An intersectional analysis of stranger,acquaintance and domestic violence victimisation in England and Wales using MAIHDA

Abstract

This study investigates intersectional disparities in stranger, acquaintance and domestic violence victimisation using 5 years of Crime Survey for England and Wales data (N = 165,661). Using logistic Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy (MAIHDA), we estimate inequalities across 191 strata defined by combinations of gender, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status (SES) and disability. Around 17%–26% of the total variation in victimisation is attributable to differences between strata, but residual analysis suggests limited interaction effects. However, predicted probabilities vary widely, indicating meaningful inequalities. For example, young disabled men from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds face the highest risk of stranger (mean range = 4.5%–7.1%) and acquaintance violence (mean range = 3.1%–4.4%), while young disabled women, particularly those from white, Black and mixed ethnic groups, are most at risk of domestic violence (mean range = 2.2%–3.4%). These findings highlight the importance of intersectional approaches to violence prevention and indicate both general structural inequalities and specific group vulnerabilities that warrant targeted intervention.