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13 J. Soc. & Soc. Welfare 934 (1986)
Measuring Domestic Violence in an Alcoholic Population

handle is hein.journals/jrlsasw13 and id is 948 raw text is: MEASURING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AN ALCOHOLIC
POPULATION
Larry R. Livingston, MSW
ABSTRACT
A survey of 107 adults receiving residen-
tial treatment for substance abuse was condu-
cted, to determine characteristics of domestic
violence in relationships. The survey incor-
porated instruments to measure the degree of
substance abuse (the Michigan Alcoholism
Screening Test or MAST) as well as types and
frequencies of domestic violence (the Conflict
Tactics Scale or CTS-N). Findings are then
compared to a national study of 2143 normals
(Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz, 1980) to ascer-
tain differences in domestic violence.
Findings indicate that 83% ofalcoholic
subjects behaved violently in past relation-
ships, compared to 28% of the normal popula-
tion. Fifty-five percent of the alcoholics
had been violent in a relationship during the
past year, compared to 16% of the normals who
were violent during that time. The findings
also indicate that violence in alcoholic rela-
tionships is far more frequent and severe than
in nonalcoholic relationships. The implica-
tions of these findings for clinical practice
are discussed.
Several researchers have noted a high
correlation between alcohol abuse and domestic
violence (Fojtik, 1977; Forrest, 1980;
Gayford, 1975; Rosenbaum, 1981; Roy, 1977;
Snell et. al, i964; Walker, 1979). While the
correlation has been estimated (Black, 1981;
Kinney & Leaton, 1983), researchers have not
quantified the violence exhibited in alcoholic

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