Citation

Nehls N, Sallmann J. Qual. Health Res. 2005; 15(3): 365-381.

Affiliation

University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1049732304272917

PMID

15761105

Abstract

Most researchers have studied physical and/or sexual abuse, substance use, and mental health problems separately or as a dual diagnosis, and from a theory-driven, empirical perspective. In this study, the authors examined these three phenomena together and from a phenomenological perspective. Thirty women each participated in an individual interview about living with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse, substance use, and mental health problems. Using a hermeneutic approach, a team of researchers analyzed the transcribed interview texts. They identified three themes: (a) being thrown: the cycle of abuse; (b) living life fearfully: a restricted world; and (c) helping: hearing my story. The results are significant, in that they challenge current assumptions underlying health care for women with histories of physical and/or sexual abuse, substance use, and mental health problems.

Language: en