Family violence, employment status, welfare benefits, and alcohol drinkingin the United States: what is the relation?

Objectives-This study examined the contribution of employment status, welfa re benefits, alcohol use, and other individual, and contextual factors to p hysical aggression during marital conflict. Methods-Logistic regression models were used to analyse panel data collecte d in the National Survey of Families and Households in 1987 and 1992. A tot al of 4780 married or cohabiting persons reinterviewed in 1992 were include d in the analysis, Domestic violence was defined as reporting that both par tners were physically violent during arguments. Results-It was found that non-employed respondents are not at greater risk of family violence in comparison with employed respondents, after controlli ng for alcohol misuse, income, education, age, and other factors; however, employed persons receiving welfare benefits are at significantly higher ris k. Alcohol misuse, which remains a predictor of violence even after control ling for other factors, increases the risk of family violence while satisfa ction with social support from family and friends decreases it. Conclusion-These results underscore the important effect of alcohol misuse on domestic violence, and the need to monitor the potential impact of welfa re reform on domestic violence.