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Using Demographic Risk Factors to Explain Variations in the Incidence of Violence Against Women

University of New England

Angie Smith

University of New England

Jeanne R. Madison

University of New England

This article offers statistical support for the contention that demographic risk factors influencethe incidence of some women's experiencing violence more than others. Our results were generatedusing a binary probit model and 6,332 observations from the 1996 Australian Women'sSafety Survey. For purposes of comparison, we identified a set of benchmark demographic characteristicsas those occurring most frequently in the data set and estimated that if a woman wereto have all of these characteristics, the probability she would have experienced violence in thepast 12 months was 6.7%. We found that the risk varied with levels of postschool education,income, ethnic background, number and age of children, marital status, and age. Employmentstatus, school-leaving age, and socioeconomic status had no statistically significant effect on therisk of experiencing violence once other factors were considered. This analysis may provide abasis for violence reduction and prevention programs.

Key Words: physical assault • sexual assault • national safety survey • probit model

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