NCJ Number
208980
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2004 Pages: 387-398
Date Published
August 2004
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined women’s perceptions of vulnerability as they relate to their experiences of physical assault by their partner before and during pregnancy.
Abstract
Violence that occurs during pregnancy has been linked to a host of health threats for both the mother and the infant, such as women’s emotional and mental health problems. Research has given little attention to the women’s perceptions of their vulnerability, feelings that may be linked to their experiences of violence. This study expands the knowledge of intimate partner violence through an examination of women’s perceptions of vulnerability and their experiences of intimate partner physical assault, before and during pregnancy. The study specifically examined 86 women from North Carolina prenatal care clinics and their perceptions of vulnerability during pregnancy. It compared three groups of women: (1) those who were physically assaulted by their partners both before and during pregnancy; (2) those who were physically assaulted by their partners during one time period, either before or during pregnancy; and (3) those who were not physically assaulted by their partners either before or during pregnancy. The study found strong ties between these behavioral and nonbehavioral aspects of relationships, such that the physically assaulted women were much more likely to feel vulnerable and controlled by their partners compared to women who did not experience such violence. The most common of these feelings was being ashamed of how their partners treated them. In addition, they placated their partners with such actions being taken because of fear of what might happen otherwise. Future research is recommended to explore the implications of perceived vulnerability among victims of domestic violence. References