Is it the economy that makes them do it?

At Discovery House we have been carefully watching the steady stream of news reports that have been implying a correlation between the economic downturn and an increase in episodes of domestic violence (ie.: http://www.canada.com/news/Rising+domestic+violence+spotlight/1367081/story.html). We fear that the massive lay-offs, surge in unemployment rate, and overall anxiety over the future of our economy, will be used to justify abusive behavior in intimate relationships. Naomi Lakritz illustrates the point very poignantly in her article “It’s not the economy that makes them do it” published on the Calgary Herald on April 17, 2009 http://www.calgaryherald.com/economy+that+makes+them/1506207/story.html Alberta has been in the midst of a huge boom for the past few years, while also registering the highest rate of domestic violence in all of Canada. Do you believe there is a relationship between domestic violence and the downturn in the economy? We don’t. We believe that, as the world economy plunges deeper in its financial crisis, it will be even harder for women to find a way to support themselves and their children while moving out of an abusive relationship. We don’t believe that financial hardships justify abuse. We do not justify abuse.