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Seeking for Risk Factors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in a Greek National Sample

The Role of Self-Esteem

Technological Educational Institute of Crete

Georgia S. Tzamalouka

Technological Educational Institute of Crete

Sevasti Chatzifotiou

Democritus University of Thrace

Joannes Chliaoutakis

Technological Educational Institute of Crete

The objective of this article is to gain a better understanding of the magnitude of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Greece and to explore factors associated with increased risk of IPV prevalence. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 1,122 men and women, aged 18 to 65, who are residents of urban areas of Greece. The questionnaire used included 3 sections and 39 items that examined the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, rate of IPV victimization and perpetration (physical, sexual, emotional), childhood experience of violence, and level of self-esteem. Statistical analysis showed self-esteem to be significantly associated with physical violence victimization and perpetration (odds ratio [OR] = .975, confidence interval [CI] = .955—.996; OR = .972, CI = .951—.993, respectively), whereas experience of abuse during childhood was shown to be a strong predictor in all six models of IPV victimization and perpetration (p < .001). Finally, gender, age and years of cohabitation were some sociodemographic and background characteristics found to increase the risk of specific forms of IPV. Conclusions drawn from the current study should be taken into account in attempts aiming at preventing or ameliorating the problem.

Key Words: intimate partner violence • self-esteem • sexual and physical violence • emotional aggression • childhood experience

This version was published on May 1, 2009

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 24, No. 5, 732-750 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0886260508317181


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