Factors Moderating Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Battered Women

• NCJ Number: 129337
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 81-95
• Author(s): D R Follingstad; A F Brennan; E S Hause; D S Polek; L L Rutledge
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A sample of 234 battered women was interviewed to investigate their physical and psychological symptoms and to test the theory that ongoing victimization would produce stress-related symptoms. It was hypothesized that moderating variables including severity and frequency of abuse, predictability and controllability of abuse, and social support would influence the effects.

Abstract

The severity of physical and psychological effects was predicted according to a model that included women with injuries requiring medical attention, women living according to traditional sex role values, and the presence of one type of emotional abuse. The findings suggest that the frequency of abuse and the woman's ability to predict abuse resulted in more severe symptoms. The women interviewed perceived their physical and emotional health as deteriorating during the abusive relationship and growing healthier after the relationship ended. Future research needs to include a sample of women who are still in the battering relationship. 19 references (Author abstract modified)