By Rich Bowden:

An Australian study has found family financial pressures increase the likelihood of physical abuse on women.

University of New South Wales Adjunct Professor Don Weatherburn, Director, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, found in a study The influence of social stress, financial stress and social support on violence against women, that women who live in financially-stressed households are three times more likely to face physical abuse than their better off counterparts.

Presenting his findings at the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) Seminar Series, Professor Weatherburn said that around one in 25 women aged 35-44 will be assaulted or threatened with assault in any given 12 month period.

However the sample study showed that “…the annual risk of assault or threatened assault for a woman aged 35-44 who is under no personal or financial stress and has no drug or alcohol problems is about 4.1 per cent,” according to an August 13 University of NSW press release.

However this figure jumped to 14.6 per cent if the subject had experienced financial stress in the preceding year.

Speaking to the ABC last week, Prof Weatherburn said both rich and poor families were affected.

“We found that whatever socio-economic group you were in, if you’re under financial stress or if you had personal stresses in the past 12 months, as [a] woman you are much more likely to become a [victim of] violence,” he said.

“It was reduced though if you had social support, if you had family or friends you could call on at a time of crisis.”

For more information on Prof Weatherburn’s address to the SPRC, please see link to podcast here.

Tags: don weatherburn, female abuse, physical abuse study, physical abuse women, social policy research centre, SPRC, UNSW