Gender differences in intimate partner violence: Risk factors and associations with suicide.

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to provide updated estimates of the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the general adult population of Ireland and to better understand gender-specific profiles of IPV, their risk factors, and their relationship with suicidality. Method: Data (N = 1,098) from Wave 4 of the Irish arm of the COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) study were used. Results: 32.1% of the sample experienced lifetime IPV, with IPV more common among females. Latent class analysis results showed that females had a more complex profile of IPV (four classes) than males (three classes). Risk factors for females included younger age, having children, lower income level, lower social support, and lower social contact, while risk factors for males were living in an urban environment, having children, and lower social support. All IPV exposure was found to be associated with a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing multiple suicide-related phenomena for males and females. Conclusion: IPV is a major public social health issue affecting approximately one-in-three females and one-in-four males in Ireland and is strongly associated with suicide-related phenomena. Clinical Impact StatementThis research highlights the prevalence and impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) among the Irish adult population and demonstrates that IPV is a major public social health issue. This paper can be used to help inform government policies relating to IPV as well as aid organization that are responsible for helping victims of IPV by providing critical up-to-date information.