Impact of Childhood Abuse History and Domestic Violence on the Mental Health of Women in Japan

• NCJ Number: 230789
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2010 Pages: 267-274
• Author(s): Takeo Fujiwara; Makiko Okuyama; Mayuko Izumi; Yukiko Osada
• Date Published: April 2010
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the independent and interactive effects of childhood abuse history (CAH) and domestic violence (DV) on the mental health status of women in Japan.

Abstract

Results indicate that independent from DV, CAH, especially psychological abuse, had a significant impact on all of the women's mental health symptoms. DV was found to have an independent effect on traumatic symptoms. Weak interactive effects of CAH and DV were found on dissociated and traumatic symptoms. Among those women without CAH, DV was significantly associated with dissociated and traumatic symptoms; however, DV had no impact on dissociated and traumatic symptoms if CAH was present. In psychological therapy for battered women with mental health problems, if the women were abused during childhood, it is recommended that therapy be focused on childhood abuse, especially if the client was psychologically abused. In addition, mental health care and welfare providers should be aware that the mental health problems of mothers without CAH might be exacerbated by DV. Therefore appropriated resource allocation should be considered. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire survey of 340 women staying in 83 Mother-Child Homes in Japan. Tables, references, and appendix