Is the Recession Causing a Rise in Domestic Violence?
“What a Child Sees” by Thomas HawkDespite the number of domestic violence agencies that network the country, coalitions across the United States are currently reporting a significant rise in family violence during 2009. But this problem is not confined to the U.S. During the first months of 2010, similar news reports have surfaced from Australia, the U.K., China and Malaysia, among other countries. Although some focus on the recession as the main cause for this increase, others wonder whether the problem may have even deeper roots. Of course, there is no doubt that financial woes add more strain to already violent relationships, and that financially strapped agencies have fewer resources to help victims. And it’s true that both of these factors contribute to the rise of reported domestic-related crime. However, it is also true that not everyone who is financially stressed feels compelled to inflict violence on their families. What do researchers really know about domestic violence and
