Journal of Interpersonal Violence 22 (6) June 2007 : 698-721

This paper discusses maternal reports of intimate partner violence (IPV) obtained from Pacific mothers living in New Zealand. It is the initial baseline phase of the longitudinal investigation study "Pacific Islands Families: First Two Years of Life (PIF) Study", which incorporates a broad and multidisciplinary perspective canvassing multiple dimensions of family life. The PIF study follows a cohort of 1,398 infants born at Middlemore Hospital, South Auckland, during the year 2000, and their mothers and fathers. The Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) was completed by 1,095 women (either married or living with a partner) who had given birth in the past 12 months. Data was collected to measure experiences of IPV which included reports about their partner's behaviour towards them (victimisation) and their own behaviour towards their partner (perpetration). Verbal aggression and physical violence of a "minor" and "severe" form were measured for both victimisation and perpetration. Quantitative analysis revealed that the 12-month prevalence of "victimisation" through verbal aggression was approximately 77%;"minor" physical violence was 21%; and for "severe" physical violence it was 11%. The 12-month prevalence of "perpetration" against a partner was as follows: verbal aggression was 90%; "minor" physical violence was 35%; and "severe" physical violence was 19%. Social inequality and acculturation were associated with IPV, but differentially across the experience of victimisation and perpetration. Factors such as ethnicity, maternal education, social marital status and household income were significantly associated with victimisation. Variables of ethnicity, cultural alignment, maternal birthplace and alcohol consumption since giving birth were significantly associated with perpetration. The authors caution the findings, and therefore the validity, of the study as the CTS has not been used with Pacific peoples before.