Are Effects of Violence on Life Satisfaction Gendered? A Case Study of Indigenous Australians

Abstract

Violence related Australian statistics reveal a higher prevalence of violence among indigenous Australians than non-indigenous Australians. Using the latest National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (2014/2015) available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, this study investigates the socio-economic and demographic factors that influence the likelihood of physical violence among indigenous Australians and the effects of physical violence on life satisfaction, with a special focus on gender differences in such effects. The results indicate that while gender is an important determinant of violence victimisation, homelessness, alcohol and substance consumption, a victim of the stolen generation and remote living increase the likelihood of physical violence victimisation. Our results also reveal that, while physical violence negatively affects the life satisfaction of both women and men, exposure to physical violence reduces the life satisfaction of indigenous women more than indigenous men.