DAMMAM – About 40 percent female victims of family violence are married women, followed by divorcees at 26.9 percent, says a study conducted by Dalal Bint Musfir Al-Arjani of Naif Arab University of Security Sciences in Riyadh. The least affected by family violence are separated women and their percentage is 1.9, said the study titled "The determinants of family violence and its relation to social security in Saudi society." Al-Arjani obtained her master's degree this year after presenting the study. Sociologist Dr. Ibrahim Al-Zubn, who is a professor at Imam Muhammad Bin Islamic University, cited six main reasons for a man resorting to violence against his wife. The lack of a culture of dialogue and disrespect to the views of spouses top the list. Al-Arjani prepared her study based on interviews she conducted with 160 women, who suffered family violence and whose complaints have been registered with the social protection unit of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, Al-Watan Arabic daily reported. Al-Arjani had also interviewed 59 sociologists, psychologists and other experts who worked for the ministry's social protection units for the study. "There are three types of violence. First, the violence against wives, who are the main victims of such violence in Saudi society, followed by children who face physical and mental torture," said Al-Zubn. Elderly parents are the third group of victims. "Apart from physical attacks, the elderly men and women suffer from bad treatment by their children as well as their spouses," the sociologist said. The study has made a number of proposals to reduce family violence. It urged parents not to show their conflicts in front of their children and advised young men and women who are going to get married to attend premarital counseling sessions to foster better family relationship. The study emphasized the importance of promoting a culture of dialogue among couples and enacting rules and regulations to end family violence. "Studies must be conducted on how to contain violence against women in Saudi society," Al-Arjani added. Dr. Al-Zubn said family violence is found not in Arab societies alone but in all communities, mainly because of conflicts between couples. "Conflicts lead to violence due to six reasons: Failure to solve the issue through dialogue; men resort to violence to impose their views on wives; and a flaw in upbringing where men believe they have dominance over their women," he said. The other reasons are: The wife's failure to discuss sensitive matters with husband; lack of religious knowledge about family relationship and a lack of commitment to religious teachings and principles; and the husband interpreting religious texts to suit his views and behavior. "Falling revenue of the family is another major issue that could ignite family violence," he added.