Perceptions and Knowledge of High-Risk Intimate Partner Violence Among African Americans

Background and Purpose:
Structural inequality places African Americans (AAs) at increased vulnerability to intimate partner violence (IPV), resulting in disproportionately higher rates of high-risk IPV. High-risk IPV refers to behaviors that significantly increase the likelihood of severe harm, including homicide or femicide. Although researchers have identified several high-risk IPV indicators, little is known about how AAs perceive and recognize these indicators—apart from the work of Dr. Bent-Goodley. These indicators are not universally applicable; cultural factors may influence how high-risk behaviors are identified and interpreted. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and knowledge of high-risk IPV indicators among AAs.

Methods:
In 2024, participants were recruited via Qualtrics online panels. Eligible individuals were 18 years or older and self-identified as African American. They received an email invitation to complete a survey on healthy relationships within Black communities. Participants were informed about the study and compensated $10 for completing the 30-minute survey. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was obtained.

A total of 1361 individuals completed the survey, including 636 men (46.7%), 716 women (52.6%), and 9 individuals identifying as "other" (0.7%), with an average age of 48. Approximately 32.9% had completed high school or earned a GED, and 44.6% reported household incomes of $35,000 or more. Nearly half (48.9%) were single and had never been married. Most participants identified as heterosexual (85.3%), and the majority had never been incarcerated (85.3%).

Results:
Participants scored an average of 27.74 (SD = 6.57) on the Danger Assessment (DA) scale (range: 20–40), where lower scores indicate greater recognition of high-risk IPV indicators. Over half of the participants did not recognize or were unsure whether the following were high-risk indicators: "A victim leaves an abusive partner after cohabitation," "An abusive partner is unemployed," and "A victim has a child not biologically related to the abuser." Additionally, 40–49% of participants failed to recognize or were unsure about six other DA indicators. Regression analysis showed that younger age, male gender, lower education, lower income, and heterosexual identity were associated with reduced recognition of high-risk IPV indicators. Open-ended responses supported these findings and revealed additional culturally relevant high-risk indicators. Qualitative data also highlighted widespread uncertainty around what constitutes high-risk IPV.

Conclusions and Implications:
This study provides valuable insights into the perceptions and knowledge of high-risk IPV among African Americans. Findings underscore the need for culturally tailored education on high-risk IPV indicators and suggest that current definitions may need to be expanded to reflect the lived experiences of African Americans.