Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #103718

Carol B. Cunradi, MPH, PhD, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Prevention Research Center, 1995 University Avenue, Suite 450, Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-883-5771, cunradi@prev.org and Robert Flewelling, PhD, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 1516 E. Franklin St., Suite 200, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

The purpose of this study is to determine if the effect of illicit drug use on risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) is independent of the purported mediator, neighborhood social disorganization, among married/cohabiting adults in the general population. Multivariate analysis of a nationally representative sample of 21029 male and female participants in the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) was conducted. Past-30 day illicit drug use was coded dichotomously. Measurement of neighborhood social disorganization, based on 5 questions describing neighborhood characteristics (e.g., crime, drug selling, graffiti, empty buildings) showed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha=.80). The dependent IPV variable was categorized into 4 mutually exclusive levels according to respondent report of IPV victimization only, IPV perpetration only, mutual IPV, or no IPV. A series of linear regression and multinomial logit models were developed to assess mediation effects among males and females, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, income, and alcohol. Results indicate that drug use is significantly associated with neighborhood disorganization among males (Beta=.2875, p < .001) and females (Beta=.2203, p < .05). For males, the effect of drug use on mutual IPV was mediated through neighborhood disorganization. For females, drug use remained independently associated with risk for IPV perpetration (Odds Ratio=3.62, p < .001) and mutual partner violence (Odds Ratio=3.18, p< .05) when neighborhood disorganization was accounted for. These findings highlight the need to elucidate the pathways by which neighborhood characteristics and drug use are directly and indirectly associated with increased IPV risk among married/cohabiting adults in the general household population.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• list characteristics of socially disorganized neighborhoods.
• describe the mediated and independent effects of illicit drug use and neighborhood social organization in relation to risk of intimate partner violence among married/cohabiting adults in the general population.
• recognize the importance of exploring the pathways by which these factors directly and indirectly influence risk of intimate partner violence.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Urban Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.