Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between verbal and physical violence and identify gender differences in severity and associated variables of marital violence. Subjects consisted of 211 couples(husbands: 211, wives: 211) who were recruited in the community. The results were as followings: significant positive correlation was demonstrated between verbal and physical violence. There was no significant difference between husbands and wives in the rate of verbal and physical violence against spouse. To determine the relative contributions of variables to explaining verbal and physical violence, stepwise multiple regression was conducted. In verbal violent group, it was demonstraed that demanding communcaion behaviors explained 16.2% of variance of husband's violent behaviors(under 40). Wife's demanding communication behaviors, wife's withdrawing communication behaviors, and mutual constructive communication behaviors explained 27.5% of variance of husband's violent behaviors(above 40). Demanding communcaion behaviors and impulsivity explained 14.7% of variance of wife's violent behaviors(under 40). Demanding communication behaviors explained 17.8% of variance of wife's violent behaviors(above 40). In physical violent group, verbal violence, aggressive interpersonal problems, demanding communcaion behaviors, and wife's demanding communication behaviors explained 67.3% of variance of husband's violent behaviors(above 40). Verbal violence, exploitive interpersonal problems, demanding communcaion behaviors explained 50.6% of variance of wife's violent behaviors(under 40). Verbal violence explained 21.9% of variance of wife's violent behaviors(above 40).