Gender differences in patterns of relationship violence were investigated in a representative sample of adult men (N = 356) and women,(N = 351) from,the province of Alberta. Respondents reported on their receipt and perpe- tration of violent acts in the year prior to the survey. Men and women, respectively, reported similar one-year prev- alence rates of husband-to-wife violence (12.9% and 9.6%) and wife-to-husband violence (12.3% and 12.5%). How- ever, differential gender patterns of reporting were identi- fied. On average, men reported that they and their female partners were equally likely to engage in violent acts and to initiate violent conflicts. In contrast, women reported lower levels of victimizationthan perpetration of violence, and they reported less male-only and male-initiated violence than did men. The majority of respondents in violent relationships reported a pattern of violence that was bidirectional, minor, infrequent, and not physically injurious. The discussion focuses upon the meaning of gender differences in reports of relationship violence, and the existence of distinct patterns of violence within inti- mate relationships. Resume La difference entre les sexes dans les tendances de vio- lence conjugale a etc etudiee a partir d'un echantillon d'hommes (N= 356) et de femmes,(N = 351) adultes de 1'Alberta. Les repondants ont rapporte avoir etc victimes ou avoir commis,des actes de violence dans 1'annee prece- dent le sondage. Les hommes et les femmes ont rapporte, de facpn respective, des taux sur un an similaires de vio- lence envers 1'epouse (12,9 % et 9,6 %) et de violence envers le mari (12,2 % et 12,5 %). Toutefois, des fa?ons