Main, mediating, and moderating effects of social support on the well-being of survivors of intimate partner violence across 2 years.

Intimate partner violence is a serious and pervasive social problem with deleterious consequences for survivors’ well-being. The current study involved interviewing 160 survivors 6 times over 2 years to examine the role of social support in explaining or buffering these negative psychological consequences. The authors examined both between- and within-persons variability to explore women’s trajectories regarding their experiences of abuse, social support, depression, and quality of life (QOL). Findings revealed the complex role of social support on women’s well-being. Evidence was found for main, mediating, and moderating effects of social support on women’s well-being. First, social support was positively related to QOL and negatively related to depression. Social support also partially explained the effect of baseline level and subsequent change in physical abuse on QOL and depression over time, partially mediated the effects of change in psychological abuse, and moderated the impact of abuse on QOL. The buffering effects of social support were strongest at lower levels of abuse. Implications for future research and intervention are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Community services for rape survivors: Enhancing psychological well-being or increasing trauma?

This research examined how contact with the legal, medical, and mental health systems affects rape survivors' psychological well-being. Although community services may be beneficial for some victims, there is increasing evidence that they can add trauma, rather than alleviate distress (termed secondary victimization). This study examined how secondary victimization affects rape survivors' posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. Adaptive and snowball sampling were used to recruit a sample of 102 rape survivors. Victims of nonstranger rape who received minimal assistance from either the legal or medical system, and encountered victim-blaming behaviors from system personnel, had significantly elevated levels of PTS. This high-risk group of rape survivors had PTS levels significantly higher than all other victims in this study, including those who did not seek community assistance postrape. However, for these high-risk rape survivors, receiving sustained mental health services after these negative experiences was associated with a significant decrease in PTS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conceptualizing the challenge of reducing interpersonal violence.

Interpersonal violence (IV) has many forms including child maltreatment, domestic violence, sexual assault, gang activity, elder abuse, and others. These are well studied areas often conceptualized, discussed, and investigated separately, in large part to give the fine-grained attention each has shown to warrant as a social problem and area of research. This paper discusses IV more generally, draws on the notion of wicked problems, and applies characteristics of such problems to violence. The broader view as a complement to the more molecular focus on individual areas draws attention to slightly different challenges, including multiplicity of views in formulating the problem or even seeing violence as a “problem,” the need to act in the absence of sufficient data, and fragmentation in research, services, and training in IV. Better integration across areas of IV is warranted in part because different forms of victimization often go together, challenges among the individual areas often overlap, and interventions at societal and cultural levels might have direct and indirect impact on multiple forms of violence. The shared goal is to reduce the incidence and prevalence of violence. Much is to be gained by unifying current efforts with a focus on commonalities that the different types of violence share. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Violence and its aftermath/La violence et ses séquelles: Introduction.

This issue is devoted to a wide range of topics concerning violence: How are public outrages such as the massacre in Montréal to he understood? What are the social motives underlying our preoccupation with violence in the family? Are children to he believed when they make allegations of sexual abuse--and how are we to know when they are telling the truth? How should we intervene in the lives of the survivors and the offenders? Violence and its aftermath is an obvious theme linking these articles. But the reader might care to consider a second theme, explicit in some pieces, implicit in others. How does our way of thinking about a problem affect the way we define it and what we think should be done about it? I hope you find as much to reflect upon as I did in this special issue of Canadian Psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Collaboration and resource exchange between professionals and natural support systems.

A number of social researchers have documented how extensively Americans utilize informal helping resources in dealing with personal problems, and interest in the preventative potential of informal social support has been spurred by concurrent research in epidemiology. A definition and preliminary typology of natural support systems are offered as a basis for discussion of their role in the delivery of human services. Opportunities for collaboration and an exchange of resources between professionals and members of informal helping networks are explored, and several ways in which professionals can identify and help to create natural support systems in the community are indicated. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Well-being and posttraumatic growth in unrelated donor marrow transplant survivors: A nine-year longitudinal study.

Objective: To study posttraumatic growth and psychological and physical well-being among 25 cancer survivors (12 men, 13 women) 9 years after receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor. Measures: Participants completed measures of well-being (e.g., depression, physical function) and posttraumatic growth at the 9-year follow-up. Prior to treatment, optimism, social support, and well-being had been assessed. Results: Findings reveal high levels of physical and psychological well-being. Survivors reported posttraumatic growth in several domains, including increased personal strengths and enhanced interpersonal relationships. Higher levels of growth were significantly related to gender and age: Women reported more total posttraumatic growth, and older survivors reported more enhanced spirituality, one domain of growth. Posttraumatic growth and well-being after treatment were predicted by 2 psychosocial variables assessed prior to treatment: dispositional optimism and social support. Implications: Although long-term survivors report ongoing physical limitations, they also experience well-being in both physical and psychological domains. Posttraumatic growth is an area of well-being deserving of additional research and clinical attention. In particular, there may be reason to assist survivors to articulate growth as part of ongoing care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research participants telling the truth about their lives: The ethics of asking and not asking about abuse.

Most discussions of the ethics of self-report research on abuse and interpersonal violence focus on the risks of asking participants about their experiences. An important element of the cost-benefit analysis--the costs of not asking about child abuse--has largely been ignored. Furthermore, little research has been conducted on the costs and benefits of child abuse research, leaving researchers to make decisions based on individual beliefs about such issues as the prevalence of abuse, the likelihood of disclosure, the effects of child abuse, and the ability of abuse survivors to give informed consent. The authors suggest that these beliefs tend to overemphasize survivors' vulnerability and ignore the costs of avoiding asking about abuse. In fact, these beliefs may reinforce societal avoidance of abuse and ultimately harm abuse survivors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stress in informal carers of hospitalised elderly patients

The aim of this study was to assess psychological well-being in carers of elderly hospitalised patients and to identify factors predicting those at risk. There are over six million informal carers in the UK. An objective measure of carers' mental health was obtained using the General Health Questionnaire and a subjective assessment (from the carer's point of view) of how caring affected their own everyday lives was also made. Of the 93 carers interviewed, 42 (45%) showed objective evidence of significant psychiatric disturbance. When questioned about their caring roles, 32% felt their health was affected by caring and 46% their social lives; 63% subjectively reported stress and 47% depression; 15% changed their employment patterns. Patients and carers received few statutory social services: 26% home care, 11% district nursing input, 8% meals on wheels and 5% either day centre or day hospital attendance. Cohabitation made it more likely that the carer's mental health would show some impairment. The informal carers' high stress levels and interference with their daily lives have implications for future care planning for the elderly.     

Cultural considerations of trauma: Physical, mental and social correlates of intimate partner violence exposure.

There has been an increased appreciation for the need to understand the cultural lenses of survivors and the ways that these lenses may influence both the experience of intimate partner violence and the recovery process following violence. The need for trauma researchers and practitioners to attend to the sociocultural realities of survivors has been advocated by traumatologists of varying theoretical orientations. The Trauma and Violence among Diverse Populations Research Study Group, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Emerging Scholars Interdisciplinary Network, conceptualized the call for authors for this Special Issue. The primary objective of the Issue is to examine and explore the cultural context of intimate partner violence. Through quantitative and qualitative analyses, a greater understanding of intimate partner violence in the lives of African American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Latina, and White survivors is gained. While centralizing the voices of ethnically diverse survivors of intimate partner violence, this Special Issue also sheds light on the experience of intimate partner violence from the perspective of women who have traditionally been marginalized in the literature in other ways, specifically women who are impoverished, pregnant, homeless, HIV-positive, and sex workers. The studies in this Special Issue provide clinical and research recommendations aimed at improving the care provided to culturally diverse intimate partner violence survivors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Domestic violence in Russia.

Reported incidence and frequency rates of domestic violence in Russia exceed Western figures by 4 or 5 times. Although a grassroots social services movement has emerged to provide services for victims and families, a number of historical and cultural influences unique to Russia present challenges with regard to the problem of domestic violence. These include a history of institutional oppression of women, arcane legal procedures, a shortage of housing and shelters, untrained medical professionals, and widespread misinformation and myths about domestic violence. This article documents incidence and prevalence of domestic violence, cultural and historical influences, legal issues, and specific challenges to ending domestic violence in Russia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Posttraumatic stress in children and adolescents exposed to family violence: I. Overview and issues.

Exposure to child physical abuse and parents' domestic violence can subject youth to pervasive traumatic stress and can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article presents evolving conceptualizations in the burgeoning field of trauma related to family violence exposure and describes how the often repeating and ongoing nature of family violence exposure can complicate a PTSD diagnosis. In addition, recent literature indicates that children exposed to family violence may experience problems in multiple domains of functioning and may meet criteria for multiple disorders in addition to PTSD. Considerations salient to the recognition of traumatic stress in this population and that inform assessment and treatment planning are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Domestic violence: a hidden problem for general practice

Domestic violence is a common problem that may affect more than a quarter of women. It is a complex area in which to undertake research. Studies often focus on selected populations and exhibit a diversity of design, making comparison difficult. This review focuses on physical violence by men against women partners or ex-partners, and exemplifies important issues for general practitioners. Domestic violence frequently goes undetected. This may be the result of doctor's fears of exploring an area perceived as time-consuming, where knowledge is lacking and where they feel powerless to 'fix' the situation. Women may not reveal that they are experiencing violence, sometimes because doctors are unsympathetic or hostile. Nevertheless, women wish to be asked routinely about physical abuse and want to receive immediate advice and information about their options if necessary. Women experience a range of health and social problems in association with domestic violence, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse and pregnancy complications. However, none of these features is specific enough to be useful as an indicator of violence. Therefore, doctors should routinely ask all women direct questions about abuse. This recommendation can be incorporated into guidelines, which should be implemented widely in the UK, to improve the care of women experiencing domestic violence. In parallel with this, the educational needs of general practitioners should be addressed. Further research is needed to establish the prevalence of domestic violence in women presenting to general practice and to investigate how the problem is currently being addressed. If progress is to be made in tackling domestic violence, action within primary care is just one part of this: a fundamental change in the attitudes of men towards women is required.     

Reducing the adverse consequences of workplace aggression and violence: The buffering effects of organizational support.

This study examined the buffering effects of 2 types of organizational support--instrumental and informational--on the relationships between workplace violence/aggression and both personal and organizational outcomes. Based on data from 225 employees in a health care setting, a series of moderated multiple regression analyses demonstrated that organizational support moderated the effects of physical violence, vicariously experienced violence, and psychological aggression on emotional well-being, somatic health, and job-related affect, but not on fear of future workplace violence and job neglect. These findings have implications for both research and intervention related to workplace violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Domestic violence. Reality for some of your toughest patients

Until recently, domestic violence was considered a criminal justice or social service problem. However, physicians see victims in emergency settings and clinics with complaints and symptoms that go beyond physical injuries. A study by a Minnesota health plan shows that, on average, a victim of domestic violence costs the health care system $1,434 more per year than a nonvictim. This article discusses the prevalence of domestic violence and the variety of presentations. Guidelines for screening, what to do with a positive response, when to call the police, and how to document and code are reviewed, as are issues unique to older victims of domestic violence.     

Review of Against all odds: Holocaust survivors and the successful lives they made in America.

Reviews the book, Against all odds: Holocaust survivors and the successful lives they made in America by William B. Helmreich (1992). In this book, Helmreich presents us with the results of a large-scale study of the adjustment of Holocaust survivors—Jews who spent World War II under the Third Reich, either in death camps, ghettoes, or in hiding. The research is based on 170 in-depth interviews of randomly selected survivors who had emigrated to America after the war and a control group of American Jews. Helmreich tells us how the survivors managed to start a new life. He highlights their amazing ability to forge strong family bonds again after seeing all their relatives murdered. He illustrates how, in spite of limited education due to the harrowing lost years in concentration camps, the survivors achieved occupational success. He shows us the survivors' capacity for friendship and altruism and their astounding ability to live with their dreadful memories of murder and torture. Against all odds is clearly written, buttressing important generalizations with illuminating vignettes and accounts of individual experiences. It gives us an understanding of how people who have lived through appalling calamity can regain a hold on life. This book will be useful for clinicians working with anyone who has survived tragedy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The impact of interpersonal violence in adulthood on women's job satisfaction and productivity: The mediating roles of mental and physical health.

Objective: With growing awareness of the prevalence of interpersonal violence victimization among women, research has begun to examine the impact of these experiences on employment. To date, much of this work in the United States has centered on low-income women moving from public assistance to paid employment and research gaps in our understanding of a broader range of working women's experiences still exist. The present study explored the impact of multiple types of victimization (sexual violence, physical intimate partner violence, psychological abuse, and stalking) on a range of work outcomes (job satisfaction, job benefits, job interference). Method: A random-digit-dial telephone survey of 1,079 women living in New Hampshire was conducted. Measures included questions about victimization in adulthood and current perceptions of employment. Results: A multivariate analysis of variance and regression analyses showed clear links between victimization experiences and negative work outcomes. Mental and physical health symptoms represent important mediators explaining these links. Conclusion: Results support the need for workplace policies and supports that provide safety nets for survivors and encourages the development of community norms that assist survivors in accessing such supports. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effectiveness of individual counseling by professional and peer helpers for family caregivers of the elderly.

This study of the effectiveness of individual counseling for daughters and daughters-in-law (N?=?87) who were the primary caregivers for frail elderly parents revealed that participants who received professional counseling demonstrated significantly better outcomes than a no-treatment control group in regard to subjective well-being, level of psychiatric symptomatology, and perceived change in aspects of the caregiver–care-receiver relationship. Participants who received peer counseling demonstrated similar gains but did not improve significantly more than did control subjects in subjective well-being. Both forms of counseling had no significant effect on caregivers' formal and informal social support networks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Posttraumatic stress symptoms and victimization among Japanese American women.

This study of Japanese American women and immigrant women from Japan investigated the relationship between posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and the perceived abusiveness of partners' emotional and physical violence, with a community-based random sample. Women who experienced injuries and/or fear for their lives, in addition to partners' emotional and physical violence, had significantly higher PTS symptom counts than those with no lifetime experience of partners' violence. Victimization by nonintimates also increased PTS symptom counts. Satisfaction with social support significantly mitigated the negative effect of childhood abuse for reexperiencing and avoidance symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The ACT Against Violence Training Program: A preliminary investigation of knowledge gained by early childhood professionals.

Given the prevalence of violence in young children's lives and the detrimental effects violence exposure may have on children's development, it is essential that psychologists disseminate information to those in direct contact with young children. One antiviolence program, the Adults and Children Together (ACT) Against Violence Training Program, is aimed specifically at the role models in young children's lives, their parents or caregivers, and teachers and others who work directly with them. This research examined the utility of the ACT program in disseminating knowledge to early childhood professionals. Results revealed that the program is effective in terms of both participants' increase in knowledge and perception of knowledge regarding violence in childhood. Preliminary support for the utility of the ACT training program for psychologists working with young children was provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Education in domestic violence

A baccalaureate-level, mandatory course on the social aspects of violence against women is being given as part of the curriculum at the Université du Québec à Rimouski. The course has been offered since 1990 and includes a complete array of teaching techniques such as lectures, simulations and role playing. Its aim is to impart knowledge, develop awareness, promote a change of attitudes and develop intervention abilities for nurses who may come in contact with domestic violence situations. Prior to implementation, an exploratory study was completed to determine student nurses' perceptions of domestic violence. Results indicate that, prior to taking the course, domestic violence was perceived as an individual problem. Respondents (26 female and 2 male) generally accepted society's prejudices of domestic violence as fact and ignored research results that pointed to the social realities. By the end of the course, the respondents' knowledge of the social aspects of domestic violence was better integrated. The authors conclude that specific training on domestic violence can modify false perceptions and help nurses develop the necessary competencies to deal with these situations.