This study examined partner abuse, mental health, and coping in a sample of African American women survivors of partner abuse (N = 126). The mediating effects of social support and spirituality, as culturally relevant factors in coping, on the relationships between partner abuse and both depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were investigated. Findings from hierarchical regression analysis indicated that PTSD symptoms remain significantly related to partner abuse after controlling for the effects of social support and spirituality. Findings point to practice and research implications regarding African American women survivors’ mental health and ways of coping.

Domestic violence reportedly affects more than 5 million Americans each year, more than 85% of whom are women. Many of these women turn to their faith-based communities for support and guidance, but little is known about how the church members they turn to perceive or understand domestic violence. This article reports the outcomes of three focus groups in three diverse communities of faith in the African American community that resulted in a better understanding of how church leaders and congregants view spirituality and religion and how they converge with domestic violence. Implications for research and practice are presented for domestic violence intervention

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Limited information exists on the relationship between sexual violence victimization and health among African American women. Using data from a community sample of African American women, we examine the association between current health and lifetime experiences of sexual violence. Inperson interviews were completed in 2010. Among interviewees, 53.7% of women reported rape victimization and 44.8% reported sexual coercion in their lifetime. Victims of rape or sexual coercion were significantly more likely to report depression and posttraumatic stress disorder during their lifetime. Among victims whose first unwanted sexual experience was rape or sexual coercion, perpetrators were mostly acquaintances and intimate partners, and over one third were injured and needed services. More attention is needed on the health needs of African American women and their association to victimization status.

Recognizing the high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women and girls who are either at risk for or suffer from intimate partner violence (IPV) and the overlapping challenges posed by both public health issues, the White House established an Interagency Federal Working Group to address the intersection of both public health issues in 2012. We conducted this systematic review in response to the Working Group's charge to identify and describe interventions that address both IPV and HIV among women. We identified 14 studies that met our inclusion criteria, including seven studies (nine unique intervention arms) that significantly affected at least one outcome related to IPV and HIV. In this article, we examine the characteristics of these studies including core components, intervention populations, and effectiveness data. We highlight opportunities to improve the effectiveness of existing interventions, guide future research about IPV and HIV, and inform prevention programmatic delivery. This knowledge will improve the lives of populations at risk, reduce gender-related health disparities, and ultimately reduce the societal burden of both public health issues.