Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2025
09:12
The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
71.2K
Domains of Housing Instability and Intimate Partner Violence Risk Among U.S. Tenants.
Anairany Zapata1, Leila G Wood2, Annalynn M Galvin1
1Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Summary
Housing instability, including homelessness and poor living conditions, significantly increases the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). Understanding these links is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies for vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Criminology
Background:
- Intimate partner violence (IPV) research often focuses on housing insecurity as an outcome.
- Limited research explores how housing instability may be a risk factor for IPV.
- This study addresses the gap by examining the bidirectional relationship between housing instability and IPV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific domains of housing instability and the risk of experiencing IPV.
- To analyze how homelessness, lease violations, utility hardship, and poor housing quality predict IPV risk.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods, cross-sectional study design was employed.
- Data collected from 1085 tenants at high risk for or experiencing eviction in Texas.
- Online surveys assessed housing instability across four domains and IPV using the Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream Screener.
Main Results:
- All four housing instability domains were significantly associated with increased IPV risk.
- Specific indicators like lifetime homelessness, living in unconventional spaces, missed rent payments, utility shutoffs, and unsafe housing predicted higher IPV risk.
- Experiences of homelessness (AOR=1.92), living in unconventional spaces (AOR=2.10), and non-payment lease violations (AOR=2.50) showed particularly strong associations with IPV.
Conclusions:
- Housing instability, encompassing homelessness, economic hardship, and substandard living conditions, is a significant predictor of elevated intimate partner violence risk.
- Findings highlight the need to integrate housing support services with IPV prevention and intervention programs.
- Addressing housing instability is a critical component in mitigating IPV.
Related Concept Videos
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
44.4K
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
44.4K
02:12Relationship Formation
41.0K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
41.0K
02:31Habitat Fragmentation
17.9K
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
17.9K
01:12Relative Risk
340
Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
340
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
185
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
185
01:23Types of Stressors
296
A stressor is any event, condition, or stimulus that triggers stress and causes a physical or psychological response in the body. Stressors can be categorized into three main types: catastrophes; significant life changes; and daily hassles, including social stress. Each can be detrimental to physical and mental well-being.
Catastrophes
Catastrophes refer to large-scale, unpredictable events that create overwhelming stress and a sense of threat. Examples include natural disasters like...
Catastrophes
Catastrophes refer to large-scale, unpredictable events that create overwhelming stress and a sense of threat. Examples include natural disasters like...
296