Neighborhood poverty as a predictor of intimate partner violence among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States: A multilevel analysis

PURPOSE: This study assessed the contribution of neighborhood poverty, meas ured at the census tract level, to the risk of male-to-female and female-to -male partner violence (MFPV, FMPV) among white, black, and Hispanic couple s in the United States. METHODS: As part of the 1995 National Alcohol Survey, a representative samp le married/cohabiting couples was obtained through a multistage, multiclust er household probability sampling frame. The outcome variables, MFPV and FM PV, were measured through the Conflict Tactics Scale, Form R. Sociodemograp hic, psychosocial, and alcohol consumption covariates that were statistical ly significant through bivariate analysis were retained as individual-level predictors. Neighborhood poverty, indicating residence in a census tract w here greater than 20% of the population lived below the Federal poverty lin e, was assessed by appending 1990 Census data to the primary data set. Mult ilevel logistic regression models were constructed, with separate analyses performed for each outcome (MFPV, FMPV) among the white, black, and Hispani c couples. RESULTS: Couples residing in impoverished neighborhoods are at increased ri sk fur both MFPV and FMPV. The association between residence in an impoveri shed neighborhood and MFPV was statistically significant for black couples (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.87; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.36, 6.07). The associ ation between residence in an impoverished neighborhood and FMPV was statis tically significant for black couples (OR = 2.35; 95% CI 1.18, 4.71) and wh ite couples (OR = 4.12; 95% CI 1.94, 8.75). CONCLUSIONS: Characteristics of the socioenvironment, such as neighborhood poverty, are associated with the risk of partner violence, particularly amo ng black couples. Policies aimed at reducing community poverty may contribu te to effective partner violence prevention strategies. Ann Epidemiol 2000; 10:297-308. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.