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Financial insecurity can be dangerous.  New research reveals that women experiencing multiple instances of money stress are significantly more likely to become victims of violence.

Australian researchers found that women who have experienced three or more instances of financial stress are 3.5 times more likely to be exposed to violence in the following 12 months than those who have had no money problems.

The study also revealed that four or more instances of personal stress increased women's risk of being a victim of violence by almost three times. Researchers said some examples of personal stress include being unable to pay bills, death of a spouse of loss of a job.

While the link between stress and violence has long been known, researcher Professor Don Weatherburn from the University of New South Wales explains that researchers had been "unable to tell the cause from effect".  However, the latest findings suggest that answers that question, Weatherburn said in a news release.

The findings will be presented at the 2013 Australian Social Policy Conference at UNSW.