Citation

Heron RL, Jacobs DP, Twomey HB, Kaslow NJ. Psychotherapy 1997; 34(4): 410-424.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0087639

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article focuses on interventions with low-income, African American women who are survivors of domestic abuse and who have made one or more suicide attempts. We review the literature on domestic abuse and suicidal behavior in African American women, and discuss the association between abuse and suicide in this population. Next, we propose an integrated theoretical model for understanding suicidal behavior as one possible coping response to the stress of a domestic abuse situation. The model utilizes concepts from the literature on stress and coping as well as stages of change. We then present a culturally sensitive group treatment intervention that is based on our theoretical model. The intervention focuses on ensuring women's safety, increasing coping skills and resource mobilization, and promoting supportive relationships in a manner that is consistent with each woman's sociocultural context.

Language: en