Gender inequality: A worldwide correlate of intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of violence against girls and women globally. Gender inequality may be a critical variable of focus for prevention. Using the most representative global data to date on gender inequality (i.e., the United Nations' gender inequality index) and intimate partner violence (i.e., the World Health Organization's Global Violence Against Women database), the current study aims to examine the proposed relationship between gender inequality and intimate partner violence at the macro-level. Matching data from the World Health Organization's global database and the United Nations' gender inequality index exists for 75 countries. Results demonstrate a positive global relationship between intimate partner violence and gender inequality, with countries with higher gender inequality reporting higher rates of intimate partner violence across the lifespan. Implications for the prevention of intimate partner violence globally are discussed.