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Study Reveals
Domestic 'Predictors of Death'
From Buddy T, About.com,
Your Guide to
Alcoholism /Substance Abuse, Dec 1 2005
Leaving
Abusive Relationship Is Most Dangerous Time
A research of domestic violence-related
deaths has revealed that in 83 percent of the cases the
victim was either separated or about to terminate the
relationship, giving scientific basis for the long-held
belief that the most dangerous time for those involved in
abusive relationships is when they try to leave.
The University
of Cincinnati's School of Social Work examined a seven-year
period of 32 domestic violence-related deaths in Hamilton
County, Ohio. In 96 percent of the cases, researchers say
there were "predictors of death" or deadly
warning signs present in the relationships.
Substance
abuse was present in 68 percent of the cases involving
domestic-violence deaths.
Assistant
Professor Gary Dick, in partnership with Ann MacDonald,
Executive Director of Rape Crisis & Abuse Center and
Chair of the Hamilton County Domestic Violence
Coordinating Council's Death Review Panel, analyzed the
final reports from the panel that were collected from
domestic violence deaths from 1997 to 2003.
The
research of those 32 cases found:
- 91 percent who died were
female.
- 16 percent had a
protection order.
- 36 had children present.
"Our goal is to share this
information with those professionals who work with
victims and batterers," Dick says. "In
addition, this information will be shared with the public
in order protect the health and safety of women."
The major
findings of this study identified the following risk
factors (predicators of death):
- Separated – 83
percent
- Substance abuse – 68
percent
- Escalating abuse – 56
percent
- Stalking behaviors –
50 percent
- Criminal history – 46
percent
- Threats to kill – 43
percent
- Prior domestic violence-related
charge – 36 percent
- Child abuse – 33
percent
- Threats of suicide –
33 percent
- Perpetrator mental illness
– 31 percent
- Perpetrator brought a
weapon – 29 percent
- Strangulation – 29
percent
- Threats with weapons
– 25 percent
- Property damage – 23
percent
- Violated a protection
order – 23 percent
- Previous serious injury
– 23 percent
- Sexual assault – 21
percent
- Animal abuse – Eight
percent
"This project is designed to
help us prevent future deaths because of domestic
violence. This is information every woman in the
community needs to know," MacDonald said.
Source:
University of Cincinnati's School of Social Work.
Presented at the 10th International Conference on Family
Violence in San Diego in September 2005.
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