Physical and emotional partner abuse reported by men and women in a rural community.

Intimate partner violence exacts an enormous toll each year in the United States, affecting 3% to 5% of adult intimate relationships.1–3 Compared with urban settings, much less is known about the prevalence and correlates of partner violence in rural areas.4–6 Rural women are more isolated, have access to fewer services, and face different attitudes and norms than urban women.5–7 This study examined the prevalence of severe physical abuse, measured by the Conflict Tactics Scale,8 and controlling emotional abuse, measured by Yllo’s Controlling Behavior Questions,9 as reported by a cohort of cohabiting couples in a rural Iowa county. The objectives were to estimate the prevalence of abuse victimization reported by men and women on each scale and to identify factors associated with violence against men and women.