AN OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH ON COUPLE VIOLENCE - WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT MALE BATTERERS, THEIR PARTNERS, AND THEIR CHILDREN

in this article, we review research findings on the problem of couple violence. We draw several conclusions based on a review of sociodemogr aphic findings and research comparing violent and nonviolent men, viol ent and nonviolent couples, battered and nonbattered women, and childr en growing up in maritally violent homes and nonviolent homes. Specifi cally, risk factors for couple violence include young age, low socioec onomic status, minority group membership, and cohabitation. Relative t o nonviolent men, batterers evidence more psychopathology, alcohol use , and anger, but poorer communication and problem solving skills. Batt ered women are at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder and depressio n, and children of violent marriages are at risk for a range of negati ve psychological and behavioral outcomes. However, batterers, battered women, violent couples, and their children are not homogeneous groups . Rather, they vary along important dimensions (e.g., severity of viol ence, consequences of violence, psychopathology) that may have importa nt clinical implications, such as designing treatment for different ty pes of clients. (C) 1996 John Wiley C Sons, Inc.