Socioeconomic inequalities in victims of intimate partner violence in Europe

Background: We aimed to consider socioeconomic inequalities in the frequency of intimate partner violence (IPV) in different European cities in both genders. Methods: We used random samples of adult men and women selected from the general population living in Stuttgart (n = 546), Athens (n = 548), Budapest (n = 604), Porto (n = 635), O¨ stersund (n = 592) and London (n = 571). The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales was used to assess IPV (past-year victims of physical assault, psychological aggression, sexual coercion and injury). Participants’ educational level (primary, secondary and university), occupation (upper white collar, lower white collar and blue collar), unemployment time (never, 12 months and > 12 months) and worries with daily expenses (never, sometimes, often and always), were considered as indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP). Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95%CI) were computed to measure associations between IPV and SEP indicators by fitting logistic regression models adjusted for age and country of residence. Results: In women: after adjustment for country and age, physical IPV was more frequent with primary school or less (OR, 95%CI = 3.67, 2.26-5.97) and secondary school level (1.73, 1.27-2.36), compared to university level, in blue collar workers (3.16, 1.96-5.11) compared to upper white collar, with increasing levels of worries with daily expenses (‘‘always worrying’’ vs. ‘‘never’’ = 2.26, 1.45-3.52) and with having been unemployed for more than 12 months (1.88, 1.32-2.69) compared to ‘‘never’’. Psychological IPV was associated with primary school or less (1.45, 1.02-2.08). Injury was more frequent among women with primary school or less (3.07, 1.45-6.48). In men: after adjusting for country and age, physical IPV was more frequent in lower white collar workers (1.88, 1.21-2.93) and in unemployed for >12 months (1.62, 1.05-2.49). Psychological IPV was more frequent in unemployed for less than 12 months (1.36, 1.05-1.77). Injury was more frequent in unemployed for >12 months (2.85, 1.45-5.59) and with ‘‘always’’ worrying with daily expenses (2.44, 1.05-5.67) Conclusions: In Europe IPV is associated with SEP. Differences found according to IPV types and gender might express cultural or contextual features, thus calling for further enquiry that accounts for higher level contextual measures. Key messages: In Europe, intimate partner violence is associated with socioeconomic position. Gender differences and differences in intimate partner violence types on the associations with socioeconomic position should be contextualized.