Citation

Wilson K, Varcella R, Brems C, Benning D, Renfro N. Women Ther. 1993; 13(4): 53-67.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J015v13n04_04

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between help-seeking, learned helplessness and severity of abuse in a sample of four groups of women. It was found that abused women seeking help, either by residing in a shelter or attending a support group, as opposed to women who not seeking help or women who were not abused, evidenced higher levels of self-reported abuse and learned helplessness. These findings were discussed in light of research by Walker (1984) and Gondolf and Fisher (1988) who see help-seeking and learned helplessness as opposing or mutually exclusive behaviors or personality traits.