Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries (January 11 - 14, 2007)

Overview: Violence against women is identified as a top human rights issue by women with disabilities, a population that is more likely to experience intimate partner violence than their counterparts without disabilities. Existing research on violence against among women with disabilities has pointed to the need for population-based sampling, the inclusion of women of non-White descent and the use of literature-based definitions of intimate partner violence. Design: This study draws on a population-based sample of women primarily of African American and Latina descent both with (N=141) and without (N=683) disabilities, living in Chicago, Illinois in 1995. Definitions of intimate partner violence are drawn from the framework presented by Leone, Johnson, Cohan, & Lloyd, 2004. Findings: Although overall rates of intimate partner violence did not differ by disability status or timeframe (past year vs. lifetime), women with disabilities were more likely to have experienced intimate partner violence in the form of threats (56.3% vs. 33.3%, OR = 1.6*), and/or physical violence (80.0% vs. 45.5%, OR=4.8*) in the past year than were their counterparts. Using logistic regression to identify risk factors associated with intimate partner violence, no significant differences were noted by disability status, but risk factors included having one+ preschooler (OR=1.6**), history of child abuse (OR=2.5**) and for past-year intimate partner violence, pregnancy (OR=1.9**). Implications: Case management implications relate to the need for disability-sensitive intimate partner violence assessment training at all state disability offices and the need to facilitate accessibility of traditional intimate partner violence systems. Policy implications relate to the need to institutionalize intimate partner violence screening among people receiving disability benefits at naturally occurring contact points, such as disability determination reviews.