Predicting Physical and Psychological Abuse for White, Black, and Hispanic Married Women

Carolyn Sawtell, Florida State University
Isaac W. Eberstein, Florida State University

Using data from the NSVAW, this study examines the influence of race/ethnic status on intimate partner violence in a sample of married Black, White, and Hispanic women (N=3,873). Findings indicate that a woman’s race/ethnic status cannot predict physical abuse, but it can predict psychological abuse. Black women report higher levels of psychological abuse than do White women, Results show that women who were abused as children suffer more physical and psychological abuse and college educated women, net of all other influences, report less psychological (but not less physical) abuse. Tests for interactions yield unexpected results. Black women who are employed full-time reported more psychological abuse than did Black women who are not employed full-time, a pattern that did not show for White women. Furthermore, higher levels of household income predicted more psychological abuse among Hispanic women whereas it slightly diminished the amount of psychological abuse reported by non-Hispanic women.