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Beliefs about intimate partner violence: A survey of the Swedish general public
Author(s) -
Alfredsson Helen,
Ask Karl,
Borgstede Chris
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1467-9450
pISSN - 0036-5564
DOI - 10.1111/sjop.12254
Subject(s) - domestic violence , blame , psychology , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , injury prevention , suicide prevention , poison control , quarter (canadian coin) , human factors and ergonomics , social psychology , demography , psychiatry , medicine , environmental health , geography , sociology , archaeology
Public interventions are considered to be an important means of preventing intimate partner violence ( IPV ). What people believe about the nature of IPV is likely to determine their propensity to intervene, but little is known at present about IPV beliefs among the general public. In a survey of 650 Swedish citizens, beliefs about the prevalence and causes of IPV , and viable means of intervention were assessed. Respondents estimated, on average, that IPV occurs in almost one quarter of all intimate relationships in Sweden, and that IPV is particularly prevalent in low‐income groups, among non‐European immigrants, in suburban areas, and in couples under the age of 50 years. Physical violence was believed to be the most frequent form of abuse in male offender–female victim cases, whereas psychological violence was considered most frequent in other combinations of offender and victim gender. Female respondents estimated a higher prevalence of IPV , attributed less blame to IPV victims, and suggested more means of intervention, than did male respondents. The findings are discussed in relation to empirical prevalence estimates, and implications are proposed.