Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern in the United States that puts women at increased risk for negative health and vocational outcomes. Severity and duration of negative outcomes, however, vary widely among trauma survivors, with some women developing more severe, negative outcomes and others developing less severe or fewer negative outcomes, or none at all. The study of cognitive appraisals for trauma, or an individual's assessment of her/his beliefs, feelings, and behaviors after a traumatic event, shows promise for illuminating what, and how, post-trauma outcomes develop for trauma survivors. Few studies have examined cognitive appraisals of trauma in relation to IPV, and none to date have examined them in relation to physical health and vocational outcomes. The purpose of this dissertation study was to use a correlational, descriptive, non-experimental, survey research design to examine whether trauma appraisals mediate the relationships among a broad range of IPV experiences and mental health, physical health, and vocational outcomes for adult women IPV survivors. Participants were a community sample of 158 women who had experienced IPV in adulthood. Participants were recruited from multiple community organizations and completed surveys online or in-person or over-the-phone with the principal investigator. Stepwise linear regressions were used to analyze the mediation models, and linear regressions were performed to examine how specific trauma appraisals predicted physical health and vocational outcomes. Dissertation study findings showed that trauma appraisals significantly and fully mediated the relationship between IPV experiences and mental health outcomes for women, with appraisals of fear, alienation, and anger significantly predicting mental health outcomes. When childhood betrayal trauma was controlled for within this model, however, trauma appraisals only partially mediated the relationship between IPV and trauma-related mental health. A mediation model was not used for physical health and vocational outcomes, but findings revealed that appraisals of self-blame and anger significantly predicted physical health outcomes, and appraisals of anger and shame significantly predicted vocational self-efficacy outcomes. These findings highlight the importance that trauma appraisals play in the development of a broad range of outcomes for IPV survivors. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Objective: While child welfare policy and legislation in Canada and other regions has increasingly defined children who are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) as maltreated, little is known about the response of the child welfare system to children exposed to IPV. This dissertation seeks to determine the response of child protection services to reports about IPV; the outcomes of child protection investigations referred for children exposed to IPV; and what factors predict decisions made by child protection workers (e.g., court involvement, child welfare placement, closing the case, substantiation, and making a referral to other supportive services) for investigations involving children exposed to IPV. Methods: This study is based on a secondary analysis of data collected in the 2003 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2003). Bivariate analyses and multiple multinomial regression were conducted to study the substantiation of maltreatment, and logistic regression was conducted to predict child protection workers’ decisions to keep the case open, make a child welfare placement, take the family to court, and make a referral for investigations involving children’s exposure to IPV. Results: Seventy-eight percent of the investigations involving only IPV were substantiated. The multinomial regression could not accurately classify the suspected and unfounded cases. Substantiated investigations involving co-occurring IPV were three times more likely to stay open for ongoing child protection services compared to IPV only cases (adjusted odds ratio = 2.93, p < .001). Child protection service outcomes for substantiated investigations involving co-occurring IPV were ten times more likely (adjusted odds ratio = 10.61, p < .001) to involve a child welfare placement compared to IPV only cases. The factors driving child protection worker decisions were primarily the co-occurrence of maltreatment, younger children, and emotional harm. Conclusions: Due to the expansion in what constitutes a child in need of protection, there has been an overwhelming increase in the number of referrals about children being exposed to IPV in Canada. Future analyses should explore whether policies that direct IPV cases to child welfare services is both an effective way of protecting children and a reasonable use of limited child welfare resources.

Objective: While child welfare policy and legislation in Canada and other regions has increasingly defined children who are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) as maltreated, little is known about the response of the child welfare system to children exposed to IPV. This dissertation seeks to determine the response of child protection services to reports about IPV; the outcomes of child protection investigations referred for children exposed to IPV; and what factors predict decisions made by child protection workers (e.g., court involvement, child welfare placement, closing the case, substantiation, and making a referral to other supportive services) for investigations involving children exposed to IPV. Methods: This study is based on a secondary analysis of data collected in the 2003 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2003). Bivariate analyses and multiple multinomial regression were conducted to study the substantiation of maltreatment, and logistic regression was conducted to predict child protection workers’ decisions to keep the case open, make a child welfare placement, take the family to court, and make a referral for investigations involving children’s exposure to IPV. Results: Seventy-eight percent of the investigations involving only IPV were substantiated. The multinomial regression could not accurately classify the suspected and unfounded cases. Substantiated investigations involving co-occurring IPV were three times more likely to stay open for ongoing child protection services compared to IPV only cases (adjusted odds ratio = 2.93, p < .001). Child protection service outcomes for substantiated investigations involving co-occurring IPV were ten times more likely (adjusted odds ratio = 10.61, p < .001) to involve a child welfare placement compared to IPV only cases. The factors driving child protection worker decisions were primarily the co-occurrence of maltreatment, younger children, and emotional harm. Conclusions: Due to the expansion in what constitutes a child in need of protection, there has been an overwhelming increase in the number of referrals about children being exposed to IPV in Canada. Future analyses should explore whether policies that direct IPV cases to child welfare services is both an effective way of protecting children and a reasonable use of limited child welfare resources.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem that affects millions every year across the U.S., including families with young children. Children exposed to IPV can suffer consequences such as negative developmental and psychological outcomes and sometimes physical harm. Previous research has found an association between IPV victimization and risk of child maltreatment. In addition to further examining the relation between IPV and child maltreatment risk, this study tested maternal depression and parental stress as mediators and social support as a moderator in the IPV-child maltreatment risk relation. The research was conducted using data from a study of low-income, first-time mothers who were enrolled in a home visitation program. Results show that IPV physical and psychological victimization is significantly associated with child maltreatment risk, and this relation is mediated by maternal depression. These findings provide valuable information for those in the child welfare field, IPV victim advocacy, and home visitation services. A multi-system response should be employed to ensure that services for victims are comprehensive and address all areas of need. This approach is necessary in order to improve outcomes for IPV victims as well as their children.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Kent State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 2, 2009). Advisor: Stevan Hobfoll. Keywords: intimate partner violence; PTSD; empowerment; resources. Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-83).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2009. / Adviser: Jana L. Jasinski. Includes bibliographical references (p. 188-204).

The Domestic Violence Act was passed in Ghana in 2007 marking a shift in the legal recourse available to survivors of intimate partner violence. The goal of my research is to identify the social, cultural, and legal changes that have occurred in Accra, Ghana and the surrounding areas since the passage of the DV Act. While in Ghana I spoke with men and women who were involved in the struggle to get the bill passed, as well as NGO employees and government officials who have seen men and women utilize the legal rights that the bill provides. I wanted to learn as much as I could about the cultural complexities of Ghana that continue to make the eradication of intimate partner violence so difficult. In the end, I hope that my research will add to a growing understanding of what is most lacking in the fight to attenuate the deleterious effects of intimate partner violence, so that advocates will be better able to truly implement the DVA’s emancipatory qualities. I also hope that the study will be a catalyst to promote continued education and invigorate activism. Methodologically, I used qualitative research tenets, utilizing in depth interviews and emergent coding. Results show how socio-culturally informed gendered attitudes and norms heavily impact the implementation of and enforcement of legal frameworks within communities. Findings also aid in a better understanding of the factors that surround violence against women in Ghana, and help explain how such factors are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. / text

This thesis consists of three major sections. The first reflects on the new methodologies that I have developed and incorporated into my classes and performances here in the MFA Acting program at The University of Texas at Austin. The second section examines my approach to character and the application of technique to the rehearsal of a role. Finally, I reflect on, and examine, the rehearsal process for Intimate Apparel from the first rehearsal through the final performance. / text

Intimate partner abuse (IPA) is a global health problem affecting millions of women. It is linked with a wide range of negative health sequela including injuries, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic pain, depression, gynecological disorders, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (CDC, 2011). In Hong Kong and other Chinese societies, incidence of IPA is likely to be under-reported. This phenomenon is presumably due to the cultural norm in which shameful family issues tend not to be disclosed to members outside the family. However, in light of its related negative health consequences, early identification of IPA is important. In Hong Kong where majority of women attend primary health care settings for routine check-up, identification of IPA in this setting is feasible. The Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS), a well-established screening tool for IPA, suits this purpose. Previous studies in Hong Kong have shown that the Chinese version of AAS has satisfactory validity and high sensitivity for detecting IPA (Tiwari, Fong, Leung, Parker, & Ho, 2007). Therefore, this proposed guideline chose to use the Chinese version of AAS for IPA detection in women’s health services, with the purpose of minimizing under-reporting of IPA in Hong Kong. The objectives of this study are (1) to conduct a systematic literature review on the IPA identification in health care settings; (2) to synthesize the outcomes from the identified literature for the translation of evidence-based practice; (3) to develop a clinical guideline for identifying IPA in women’s health services; (4) to assess the potential of implementing the proposed guideline; (5) to develop an implementation plan; and (6) to develop an evaluation plan for the proposed guideline. A systematic literature search was performed for identifying relevant studies. Three electronic databases including PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE (OvidSP), and CINAHL Plus (EBSCOhost) were used. In total, six papers were yielded based on the inclusion criteria. Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) 2011 grading system was used to evaluate the level of evidence. The potential of implementing the proposed guideline was assessed based on the transferability of the findings, feasibility, and the cost-to-benefit ratio. An evidence-based guideline was developed based on the analysed research findings. Finally, an implementation plan and an evaluation plan for the proposed guideline were designed. An evidence-based guideline for identifying IPA in women’s health services was developed in this translational research. It assists nurses, particularly in the women’s health services, to identify women survivors of IPA. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

The current study aims to analyze the nature and duration of the intimate relationship breakup experience for young adult males and females as a function of socially encouraged gender behavior and Facebook use. Seventy male and seventy female (ages 18-25) participants who have endured an intimate relationship breakup within the past year will complete three pencil and paper survey measures in a classroom setting. Participants will be asked a series of questions about their resulting emotionality and Facebook use post-breakup. The researcher anticipates a series of t-tests will reveal that in accordance with socially encouraged gender behaviors, females will report a longer duration of the breakup process, overall higher levels of emotionality, and more time spent monitoring the activity of an ex-partner on Facebook. Male participants will report higher levels of anger as a result of a breakup, and while both males and females will report Facebook interference in the coping process, females will report significantly higher levels of Facebook interference than male participants. The increased understanding of social media use and gender stereotypes in regards to an intimate relationship breakup suggest that both hold significant power in society, and may particularly encourage gender differences in dealing with such a breakup. Furthermore, the two may function in sync to dictate the breakup experience differently for males and females.