NCJ Number
213899
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 131-147
Date Published
April 2006
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study explored a variety of factors associated with battered women leaving their abusive relationships.
Abstract
Results indicated several factors that were significantly associated with battered women leaving their abusive relationships: young age, leaving the relationship several times previously, having a protection order, having an abuse-related physician visit, and scoring high on measures of psychological vulnerability to abuse. On the other hand, seeking but receiving external social support was negatively related to leaving abuse relationships. Women who did not leave their abusive relationship were more likely to have a history of police-reported abuse and were more likely to have unsuccessfully sought access to food stamps, Social Security, or assistance with employment, transportation, or housing. The findings related to battered women unsuccessfully seeking outside assistance holds serious implications for social service and community-based organizations. Participants were 448 Seattle women who were victims of intimate partner violence and were enrolled in the Women’s Wellness Study (WWS); all participants had previously filed an incident report with the superior court relating to domestic violence. Research methods involved a structured telephone baseline interview or a self-administered mail-in baseline interview, followed by 5-month and 9-month followup interviews. In addition to variables related to leaving the relationship and external support, the study also assessed relationship and abuse characteristics as well as aspects of physical health and substance abuse problems. Data were analyzed using step-wise logistic regression models. Future research should focus on the services offered at domestic violence agencies in order to examine outcomes for women who do and do not access these services. Tables, references