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Assaults Against Residents of a Psychiatric Institution

Residents' History of Abuse

National Assault Prevention Center Columbus, Ohio

SALLY COOPER

National Assault Prevention Center Columbus, Ohio

MAUREEN CROSSMAKER

National Assault Prevention Center Columbus, Ohio

Research indicates that the incidence of physical and sexual assault of people with disabilities is high. Anecdotal information on conditions inside state-operated institutions for people with mental disabilities suggests that residents are at high risk for assault. This study focuses on the assault experiences of 58 residents of a Midwestern state-operated psychiatric institution. Sixty percent of the women and 36% of the men reported that they had been raped during their lifetime. Seventy-one percent of the participants reported that they had been threatened with violence while inside a psychiatric institution. Fifty-three percent reported that they had been physically assaulted, and 38% reported that they had been sexually assaulted inside a psychiatric institution. Fifty-two percent of the assaulted residents reported that they had been physically assaulted the most by other residents, and 39% reported that they had been physically assaulted the most by staff members. Of the residents reporting sexual assault, 55% reported that they had been sexually assaulted the most by other residents, and 27% reported being sexually assaulted the most by institution staff. This study suggests a significant need to reduce the vulnerability to assault of people with disabilities, both inside and outside institutional settings.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 4, No. 3, 342-349 (1989)
DOI: 10.1177/088626089004003007


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