Alcohol and intimate partner violence: A meta-analytic review
Section snippets
Theoretical models of the alcohol and IPV
Similar to the broader literature on alcohol and general aggression, theoretical explanations for the alcohol–IPV link vary from placing alcohol as a causal variable to a spurious variable (for reviews, see Graham et al., 1997, Leonard, 2001, Lipsey et al., 1997). Three common models are as follows: (1) spurious effects model; (2) indirect effects model; and (3) proximal effects model (Leonard & Quigley, 1999).
The spurious model states that the association between alcohol and aggression is due
Literature search
In order to identify studies for inclusion, the computer databases, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES, were searched for studies between 1980 and 2006. The following combinations of key words were used for searching: alcohol, partner aggression, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, couples, aggression, physical abuse, and alcohol abuse. Reference lists of identified articles were also searched for other studies as well as searching by author names that conducted research in the area (e.g.,
Results
The mean overall effect sizes and individual effect sizes are reported for female alcohol use/abuse and aggression (N = 8) and male alcohol use/abuse and aggression (N = 47) in Table 1, Table 2, respectively. The mean overall effect size for the studies of female alcohol use/abuse and aggression perpetration was statistically significant and in the small effect size range (r = .14; 95% confidence interval = .08–.20). The test for heterogeneity was not significant, (Qw = 13.98, p > .05), but this lack of
Discussion
The results of this meta-analytic review clearly indicate that alcohol and IPV are associated for both males and females. This is the first study to report on alcohol and IPV perpetration for females; the analysis of 8 studies indicated a small but significant effect size for alcohol use/abuse and female physical perpetration of aggression. For males, the results were extremely consistent with previous reviews despite a broader definition of relationship status used for inclusion. Specifically,
Acknowledgement
Appreciation is expressed to Heidi Lary for assistance with coding of studies.
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References marked with an asterisk indicate studies included in the meta-analysis.