TY - JOUR PY - 2000// TI - Factors Associated With Completion of the Restraining Order Process in Female Victims of Partner Violence JO - Journal of interpersonal violence A1 - Foa, Edna B. A1 - Zager, Ruth A1 - O'Neill, Melanie L. A1 - Watlington, Christina A1 - Alvarez, Jennifer A1 - Feeny, Norah C. A1 - Zoellner, Lori A. SP - 1081 EP - 1099 VL - 15 IS - 10 N2 - Thousands of women each year initiate the process of obtaining a restraining order against a violent partner. Although many women request an emergency restraining order, many fail to return to obtain a final 1-year order. The present study examined factors associated with completion of this process. Sixty-five women who initiated the process of securing a restraining order against a male partner participated in the study. Participants completed an interview, self-report measures, and were followed up to determine final restraining order status. Less than half of the women who initiated the process obtained final orders. Women who indicated an attachment to the abusive partner were less likely to complete the process. Perceived threat to the women facilitated persistence with the process; however, when the threat involved her children, women were less likely to persist. Understanding factors influencing persistence in help seeking, especially attachment and threat, is a crucial step toward enhancing interventions to facilitate efforts toward violence-free lives.
LA - en SN - 0886-2605 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/088626000015010005 ID - ref1 ER -