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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

The Open Window Phase: helpseeking and reality behaviors by battered women.

Battered women are trapped in a cycle of violence that is difficult to break. The purpose of this study was to determine when helpseeking and reality behaviors were most likely to be exhibited by battered women. The results of this study revealed a period of helpseeking and reality behaviors by battered women occurring in a cyclical pattern within the cycle of violence. The author named this period the Open Window Phase. This phase may be seen as a crucial opportunity for successful intervention in the lives of battered women and a positive step toward breaking the cycle of violence.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Understanding survival responses of battered women.

Battered women often endure years of physical, psychological, and/or sexual abuse at the hands of an intimate partner. To intervene effectively, health professionals need to understand both the external factors and the complex conditioning process that keep many women trapped in abusive relationships. Many of the physical and psychological symptoms shown by battered women can be understood as complex survival strategies and responses to the abuse.

Battered Women↗
PubMed1999

The impact of different forms of psychological abuse on battered women.

Battered women receiving either shelter (n = 30) or nonshelter services (n = 30) from a domestic violence agency were interviewed regarding psychological abuse and its aftermath. Four types of abuse were derived from factor analysis: ridiculing of traits, criticizing behavior, ignoring, and jealous control. Sheltered women experienced ridicule and jealous/control more often than nonsheltered women. For the entire sample, ridiculing of traits was rated as the most severe form. Ignoring was the strongest predictor of low self-esteem. Both psychological abuse and physical abuse contributed independently to depression and low self-esteem. However, fear of being abused was uniquely predicted by psychological abuse. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Relations between Hand Test variables and the psychological characteristics and behaviors of battered women.

Battered and nonbattered women were administered the Hand Test to determine which psychological test variables could distinguish between these groups. Compared to the nonbattered group, the battered group produced substantially more fear responses. We also found significant positive relationships between the amount of fear responses produced and frequency of abuse, number of previous visits to a battered women's shelter, and medical treatment sought following an abusive incident. We discuss these results in the context of previous findings and their implications for the personality of battered women. We speculate that lowered environmental interest might be a personality factor that prolonged the abuse and that fear is a basic reaction to anticipated bodily harm.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Posttraumatic stress disorder among incarcerated battered women: a comparison of battered women who killed their abusers and those incarcerated for other offenses.

The present study examined differences in the amount and severity of spousal violence and posttraumatic stress symptoms between incarcerated battered women who killed/seriously assaulted their abusers and battered women incarcerated for other offenses. Additionally, several risk and buffering variables suggested by trauma research were tested to determine their ability to predict present posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. Findings revealed that battered women who killed/seriously assaulted their batterers experienced more frequent and severe spousal abuse than those in the comparison group. No significant group differences were found for present PTSD symptom levels. Predictors of present PTSD symptomatology included: childhood sexual abuse, childhood physical abuse, past PTSD symptomatology, length of time elapsed since living with partner and receiving counseling in prison. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Nursing care of rural battered women.

Rural battered women face enormous challenges when they attempt to end the abuse in their lives. Success depends on overcoming difficulties such as geographic isolation from sources of help; lack of accessible services for battered women and their children; limited opportunities for higher education, employment, and affordable housing for women; and strong allegiance to the land, kinship ties, and traditional gender roles. Through community education, routine assessment for abuse, responding in a helpful manner to women who disclose abuse, and forming links with existing programs for battered women and their children, nurses in rural areas can positively influence the health and safety of rural battered women.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mexican and Mexican American women in a battered women's shelter: barriers to condom negotiation for HIV/AIDS prevention.

Anecdotal information suggests that, for Hispanic women who are involved with abusive partners, condom use request as an HIV/AIDS sexual risk-reduction behavior may expose the women to risk of both abuse and HIV/AIDS. A qualitative study explored barriers to condom negotiation for HIV/AIDS prevention among Mexican and Mexican American women in abusive relationships. A convenience sample of 14 Mexican and Mexican American women was recruited from a battered women's shelter. A demographic form, a domestic violence assessment form, and audiotaped responses to a semistructured interview guide were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Audiotaped interviews were transcribed verbatim and submitted to content analysis, which revealed past and present themes of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of Mexican and Mexican American women who requested condom use by their male sexual partners. Also identified by content analysis was the influence of men's power on women's public, private, and sexual interactions.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

Head injury and battered women: an initial inquiry.

Approximately 2 to 3 million women are battered by their intimate partners each year. Severe injuries requiring emergency medical treatment of battered women have been noted, yet the prevalence of head injuries and the negative consequences emanating from such injuries have been noticeably absent from the literature. The descriptive study discussed in this article examined the case records of residents in a domestic violence shelter over a three-month period and found a 35 percent prevalence rate of battered women who had experienced head injury during a battering incident with their intimate partner. This study calls attention to the long-range difficulties that head-injured battered women may experience as a result of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral difficulties resulting from domestic violence and how social workers can intervene with this population.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Resilience in sheltered battered women.

While many battered women report physical and psychological distress, others are able to respond to adverse sequelae with less severe outcomes. The findings of this study indicate that resilience assessed by the Resilience Scale was significantly and inversely correlated with three global measures and five subscales of the Symptom Checklist-90R. Further study of battered women's resilience will allow for greater appreciation of their strengths as well as expand understanding of human responses to trauma.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Weapons in the lives of battered women.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed weapon use in intimate partner violence and perspectives on hypothetical firearm policies. METHODS: We conducted structured in-person interviews with 417 women in 67 battered women's shelters. RESULTS: Words, hands/fists, and feet were the most common weapons used against and by battered women. About one third of the battered women had a firearm in the home. In two thirds of these households, the intimate partner used the gun(s) against the woman, usually threatening to shoot/kill her (71.4%) or to shoot at her (5.1%). Most battered women thought spousal notification/consultation regarding gun purchase would be useful and that a personalized firearm ("smart gun") in the home would make things worse. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of objects are used as weapons against intimate partners. Firearms, especially handguns, are more common in the homes of battered women than in households in the general population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

The work of worrying: battered women and their children.

Battered women's worries about their children have been reported as significantly influencing their own behaviors, including the decision to leave abusive relationships. The purpose of this study was to describe battered women's worries about their children and their responses to those worries. An ethnography using the method described by Spradley (1979) was conducted. Qualitative analysis of the data revealed two themes about battered women's worries about their children and their responses to those worries. While the abusive adult male was a source of worry, violence outside the home was pervasive and hazardous to children. Battered women's experiences reflect the work of worrying; that is, the constant and energy-depleting nature of this difficult and vitally important process.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Psychiatric morbidity and personality characteristics of battered women.

Forty-nine battered women attending a surgical emergency department were studied with regard to prior and current psychiatric morbidity, substance abuse and personality characteristics, and were compared with a control group. More battered women than controls had consulted a psychiatrist and half of them were classified as heavy consumers of alcohol. One third of the assaulted women were found to be depressed, compared to 6% of the controls. The groups also differed in respect of muscular tension, aches and pain, and autonomic disturbances, the battered women having more pronounced symptoms. It is important for psychiatrists to recognize the symptoms that battered women often exhibit. With better early diagnosis, these women could be offered more appropriate psychosocial therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Sleep patterns of sheltered battered women.

PURPOSE: To describe sheltered battered women's sleep patterns and resulting daytime fatigue. The model for symptom management framed this study to describe one component of the model--symptom experience. Beginning evidence suggests that sheltered battered women experience disturbed sleep and fatigue that can interfere with vital activities. DESIGN: Descriptive using a convenience sample of 50 ethnically diverse women residing at least 21 days in battered women's shelters located in one western U.S. city. The study was done in 1997. METHODS: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Mini Motionlogger Actigraph, a sleep diary, the Visual Analogue Scale for Fatigue, and an open-ended interview were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed to determine patterns and themes. FINDINGS: Seventy percent of the women had global PSQI scores of greater than five indicating poor sleep and 17 (34%) had a sleep efficiency index of 80% or less. Fourteen (28%) of the women went to bed very fatigued (> 66 mm) and 20 (40%) woke up very fatigued (> 33 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of sheltered battered women experienced disturbed sleep and daytime fatigue. Both personal and environmental variables were found to significantly affect sleep patterns. Sheltered battered women can benefit from information about sleep disturbances and sleep enhancing self-care strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The prevalence and characteristics of battered women in a primary care setting.

Estimates are that 2 million women are battered each year by their male partner. To prevent battering and promote physical safety, Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas added four abuse-assessment questions to the standard intake form for all initial and annual-visit clients. To establish the prevalence of battering, all intake forms completed at four clinics during a one-month period were analyzed. A total of 793 forms were reviewed. The prevalence of physical battering was 8.2 percent. When the characteristics of the battered women were compared with the non-battered, statistically significant differences existed. Information on the health consequences of battering are presented along with suggested assessment questions.

Adolescent↗