Article Journal of Interpersonal Violence 26(5) 1036–1055 © The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: http://www. sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0886260510376496 http://jiv.sagepub.com A Comparison of Women of Color and Non-Hispanic White Women on Factors Related to Leaving a Violent Relationship Krim K. Lacey, 1 Daniel G. Saunders, 1 and Lingling Zhang 1 Abstract This study compares women of color and non-Hispanic White women regarding the influence of socioeconomic status, family investment, and psychological abuse on leaving a violent relationship. It was found that most women who left stayed away for less than a month. Women of color and non-Hispanic White women did not differ in their length or rate of leaving, although women of color left more frequently when they did leave. Factors associated with leaving for both groups were threat with a weapon, psychological abuse, being single, and having fewer adults in the household. Women of color with higher socioeconomic status were less likely to leave, which was not the case for non-Hispanic White women. Non-Hispanic White women were more likely to leave if they had lived with their partners less than 5 years and had children at home. Keywords Battered Women, Domestic Violence, Leaving Abusive Relationships 1 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Corresponding Author: Krim K. Lacey, University of Michigan, 5062 ISR Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Email: ktlacey@umich.edu at UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN on February 23, 2012 jiv.sagepub.com Downloaded from