NCJ Number
208557
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 17 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 987-1001
Editor(s)
Jon R. Conte
Date Published
September 2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined a sample of abused Australian women on the extent to which aspects of abuse and of help-seeking were associated with physical and emotional health.
Abstract
In Australia, national estimates suggest that 38 percent of women over the age of 15 have experienced at least one incident of physical abuse or sexual assault. The effects of all forms of violence and abuse on women’s health are numerous, including, but not limited to physical harm, stress-related disorders, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicide, and substance abuse. This study attempts to assess the extent to which the overall characteristics of abuse and of help-seeking behaviors contribute to deficits in physical and emotional health in abused middle-age women. The study sample consisted of 1,168 Australian women aged 49 to 53 years with data obtained from a self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 31 questions grouped into 4 sections: sharing experiences, “how you are feeling,” coping with stress, and talking things out. Overall, the findings indicate that a history of abuse is only one aspect of a woman’s life that impacts on her general well-being. To begin to identify characteristics of women who can cope with abuse and of circumstances and actions that enable women to escape the situation, research is recommended on what women did at the time to deal with an abusive situation and what aspects of their physical and social environment were helpful or obstructive in dealing with the circumstances. References