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Majority of U.S. Adults Think Domestic Violence Is a Serious Problem in the United States Today

Posted on: Thursday, 15 June 2006, 12:00 CDT

ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A majority of U.S. adults think domestic violence is a serious problem facing this country, according to a new Harris Poll. Furthermore, majorities of U.S. adults broadly recognize some of the major identifying characteristics of domestic violence. Finally, many U.S. adults feel that certain services should be provided to domestic violence victims and their children.

These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,377 U.S. adults ages 18 and older surveyed online by Harris Interactive(R) between April 11 and 17, 2006. This survey was conceived and developed by Harris Interactive and was not commissioned by any organization; however, we sought and received valuable input from the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Familiarity and perceived seriousness of domestic violence * Large percentages of adults say they have some familiarity with domestic violence. Approximately eight in 10 (79%) recall "seeing or hearing something" about domestic violence in the past year. Furthermore, 53 percent say that they have heard of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. This percentage increases substantially among those people who admit that they have been victims of domestic violence (71%). * Among those who recall seeing or hearing about domestic violence in the past year, by far the single most prominent source of information is television. Over eight in 10 (84%) cite television followed by radio (33%), Internet (26%), billboards or signs on buses or trains (23%) and friends and family (22%). * Concerning the perceived seriousness of domestic violence as a problem in the U.S. today, over six in 10 (63%) say that it is either a very serious (34%) or extremely serious (29%) problem. Another 21 percent say it is a fairly serious problem, and 12 percent say it is either somewhat (11%) or not serious at all (1%). There are substantial differences between women's and men's responses. Women, by 72 percent, think this is at least a very serious problem, while just over half (54%) of men agree. Not surprisingly, among victims of domestic violence, the number jumps to 84 percent. Attitudes toward domestic violence

The Harris Poll measured a number of attitudes of all adults toward domestic violence. The survey found:

* A large majority (85%) agrees that "when a person forces his/her partner to have sex, it is an act of domestic violence." Two-thirds (66%) of adults strongly and 20 percent somewhat agree with this sentiment. * An 85 percent majority also agrees that "a man or woman who abuses his/her partner is more likely to also abuse children." About half (53%) strongly agree and 32 percent somewhat agree. * Approximately half (48%) of adults feel that "victims who don't leave an abusive relationship share some of the blame for their abuse." A third (34%) of adults disagree with this, and 16 percent neither agree nor disagree.

About two-thirds (68%) of all adults disagree that "abusive behavior is generally caused by circumstances beyond the abusers control." Only 14 percent agree and 15 percent neither agree nor disagree.

* Furthermore, a slim majority (53%) disagrees that "leaving an abusive relationship can be more dangerous than staying in the relationship." Under three in 10 (28%) agree with this and 17 percent neither agree nor disagree.

Adults are divided on whether "domestic violence happens more frequently in poor households." Thirty-eight percent disagree, while 32 percent agree and a quarter (26%) neither agree nor disagree.

Services available for domestic violence victims

The U.S. adult public feels that it is important that domestic violence victims and their children are provided with certain services. The most important of these services include:

* Emergency shelter (68% say extremely important) * Counseling (63% say extremely important) * Legal service (60% say extremely important) * An anonymous hotline (58% say extremely important)

Other services that also are thought to be extremely important but in lower numbers are childcare (56%), affordable housing (51%), transportation (48%), faith organizations (42%) and community of neighborhood associations (37%).

Sheryl Cates, Executive Director of the National Domestic Violence Hotline states, "These statistics are an important snapshot of attitudes, prevalence and resources necessary to change and prevent domestic violence in this country. While this snapshot of American attitudes shows an increase in awareness about the issue and the availability of local resources, the reality is there is still a long way to go toward changing public perception."

"As the National Domestic Violence Hotline commemorates its tenth anniversary, it continues to provide a vital link to safety for victims and we are hopeful that the next decade will bring us, as a nation, closer to becoming a society free of domestic violence."

This is Part 1 of a two-part Harris Poll column about Domestic Violence. TABLE 1

AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN PAST YEAR "Do you recall seeing or hearing anything about domestic violence in the past

year?" Base: All adults Victim Victim Victim was was Total Female Male Total Female Male % % % % % % Yes (Net) 79 77 81 82 80 88 Yes, I recall seeing or hearing something about domestic violence in the past year. 63 63 63 70 70 72 Yes, I recall seeing or hearing something about domestic violence but I am not sure if it was in the past year. 16 15 18 12 11 16 No, I do not recall seeing or hearing anything about domestic violence in the past year. 12 13 11 13 15 9 Not sure 9 10 8 5 5 3 Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding. TABLE 2 SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

"Where did you see or hear something about domestic violence? Please select

all that apply."

Base: Adults who recall seeing/hearing about domestic violence in past year

Victim Victim Victim Total Female Male Total was was Female Male % % % % % % Television 84 82 87 80 81 78 Radio 33 24 41 27 23 43 On the 26 25 26 30 30 29 Internet Billboards or signs on buses or trains 23 23 24 31 29 38 Friends or family 22 26 18 35 38 26 Pamphlets or booklets 18 21 14 29 32 18 In the workplace 13 12 15 13 13 15 Somewhere else 18 20 15 25 26 20 Not sure 2 2 2 3 2 3 Note: Multi-response question. TABLE 3

PERCEIVED SERIOUSNESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM IN UNITED STATES "How much of a problem do you think domestic violence is in the United States

today?" Base: All adults Victim Victim Victim Total Female Male Total was was Female Male % % % % % % Top 2 Box (Net) 63 72 54 84 86 76 An extremely serious problem 29 37 20 50 51 46 A very serious problem 34 35 34 34 35 30 A fairly serious problem 21 18 24 11 10 14 Bottom 2 Box 12 7 16 5 3 10 (Net) A somewhat serious problem 11 7 15 5 3 10 Not a serious problem 1 * 1 - - - Not sure 3 2 4 1 1 - Decline to answer 1 1 2 - - - Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding. TABLE 4

ATTITUDES TOWARD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE "For the following questions, when we use the term "domestic violence" we are

referring to physical harm (pushed, shoved, choked, hit, etc.), sexual harm

and/or emotional harm (made fun of, yelled at, ignored, isolated, etc.) regularly occurring between spouse or dating partners. Please rate your feelings about each of the following statements." Base: All adults Agree Disagree Neither Agree Disagree Some Agree Strongly Some Nor (NET) what Strongly Not (NET) what Disagree Sure When a person forces his/her partner to have sex, it is an act of domestic violence. % 85 66 20 8 5 2 3 2 A man or woman abuses his/her partner is more likely to also abuse children. % 85 53 32 9 5 3 2 2 Victims who don't leave an abusive relationship share some of the blame for their abuse. % 48 15 33 16 34 17 17 2 Domestic violence happens more frequently in poor households. % 32 8 24 26 38 21 16 4 Leaving an abusive relationship can be more dangerous than staying in the relationship. % 28 9 19 17 53 22 31 3 Abusive behavior is generally caused by circumstances beyond the abusers control. % 14 5 10 15 68 27 42 2 Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding. TABLE 5

SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE "How important would you say it is that each of the following is available for

domestic victims and their children?" Base: All adults Top 2 Extremely Very Fairly Box (Net) Important Important Important Emergency shelter % 89 68 21 6 Counseling % 87 63 24 7 Legal services % 86 60 26 8 An anonymous hotline % 83 58 24 10 Childcare % 82 56 26 10 Affordable housing % 80 51 28 13 Transportation % 77 48 29 14 Faith organizations % 66 42 24 16 Community or neighborhood associations % 66 37 29 20 Bottom 2 Somewhat Not At All Decline to Box (Net) Important Important Answer Emergency shelter % 2 2 * 3 Counseling % 3 2 1 3 Legal services % 3 2 * 3 An anonymous hotline % 4 3 1 3 Childcare % 4 3 1 4 Affordable housing % 4 3 1 3 Transportation % 6 5 1 3 Faith organizations % 15 10 4 3 Community or neighborhood associations % 11 8 3 3 Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding. TABLE 6 AWARENESS OF NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE "Have you ever heard of the National Domestic Violence Hotline?" Base: All adults Victim Victim Victim Total Female Male Total was was Female Male % % % % % % Yes 53 58 47 71 75 57 No 32 27 37 21 18 31 Not sure 15 15 15 8 7 11 Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding. Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between April 11 and 17, 2006 among 2,377 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,377 adults one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 2 percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

J27129A Q1851-Q1897 The Harris Poll(R) #49, June 15, 2006

By David Krane, Vice President, Public Affairs and Government Research, Harris Interactive(R)

About Harris Interactive(R)

Harris Interactive is the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what could conceivably be the world's largest panel of survey respondents: The Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/. To become a member of the Harris Poll Online, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com/.

Press Contact: Jennifer Cummings Harris Interactive 585-214-7720

Harris Interactive

CONTACT: Jennifer Cummings of Harris Interactive, +1-585-214-7720

Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/http://www.harrispollonline.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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