Risk factors exist at each level of the social ecology, which contribute to IPV perpetration. At the individual level, risk factors include attitudes and beliefs; at the relational level, risk factors include interpersonal and verbal interactions and family/relationship norms. At the community level and the larger societal level, risk factors include social norms and institutional structures, policies, and procedures.

Individual Factors for Perpetrating IPV

Recent research reviews of male perpetrators link several risk factors to IPV (Black et al. 1999; Harway and O'Neil 1999):

• Young age
• Low self-esteem
• Low income
• Low academic achievement
• Involvement in aggressive or delinquent behavior as a youth
• Alcohol use
• Drug use
• Witnessing or experiencing violence as a child
• Lack of social networks and social isolation
• Unemployment

Relationship Factors for Perpetrating IPV

Recent research reviews link several relational risk factors to IPV perpetration (Heise and Garcia-Moreno 2002; Kantor and Jasinski 1998; Harway and O'Neil 1999):

• Marital conflict
• Marital instability
• Male dominance in the family
• Poor family functioning
• Emotional dependence and insecurity
• Belief in strict gender roles
• Desire for power and control in relationships
• Exhibiting anger and hostility toward a partner

Community Factors for Perpetrating IPV

Recent research reviews link several community risk factors to perpetrating IPV (Heise and Garcia-Moreno 2002; Counts, Brown and Campbell 1992):

• Poverty
• Low social capital
• Factors associated with poverty such as overcrowding, hopelessness, stress, frustration
• Weak sanctions against domestic violence

VULNERABILITY FACTORS FOR VICTIMIZATION

To understand and prevent IPV, it is important to understand and identify vulnerability factors. A vulnerability factor is anything that increases the likelihood that a person will experience IPV. However, vulnerability factors are not necessarily causes and exist without the occurrence of IPV. The following vulnerability factors increase the likelihood of experiencing IPV:

Individual Factors Increasing Vulnerability to IPV

Recent research reviews identify several individual vulnerability factors related to IPV (Tjaden and Thoennes 2000a; Crandall et al. 2004; Rennison 2000):

• History of physical abuse
• Prior injury from the same partner
• Having a verbally abusive partner
• Economic stress
• Partner history of alcohol or drug abuse
• Childhood abuse
• Being under the age of 24

Relationship Factors Increasing Vulnerability to IPV

Recent research reviews identify several relational vulnerability factors related to IPV (Heise and Garcia-Moreno 2002):

• Marital conflict
• Marital instability
• Male dominance in the family
• Poor family functioning

Source: National Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov)