Analysis: Today's findings indicate that potential violent behaviour can be identified earlier, writes Dr Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent
The publication today of new research into domestic violence by researchers from Trinity College Dublin is highly significant. For the first time, it is possible to identify characteristics of men's behaviour as risk factors in terms of acting violently towards their partners.
Strange as it may seem, these findings actually offer hope for efforts aimed at preventing domestic violence.
But first, the high prevalence of domestic violence identified in this large study must be a source of regret. At 40 per cent, it is a shocking figure which is not made in any way more palatable by the descriptions of the violent acts themselves. Being kicked in the face, attempts at strangulation, burning and drowning, and being threatened with a weapon are truly horrific experiences. About 10 per cent of women were forced to have sex and an equal number were choked. That these women are over-represented as people who attend family doctors is a sign that their general health is poorer than the rest of the population.
This raises the question of what the long-term effects of domestic violence are. As Prof O'Dowd says, there is a need to research this issue so we can quantify the health needs of victims.
But in a strange way, the results of this landmark research give us hope that we can devise preventive strategies to at least reduce domestic violence.
In Prof O'Dowd's experience as a general practitioner, "men who are abusive have problems which they are interested in overcoming because they don't want to be battering their partners".
In so clearly identifying the types of controlling behaviour which men at risk of perpetrating domestic violence engage in, it should be possible to devise preventive programmes to help men recognise these destructive behaviours before they lead to irreversible patterns of violence. Similarly, women whose social lives are being restricted by their partners or whose movements are being checked up on must be educated about the danger signs which such behaviour represents.
Ultimately, if these behaviours can be highlighted to both sexes as part of a public education programme, they will become less socially acceptable. The recognition by couples of the existence of these behaviours in their relationship would lead to counselling and the rehabilitation of their partnerships before the appalling blight of violence reared its head.
Today's research deals with men's violent behaviour towards women. There must be equal concern about women's violent behaviour towards men. Researchers must also consider the possibility of violence in same-sex relationships.
Dr Bradley and her team must be congratulated on a fine piece of research which has international as well as national implications. As the first to identify a link between controlling behaviour and domestic violence they have laid a foundation for the creation of prevention programmes which will offer the potential to reverse a horrible social cancer.