Iran Journal of Nursing

  Background : In the recent decades, domestic violence had been an all over increasing phenomenon, the victims of which are mostly women. Individuals with certain personal familiar and socio- economic characteristics may be threatened and subjected to its aggravated consequences.

  Objective : To identity and correlate couple's characteristics with the kind (physical or psychological), and severity of wife abuse among women victims attending Tehran Judicial court during 1999.

  Design : This was a descriptive- correlational study. A two parted questionnaire was employed to question personal, familiar and socio- economic characteristics, further by INDEX of SPOUSE ABUSE(I.S.A) the kind (physical or psychological) and severity of wife abuse was estimated.

  Samples: A total of 110 women were selected consequently from women attending Tehran judicial court.

  Results : Findings showed a reverse relation between women's age and severity of abuse (PV= 0.04) and a direct relation between men's age and intensity of abuse (PV= 0.05). Low level education wife, belonging of husband to rural community, addiction of wife or husband, husband's illness, excessive age difference, plurality of husband's wife, presence of children from previous marriage, undesirable child sex, forced marriage, being a house- wife, considering violence as a common event and limited social interaction were positively related with physical and psychological abuse in women.

  Conclusion : It is evident�that women in all socio- economic groups may be subject to abuse, yet it became clear that in certain groups it happens much severely, which should be viewed more concern. Considering the couples characteristics, spouse abuse may be anticipated and detected among emergency as health clinic attendance, thus support of client's education and referral may be a way of preventing further physical or psychological abuse.

  It is also recommended to study the forcible factors and the prevalence of spouse abuse and community awareness of domestic violence. To acquire more knowledge of this problem further research and education of the health personal must be planned to increase public knowledge and combat women's abuse.