Researchers link employment status, incidence of domestic violence

May 11 (UPI) -- Researchers in Spain found there is an association between employment status and the incidence of domestic violence in couples.

The team at Universidad Carlos III De Madrid's, or UC3M, Women's Institute analyzed results from macro-surveys on gender-based violence with information provided on the employment status and other socioeconomic characteristics such as age, level of education, place of residence and household income level.

Researchers found the lowest levels of domestic violence happened in families where both members of the couple were employed.

"It is more likely that these more egalitarian couples share values that question the more traditional roles of gender, particularly those associated with the dominant role of the male and his attitude regarding violence," Cesar Alonso, of the UC3M Department of Economics, said in a press release.

Researchers found having a higher level of education tends to reduce the risk of domestic abuse. They also found that the older the woman is, the more likely she is to experience gender-based violence.

"When the male doesn't work, the risk of violence can increase to the extent that his traditional role of family provider is questioned," Raquel Carrasco, of the UC3M Department of Economics, said.

Researchers said results could be used to propose policies against domestic violence going forward.

The study was published in Applied Economics.