Factors for intimate partner violence [IPV] in urban Pakistani families

The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence [IPV] among women seeking healthcare services and identification of factors associated with Intimate Partner Violence [IPV] in this study sample. Cross-sectional research. Karachi, November 2007 to September 2008. There would be high rates of Intimate Partner Violence [IPV] among women seeking healthcare services. Women would report physical abuse, psychological abuse and sexual abuse. Age level, education, employment status, family income, family system, years of marital relation, number of children, nature of parental marital relations, cigarette smoking, childhood verbal and physical abuse of both husband and wife would be associated with Intimate Partner Violence [IPV]. The Study sample comprised of 500 women who came to seek healthcare from family health clinics and general O.P.D of some large hospitals of Karachi-Pakistan. Karachi Domestic Violence Screening Scale Urdu Version [KDVSS-U], Demographic Street. Descriptive Statistics and Pearson Correlation were applied for statistical analysis. Findings demonstrated high prevalence rates of IPV. Some specific demographic and social factors including low levels of education, poor employment status, childhood physical and verbal abuse, absence of parental support, and violence in family of origin found to be associated with the presence of IPV. Findings illustrated that women were at risk of IPV regardless of their age, employment status, years of marital relationship, number of children, and type of family system. Women's education, however, was found to be a protective factor against family violence. Husband's education, better employment status and family income were also found to be protective factors. Support from parents and in-laws were also a protective factor. Childhood physical and verbal abuse among husbands was associated with wife abuse. Presence of violence and abuse in family of origin of both spouses was also associated with violence in their own marriage. An average Pakistani woman still does not enjoy gender equality and independence, especially in terms of martial relationships

Measuring distance in personal relationships [a preliminary report]

The study is divided into three parts. The first part is aimed at identifying gender differences in the use of relational distancing tactics by university students [38 males and 38 females]. It was seen that women tend to use the strategy of disengagement significantly more than males [p < .01]. The results showed, that disengagement was used more than avoidance [t = -7.221, p < .001] and cognitive dissonance [t = 14.440, p< .001] as distance. strategies. The second study explores the relationship between Relational Distance Index and subjective distance perception on a sample of 36 students. The test-retest reliability of Relational Distance Index [Hess, 2003] as measured in the third study on 100 Pakistani students turned out to be r= .698, p< .001. Means, correlations and t-tests are used for the analysis of the data

Family sense of coherence and quality of relationship: a relational analysis

The purpose of this study is to measure the relationship between family sense of coherence and quality of relationship. Correlational Study. University of Karachi, from March 2007- September 2007. The sample consisted of 100 students [50 males and 50 females] from the University of Karachi, Pakistan. All the participants were taken from the 1[st] and 2[nd] year of graduate programs [B.A/ B.Sc. Honors]. Their ages ranged from 18 to 20 years. The hypotheses are [I] family sense of coherence will be positively related to quality of relationship, and [II] there will be a positive relation between the sub scales of Family sense of coherence and Quality of relationship. Family Sense of Coherence [FSOC]and Quality of Relationship Inventory were the two scales used for measurement. Means, standard deviations and correlations were calculated for statistical analysis. The results indicate a significant relationship among the variables. It appears that family sense of coherence have a strong relation with quality of relationship. The family is a most important source of, and resource for building, maintaining and developing meaning in relationship