Exploring the Stressors of Low-Income Women with Abusive Partners: Understanding Their Needs and Developing Effective Community Responses

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

“…Women may define their most pressing problem as a need for basic material resources such as housing, employment, clothing, and food, with victimization-related mental health services less of an immediate priority (Eby 2004;Goodman et al 2009;Kubiak and Arfken 2006). The needs appraisal stage is complex, involving the problem definition, socially and culturally-influenced beliefs about the problem, and the costs and benefits of accessing help.…”

“…Further, they may experience prejudice even within domestic violence service providers and shelters (Donnelly et al 1999;Gillum 2008). As a consequence, they oftentimes find that service providers do not meet their needs as they have defined them; they may resist identifying as ''battered,'' never fully engage in the helping process, and terminate services before any mental health benefits have been realized (Eby 2004;Fugate et al 2005;Gillum 2008;Goodman et al 2009;O'Campo et al 2002). As a consequence, they oftentimes find that service providers do not meet their needs as they have defined them; they may resist identifying as ''battered,'' never fully engage in the helping process, and terminate services before any mental health benefits have been realized (Eby 2004;Fugate et al 2005;Gillum 2008;Goodman et al 2009;O'Campo et al 2002).…”

'He said he loved me. I wanted to be loved': Young women's experiences of coping with violence in intimate relationships.

“…First, researchers have reported women in IPV relationships commonly experience depressive thoughts and emotions (Arias et al, 1997;Bohn, 2003;Bonomi et al, 2007;Fedovskiy et al, 2008;Fogarty et al, 2008;Hazen et al, 2008;Health Canada, 1999;Heru, 2007;KeenanMiller et al, 2007;Koopman et al, 2007;Leaman & Gee, 2008;Leiner et al, 2008;Sullivan et al, 2005;Sullivan & Holt, 2008;Tadegge, 2008;Van Hook, 2000), which the young women experienced. Second, consistent with prior studies (Cattaneo & Goodman, 2005;Eby, 2004;Filipas & Ullman, 2006;Frasier et al, 2004;Health Canada, 1999;Leiner et al, 2008;Lilly, 2008;Muhajarine & D'Arcy, 1999;Scheffer Lindgren & Renck, 2008;Sullivan & Holt, 2008), the young women noted connections among IPV, chronic stress, and posttraumatic stress characteristics such as hypervigilance, anger, shame, fear, and embarrassment. Third, young women in the present study reported a loss of identity, selfconfidence, and independence while in IPV relationships, findings described in previous studies (Flinck et al, 2005;Hazen et al, 2008;Lutenbacher et al, 2003;McCosker et al, 2004).…”

“…Substances influence the body's chemistry and substance use is part of some women's stories (Bennett & O'Brien, 2007;Romans, Cohen, Forte, Du Mont, & Hyman, 2008;Simons, Gwin, Brown, & Gross, 2008;Wiemann et al, 2000). For instance, Eby (2004) explored the stressors of 107 poverty-stricken women aged 17 to 30 years, of who 50 experienced IPV. Results described that 86% of women who experienced IPV used alcohol to relieve stress, 73% used nicotine, 67% used sedatives or tranquilizers, 64% used marijuana, 63% used other street drugs, and 63%o used antidepressants.…”

Military Sexual Trauma Exposure and Heart Rate Variability Outcomes in Female Veterans

“…Stresses that women experience throughout their lives can adversely affect autonomic tone and heart function (Bonomi, Anderson, Rivara, & Thompson, 2007;Campbell et al, 2002;Eby, 2004;Eby, Campbell, Sullivan, & Davidson, 1995;Felitti et al, 1998;Goodwin & Stein, 2004;Heim et al, 2000;Rainville, Bechara, Naqvi, & Damasio, 2006;Schmaus, Laubmeier, Boquiren, Herzer, & Zakowski, 2008;Stemmler, Aue, & Wacker, 2007). Researchers postulate that stress may have a negative effect on the heart through autonomic stimulation (Cannon, 1939;Cohen & Benjamin, 2006;McEwen, 2005;Sharkey et al, 2005;Wittstein et al, 2005).…”