Adjustment and Needs of African-American Women Who Utilized a Domestic Violence Shelter

• NCJ Number: 155594
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1994) Pages: 275-286
• Author(s): C M Sullivan; M H Rumptz
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1RO1 MH 44849
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The experiences of 60 black women who used a sheltered for battered women in a midwestern city were analyzed to understand better what environmental and contextual factors influence the acquisition of resources and the subsequent adjustment for African American women who have been battered.

Abstract

The experiences were explored from the 6 months prior to entering a shelter through a 10-week postshelter advocacy program. Results indicated that African American battered women who used domestic violence shelters faced many obstacles. Most had been severely abused, were likely to be living below the poverty line, were unemployed, and needed many resources. However, despite many obstacles and continued violence, the participants generally felt confident in themselves and satisfied with their lives 10 weeks after the shelter. Results also indicated that short- term advocacy services were beneficial to African American women leaving a domestic violence shelter. Tables and 22 references (Author abstract modified)