"When both males and females were employed, the odds of victimisation were more than two times higher than when the male was the only breadwinner in the partnership, lending support to the idea that female employment may challenge male authority and power in a relationship," said Franklin and Menaker.
The study was based on telephone interviews with 303 women who identified themselves as either currently or recently in a serious romantic relationship, according to a Sam Houston statement.
Based on the Fourth Annual Texas Crime Victimisation Survey, a total of 67 percent of these women, who ranged in age from 18 to 81, reported some form of physical or psychological victimisation by their partner during the preceding two-year period.