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Abstract
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AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT:
Forty-six formerly battered women were interviewed about their abuse experiences using a semi-structured interview which reliably codes the resolution of traumatic themes. The themes assessed were Helplessness, Rage, Fear, Loss, Shame, Guilt, Meaningful World, People Trustworthy, Self-Blame, Reciprocity, Alienation, Legitimacy, Re-enactment, and Self-Trust. This instrument was developed out of theoretical work which suggests that trauma ruptures adaptive belief systems and thus creates affective disturbance. Narrative coding illuminated important areas of cognitive and affective irresolution and distinguished this sample from a sample of rape victims (n = 79) from a former study. The domestic violence victims were most unresolved on the themes Guilt, People Trustworthy, and Loss. Chi-square analyses revealed between-sample differences on the themes People Trustworthy, Guilt, Fear, and Rage. Compared to the rape sample, the domestic violence sample evidenced more persistent irresolution on the themes People Trustworthy and Guilt. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate whether irresolution of traumatic themes was predictive of heightened symptomatology, including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), general distress, depression, anxiety, and somatization. Results indicated that thematic irresolution was significantly related to an index of general distress and to depression (at p =.05 level). In addition, non-significant trends appeared indicating relationships between thematic irresolution and PTSD, anxiety, and somatization. A brief interview about women's experiences with mental health, legal, and medical systems revealed the prevalence of several types of negative experiences (e.g. victim-blaming and minimization) by women seeking help for the domestic violence. Regression analyses investigating the relationships between women's help-seeking experiences and PTSD symptomatology were inconclusive. Overall, results suggested that cognitive-affective, traumatic themes were related to a broad range of symptomatology in a sample of battered women. Narrative results are elaborated and quantitative results are discussed, incorporating clinical implications and suggestions for future research. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, 1998. Copyright © 1998 by Allison Hope Berger; University Microfilms International)
Spouse Abuse Effects
Spouse Abuse Victim
Domestic Violence Effects
Domestic Violence Victim
Female Victim
Adult Female
Adult Victim
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Psychological Victimization Effects
Partner Violence
Violence Against Women
Emotional Adjustment
Victim Adjustment
Adult Adjustment
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