[Violence and verbal aggression in young people's intimate relationships]

The prevalence of partner violence in Norway is unknown. International research on individual risk factors for such victimisation is also sparse; moreover, the research has almost exclusively been focused on female victims.

The data stem from a representative longitudinal study of young people in Norway. In the latest survey, 2211 (response rate: 68%) responded to standardised questions on aggressive behaviour in an intimate relationship. The average age was 22; 37% were married or cohabiting.

Slightly more men (6%) than women (4%) reported that a partner had physically attacked them in course of the past six months. For men and women alike, victimisation correlated with aggressive behaviour towards a partner on their own part, alcohol or drug use, involvement in problem behaviour, and friends with a wild lifestyle. Own and friend's problem behavior in the teenage period were also related to future victimisation among women.

The observed gender difference in victimisation for the more prevalent, less serious forms of partner violence could be explained by the social norm that tells men to refrain from violence against those physically less strong and against women in particular. However, other studies indicate that victims of gross maltreatment and systematic abuse are most likely to be female and that studies of standard populations fail to disclose such grave partner violence.