Coercive Control, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Depression Among Homeless Women

Abstract

Intimate relationships involving psychological abuse, particularly those characterized by coercive control (CC), a pattern of behaviors aimed at gaining control over one's romantic partner, have been associated with poorer mental health for victims than among victims of physical partner abuse alone (Johnson & Leone, 2005). This study investigated whether CC predicted posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression above and beyond the effects of childhood maltreatment and frequency and severity of physical partner abuse among a sample of homeless women. This is the first known study to date to investigate the role of CC in the partner abuse experiences of homeless women. Fifty-one ethnically diverse women with a history of partner abuse victimization residing in a homeless shelter in Southwest Ontario, Canada, completed questionnaires assessing partner abuse, CC, depression, and PTSD. As predicted, CC was found to predict PTSD but not depression, after controlling for childhood maltreatment and frequency and severity of physical partner abuse. In addition, women exhibited very high rates of both PTSD and depression. The relation between CC and mental health of victims, particularly the development of PTSD, should be considered in partner abuse prevention programs and interventions. Furthermore, the high rates of psychopathology reported by the women indicate a great need for psychological aid among women residing in homeless shelters.

A qualitative exploration of women's resilience in the face of homelessness

“…The study findings resonate with research reporting that being homeless is hard for women (Bonugli et al, 2013;Edens et al, 2011;Finfgeld-Connett, 2010;Levine et al, 2016;Lovejoy, 2015;Welch-Lazoritz et al, 2015). It is unsafe and is a traumatic experience in and of itself (Bassuk & Beardslee, 2014;Whitbeck et al, 2015).…”

“…Research reports that for women, trauma histories often create conditions that remove the option for remaining at home and are often the main catalyst for the women becoming homeless (Levine & Fritz, 2016;Metraux & Culhane, 2016). However, unlike much of the existing research that positions women as victims of violence, abuse and physical and mental ill-health (Broll & Huey, 2020;Hudson et al, 2010;Larney et al, 2009), this study indicated that even when facing homelessness women exit these situations with a sense of hope for a better future.…”

“…Health issues meant that some women found themselves in a situation where they were unable to sustain employment and this led to emotional trauma, fear and extreme economic hardship. These types of life incidents culminate as significant trauma histories which are known to play a role in making women more vulnerable to becoming homeless (Levine & Fritz, 2016;Osuji & Hirst, 2015;Weinrich et al, 2016;Young et al, 2017).…”

“…The women emphasised the trauma of being homeless and spoke about being judged, stigmatised and feeling powerless to enact change. Such findings have led researchers to position homeless people as 'victims' (Levine & Fritz, 2016;Meinbresse et al, 2014).…”

“…Homelessness has substantial and lasting effects on those that experience it (Seastres et al, 2019). It is related to poor physical and mental health, employment difficulties and more frequent use of health, welfare and justice systems (Bassuk & Beardslee, 2014;Doran et al, 2014;Ferguson et al, 2015;Levine & Fritz, 2016). Structural factors contributing to homelessness include increasing costs of housing and a shortfall in affordable and public housing (Chappell & Campbell, 2018), changes in employment opportunities and low rates of welfare payments (Brown & Mueller, 2014), issues with funding for and access to services (Perez, 2014) and practices within the justice system (Baldry, 2014).…”