Domestic Violence against Women: First Epidemiological Research in Greece

Brief Description

This epidemiological research on the subject of domestic violence was carried out between October 2002 and April 2003 by the Research Centre for Gender Equality (ΚΕTHΙ). The objective of the research was the recording of domestic violence incidents in the Greek society with the woman being the victim and the spouse/intimate partner being the perpetrator.

The choice of the sample of the research was derived through the method of simple multistage random sampling. The sample was comprised of 1.200 women, between the ages of 18-60 years, residents of urban, semi- urban and rural regions, located in Greece. 

The collection of the data was done with the method of structured interviews by completion of a questionnaire that included fifty three (53) questions. The interviews were realized by experienced interviewers with previous experience in conducting social researches.

The following was recorded: incidents of verbal, psychological, physical and sexual abuse with women as victims and the spouses/intimate partners as perpetrators; history of previous violence during childhood and/or in previous relations during adulthood; indirect knowledge of incidents concerning domestic violence against known female victims; as well as the attitude of women concerning domestic violence. 

According to the results of the research 56%  of those interviewed experienced verbal and/or psychological violence, 3,6% suffered physical abuse  and 3,5% was forced in sexual contact. Moreover, the 23,6% of women declares that she knows a woman from their  related and/or friendly  environment that it has suffered or is suffering from incidents of domestic violence from the spouse/intimate partners. Finally, only the 8,8% characterizes their spouse/ intimate partners violent.