Partner's Stake in Conformity and Abused Wives' Psychological Trauma

Abstract

This study investigates the potential buffering effect of help-seeking in the association between intimate partner assault and women's psychological trauma, and how this, in turn, may depend on the partner's stake in conformity. The sample consists of 374 women reporting the experience of domestic violence from a current intimate partner, drawn from the larger survey Violence and Threats of Violence Against Women and Men in the United States, 1994States, -1996. Help-seeking did not appear to buffer the impact of assault severity, contrary to expectation. However, the partner's stake in conformity did condition the effect of his or her having been arrested. Victims had higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when police arrested partners of average or belowaverage stake in conformity. But victims of partners characterized by higher than average stake in conformity did not show elevated PTSD due to their partners having been arrested. On the other hand, PTSD was higher among women experiencing more emotional abuse from the partner. Keywords domestic violence; women's mental health; help-seeking; stake in conformity Physical or sexual assault can have lasting effects on women's psychological health. Women experiencing such abuse report elevated levels of depressive symptomatology, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation, and are generally more fearful for their future safety compared to others (DeMaris & Swinford, 1996;Fergusson, Horwood, & Ridder, 2005; Holzworth-Munroe, 2005). When such abuse is at the hands of an intimate partner, it can be especially damaging. The partner is often the most important significant other in a woman's life. Hence, in such instances, the one who would normally be most counted upon for supportive and validating counsel is instead the one to be most feared.In the face of assault by an intimate partner, women have been found to employ a variety of coping strategies. Among these are divulging their experiences to family and friends, seeking services or advice from professionals such as therapists or attorneys, retreating to women's shelters, or calling the police (Kaukinen, 2002). Perhaps because it seems intuitive that such help-seeking should buffer the impact of victimization on psychiatric impairment, few studies have addressed this issue. However, the work of both Ullman (1996) and Lempert (1997) with small, localized samples suggests that whether outside help will be beneficial depends very much on others' reactions to the victim. Both researchers found that victims often resented definitions of the situation imposed on them by others, or perceived others as blaming them in part for their plight. Negative third-party attitudes and reactions to the victim's appeal for help may well nullify any potential benefits they could bestow. At present, it is unclear to what extent help-seeking in response to violent victimization buffers victimization's impact on psychiatric sequelae.Even less attention has been paid to how the abusing partner's char...

Association between Emotional Abuses and Mental Disorder in Women: A Web-based Internet Survey in Southern China

“…This finding is also similar to another Chinese investigation in 2011, using Hamilton Depression Scale and questionnaire in 98 patients with depression, found that depressed patients with domestic cold violence had higher suicide rate than those without domestic cold violence [33]. Domestic cold violence is one of the risk factors for depression or psychological trauma [34]. Being exposed to emotional violence from intimate partner itself can be considered a risk factor of women's mental health.…”

Exploring Influences on Mental Health After Interpersonal Violence Against Women

“…The consequences included more negative mental health symptoms in both a South Asian population (Kyu & Kanai, 2005) and North American women seeking protection orders after partner stalking (Logan & Walker, 2009). Women in national surveys who had experienced severe IPV were found to have more depressive symptoms (Dale et al, 2009) and more PTSD (DeMaris & Kaukinen, 2008). PTSD was also found among a survey of pregnant women with severe IPV (Martinez-Torteya, Anne Bogat, von Eye, & Levendosky, 2009).…”

“…Psychological violence such as the use of coercion or threats was associated with more PTSD symptoms across local and national studies (Coker et al, 2002b;DeMaris & Kaukinen, 2008;Dutton et al, 2006;Kocot, 2001). Also seen were increased symptoms of acute stress disorder (ASD) (Dutton et al, 2006) and depression (Dutton et al, 2006;Coot, 2001).…”

“…Sexual assault in the context of IPV was associated with greater mental health impacts than was physical assault (DeMaris & Kaukinen, 2008;Taft et al, 2007). The combined effects of sexual and physical violence were notable for women.…”

“…The combined effects of sexual and physical violence were notable for women. Victims of IPV who sustained both sexual and physical violence had more reported leave from work for reasons related to mental health (Martin et al, 2008), PTSD (DeMaris & Kaukinen, 2008;Weaver et al, 2007), and eating disorders (Ackard & NeumarkSztainer, 2002). Sexually assaulted women who also sustained more physical force were found to have more drug use following the assault (Winfield, George, Swartz, & Blazer, 1990).…”