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Marital Power, Conflict, and Violence in a Nationally Representative Sample of American Couples

NCJ Number
106815
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1986) Pages: 141-157
Author(s)
D H Coleman; M A Straus
Date Published
1986
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Data on a nationally representative sample of 2,143 couples are used to study the relationship to marital violence of the power structure of marriage, power norm consensus, and the level of marital conflict.
Abstract
The couples were classified as equalitarian, male-dominant, female-dominant, or divided power. Equalitarian couples had the lowest rates of conflict and violence and male-dominant and female-dominant couples had the highest rates. Since equality in marriage is associated with low rates of intrafamily conflict and violence, laws, administrative decisions, and services that empower women and encourage men to value an equal partner are likely to be important steps to reducing violence and strengthen the family. 43 references, 3 tables, and 4 figures. (Author abstract modified)

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