The relation of family violence, employment status, welfare benefits, and alcohol drinking in the United States (Reprinted)

circle Objective To examine the contribution of employment status, welfare benefits, alcohol use, and other individual and contextual factors to physi cal agression during marital conflict. circle Methods Logistic regression m odels were used to analyze panel data collected in the National Survey of F amilies and Households and in 1987 and 1992 A total of 4,780 married or coh abiting persons reinterviewed in 1992 were included in the analysis, Domest ic violence was defined as reporting that both partners were physically vio lent during arguments. circle Results Unemployed respondents are not at gre ater risk of family violence than employed respondents, after alcohol misus e, income, education, age, and other factors are controlled for; however, e mployed persons receiving welfare benefits are at significantly higher risk Alcohol misuse, which remains a predictor of violence even after other fac tors are controlled for, increases the risk of family violence, and satisfa ction with social support from family and friends is associated with its de crease. circle Conclusions Alcohol misuse has an important effect on domest ic violence, and tile potential impact of welfare reform on domestic violen ce needs to be monitored.