NCJ Number
200071
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 87-94
Date Published
February 2003
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relative effects of intimate partner physical and sexual violence on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology.
Abstract
The severity of physical and sexual violence, along with PTSD severity, were assessed for a sample of 62 battered women who were recruited from local battered women's shelters and community agencies that serve the needs of battered women. Instruments administered to participants were the Supplemented Conflict Tactics Scale and the PTSD Symptom Scale. The study found that intimate partner sexual violence resulted in similar types and levels of post-trauma distress associated with other forms of rape. Also, women who experienced both physical and sexual partner violence reported higher levels of PTSD than women who experienced physical violence alone. Relationships in which sexual violence occurred also tended to be more severely physically violent. In order to further substantiate the basic relationships among physical and sexual violence and PTSD, Pearson product moment correlations were calculated. Results showed significant and positive relationships between each of the variables. The findings, therefore, were consistent with those of previous research and laid the empirical foundation for further analyses that might distinguish the unique relationships of physical and sexual violence with PTSD. The findings of this study have notable clinical implications in that they underscore the importance for mental health and social service professionals to screen for potential episodes of sexual violence, particularly where physical partner violence is already known. Such information will assist clinicians in predicting the potential severity of post-trauma reactions. 2 tables, 27 references, and appended Severity of Physical Violence Scale and Severity of Sexual Violence Scale