NCJ Number
154520
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1995) Pages: 43-55
Date Published
1995
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Battered women have been identified as being at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); this study further explores the nature of the relationship between the trauma of battery and PTSD.
Abstract
A total of 179 battered women and 48 nonbattered but verbally abused women were recruited from several sources (shelters, support groups, therapist referrals, community). Battered women with and without PTSD were compared with the finding that battered women with PTSD had experienced more physical abuse, more verbal abuse, more injuries, a greater sense of threat, and more forced sex than battered women without PTSD. Eighty-one percent of the physically abused group met the criteria for the PTSD diagnosis, although 63 percent of the verbally abused group met the criteria. In multiple regression analyses in the battered sample, the strongest predictors of extent of PTSD were, in order of variance explained, the use of disengagement coping strategies to handle the battery, experiencing of negative life events, the battery experience, and lack of perceived social support. The diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder is important to consider when a woman has experienced a physically abusive relationship, but also when the experience has been has been a verbally abusive relationship. It is also important to assess coping strategies, social support, and stressors to determine the potential psychological impact of the abuse. 2 tables and 29 references