in victims and perpetrators of
domestic violence. Substance abuse in perpetrators increases incidence of domestic violence and
substance abuse is the consequence of domestic abuse too. The frequency of violence episode is
higher when the perpetrator is a problem drinker or engaged in alcohol abuse. This is revealed by
Caetano, Schafer and Cunradi, (2017) as the study revealed that heavy drinkers have impulsive
personality and they use drinking as an excuse to engage in violent behaviour. Alcohol use is
common among both perpetrators and victims. Alcohol related problems increase the likelihood
of violent relationship among people with the problem. For this reason, alcohol abuse and
domestic violence is regarded as phenomenon that co-occurs most frequently and share same risk
factors too. de Paula Gebara et al. (2015) reported that apart from young age, illiteracy, history of
physical violence and depression, alcohol related problem is one of the risk factors of domestic
violence. Such links has been found mainly because alcohol has direct effect and physical and
cognitive performance of an individual and it reduces people’s ability to self-control and identify
signs of danger. Perpetrators use alcohol as an excuse to display aggression whereas victims use
alcohol use as a coping strategy to deal with psychological stress caused by exposure to violent
situations (de Paula Gebara et al., 2015).

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Victims of domestic violence are affected by psychological problems like depression,
post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorder and suicide ideation. Chang, Kahle and Hirsch
2015) explained the cause behind greater depressive symptoms in patients with domestic abuse
by investigating about the relationship between domestic abuse, belongingness and depressive
symptoms. The study revealed that depressive symptomatology is one of the most robust
findings among people with domestic abuse as women with domestic abuse are three times more
likely to develop depression. The author identified belongingness as a mediator that lead to
depressive symptoms among victims of domestic abuse. Women who have violent relationship
with their partner lose sense of belongingness with their children and partner. This form of
disconnectedness is a consequence of domestic abuse and it is positively associated with
depressive symptoms. On the contrary, Khalifeh et al. (2015) gave the insight that patients with
severe mental illness are at increased risk of domestic violence. High prevalence rate of domestic
and sexual abuse was found in patients with mental illness and such victims were more likely to
commit suicide too. In addition, Kavak et al. (2018) argued that suicide ideation is seen in
patients who are battered by their husband. Hence, depressive symptoms in such victims can be
treated by providing external source of support and increasing interpersonal connectedness.
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that domestic violence occurs of the
interplay of various socioeconomic and psychological factors in the life of victim or perpetrators.
Low education and unemployment has been found to be the two vital risk factors that make
victims vulnerable to risk of domestic violence and the same deficits in the partners encourage
perpetrators to engage in violent acts. The patriarchal norm of the society and the masculinity
ideals also support males to normalize their violent behaviour and exercise self-control on their
partner. Victims of abuse are more likely to experience mental illness and developmental

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problems because of lack of sense of belongingness and social disconnectedness from family. To
empower such women to come out of violent situation and improve their health and well-being,
it is essential that social support group empower victims by providing financial, housing and
emotional support to them.

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