A Model of Sexually and Physically Victimized Women's Process of Attaining Effective Formal Help over Time: The Role of Social Location, Context, and Intervention

Abstract

As empirical evidence has demonstrated the pervasiveness of sexual assault and intimate partner violence in the lives of women, and the links to poor mental health outcomes, attention has turned to examining how women seek and access formal help. We present a conceptual model that addresses prior limitations and makes three key contributions: It foregrounds the influence of social location and multiple contextual factors; emphasizes the importance of the attainment of effective formal help that meets women's needs and leads to positive mental health outcomes; and highlights the role of interventions in facilitating help attainment. We conclude with research and practice implications.

The role of nurse practitioners in outreach services and facilitating access for marginalized adult women in British Columbia

“…Being poor and having secure housing can be found at the root of many marginalized adults women' s health problems (Kennedy et al , 2012) and can increase barriers to health services (Hwang et al, 2009;Kubik et al, 2009;Shannon et al, 2006;Shannon et al, 2009;Teruya et al, 2010). This review has provided a greater understanding of women's experiences that have been affected by a variety of circumstances such as poverty and homelessness.…”

The effects of cumulative victimization on psychological distress.

“…Typically these types of violence (i.e., psychological, physical, and sexual) overlap and are experienced simultaneously; this phenomenon is defined in violence literature as polyvictimization (Barnett, Miller-Perrin, & Perrin, 2011, p. 254;Krebs et al, 2011). The most often reported occurrence of polyvictimization is the co-occurrence of psychological victimization with physical and/or sexual types of violence (Briere & Jordan, 2009;5 psychological distress (Briere & Jordan, 2004, 2009Follette, et al, 1996;Kennedy, et al, 2012;Logan et al, 2006). Chronic stress experiences are traumatic, persistent, recurrent, threatening and long-term in nature; the result is often posttraumatic stress, which affects social, economic, and psychological functioning (Aneshensel, 1992;Bonanno, 2004;Logan, et al, 2006).…”

“…Individually, childhood and adult victimization have been directly associated with psychological distress; however, significant gaps remain in understanding the cumulative effects of both child and adult victimization over time on psychological functioning (Briere & Jordan, 2004, 2009Classen, et al, 2002;Kennedy, et al, 2012). Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms through which cumulative victimization (i.e., both childhood and adult) affects psychological distress.…”

“…Research has identified a number of potential factors that mediate the relationship between cumulative victimization and psychological distress (Bonanno, 2004(Bonanno, , 2009Kennedy, et al, 2012). Among the most salient factors for understanding the relationship between victimization and psychological distress are self-esteem, social support, coping, and substance use (Bonanno, 2004;Briere & Jordan, 2009;Charney, 2004;Classen, et al, 2001).…”

“…However, other research suggests that race is a significant contributing factor for adult IPV, particularly for women of color and non-white ethnic minorities (Carbone-Lopez, 2013;Houry, Kaslow, & Thompson, 2005;Kennedy et al, 2012;Lacey et al, 2013).…”