Citation

Lewis CS, Griffing S, Chu M, Jospitre T, Sage RE, Madry L, Primm BJ. Violence Against Women 2006; 12(4): 340-354.

Affiliation

Project Hospitality.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801206287285

PMID

16567335

Abstract

This study examines the differential effects of adult and childhood physical and psychological abuse, abuse-specific coping, and psychological adjustment in battered women seeking emergency shelter. Multivariate regression analyses confirmed the devastating impact of psychological abuse (childhood and concurrent) on battered women's adjustment. The results corroborated prior research suggesting a cumulative vulnerability to psychological victimization in a substantial proportion of residents. Unexpectedly, frequency of physical violence was unrelated to women's distress. The study argues that modes of coping traditionally considered adaptive (e.g., engaged, proactive) may be unsafe for battered women and children. The multifaceted nature of survivors' coping choices is discussed.

Language: en