Journal of Interpersonal Violence recent issues

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services: Historical Concerns and Contemporary Challenges

Macy, R. J., Giattina, M. C., Parish, S. L., Crosby, C. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

More than 20 years ago, concerns were raised about whether domestic violence and sexual assault agencies need for stable funding would conflict with the values that initiated these respective movements. Since then, the movements have evolved considerably. Therefore, it is timely to investigate the challenges domestic violence and sexual assault agencies face today. This exploratory study used focus groups and interviews to identify the challenges facing North Carolina domestic violence and sexual assault movements from the perspectives of agency directors and funding staff. Using an open-coding approach, seven challenges were identified including funding, sustainability, community norms, tension between grassroots versus professional service providers, lack of attention to sexual assault, the need for welcoming services for all survivors, and the need for comprehensive services to help survivors with co-occurring mental illnesses and substance abuse problems. The findings also pointed to recommendations for ways to address these challenges.

Attachment Anxiety as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Interpersonal Trauma and Posttraumatic Symptomatology Among College Women

Sandberg, D. A., Suess, E. A., Heaton, J. L. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

The identification of variables that mediate the relationship between traumatic life events and posttraumatic symptomatology could help elucidate underlying causal mechanisms and improve therapeutic intervention offered to individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress. The authors examined whether adult attachment, as measured by Brennan, Clark, and Shaver’s Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory, mediates the relationship between a broad range of traumatic life events and posttraumatic symptomatology. Participants were 224 ethnically diverse college women. Path analysis indicated that attachment anxiety partially mediated the link between intimate partner violence and posttraumatic symptomatology, as well as the link between adolescent or adult sexual victimization and posttraumatic symptomatology. Attachment avoidance, although associated with posttraumatic stress, did not mediate the relationship between traumatic life events and PTSD symptoms.

An Investigation of School Violence Through Turkish Children's Drawings

Yurtal, F., Artut, K. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

This study investigates Turkish children’s perception of violence in school as represented through drawings and narratives. In all, 66 students (12 to 13 years old) from the middle socioeconomic class participated. To elicit children’s perception of violence, they were asked to draw a picture of a violent incident they had heard, experienced, or witnessed. Children mostly drew pictures of violent events among children (33 pictures). Also, there were pictures of violent incidents perpetrated by teachers and directors against children. It was observed that violence influenced children. Violence was mostly depicted in school gardens (38 pictures), but there were violent incidents everywhere, such as in classrooms, corridors, and school stores as well. Moreover, it was found that brute force was the most referred way of violence in the children’s depictions (38 pictures). In conclusion, children clearly indicated that there was violence in schools and they were affected by it.

Duration of Exposure and the Dose-Response Model of PTSD

Kaysen, D., Rosen, G., Bowman, M., Resick, P. A. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

A dose-response model underlies posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posits a relationship between event magnitude and clinical outcome. The present study examines whether one index of event magnitude—duration of exposure—contributes to risk of PTSD among female victims of sexual assault. Findings support a small but significant contribution of event duration to clinical status in the immediate aftermath of trauma but not at 3-month follow-up. The opposite pattern is obtained for subjective appraisals of threat. These findings add to a growing literature that suggests that a simple application of the dose-response model to objective event characteristics may be insufficient to explain the risk of PTSD.

An Examination of Whether Coordinated Community Responses Affect Intimate Partner Violence

Post, L. A., Klevens, J., Maxwell, C. D., Shelley, G. A., Ingram, E. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

This study tests the impact of coordinated community response (CCR) on reducing intimate partner violence (IPV) and on modifying knowledge and attitudes. The authors conduct hierarchical linear modeling of data from a stratified random-digit dial telephone survey (n = 12,039) in 10 test and 10 control sites, which include 23 counties from different regions in the United States, to establish the impact of a CCR on community members’ attitudes toward IPV, knowledge and use of available IPV services, and prevalence of IPV. Findings indicate that CCRs do not affect knowledge, beliefs, or attitudes of IPV, knowledge and use of available IPV services, nor risk of exposure to IPV after controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, income, and education. Women in communities with 6-year CCRs (as opposed to 3-year CCRs) are less likely to report any aggression against them in the past year. These results are discussed within the context of evaluation challenges of CCRs (e.g., IPV activities in comparison communities, variability across interventions, time lag for expected impact, and appropriateness of outcome indicators) and in light of the evidence of the impact of other community-based collaborations.

Does It Make Any Difference if She Is a Mother?: An Interactional Perspective on Intimate Partner Violence With a Focus on Motherhood and Pregnancy

Vatnar, S. K. B., Bjorkly, S. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

The authors report on the impact of motherhood and pregnancy on interactional aspects of intimate partner violence (IPV) among help-seeking women. Is having children a protective or a risk factor for IPV severity, injury, duration, frequency, and mortal danger, controlling for sociodemographics? Regarding interactional aspects of IPV, do survivors who experience IPV during pregnancy differ from those who do not? Is IPV during pregnancy characterized by different severity, injury, frequency, and mortal danger? A representative sample of women was interviewed. Motherhood increased the risk for longer duration of physical, psychological, and sexual IPV, even controlling for duration of partnership. Combinations of main categories of IPV during pregnancy were different from when not pregnant. Duration of physical and psychological IPV was the only variable increasing the likelihood of experiencing IPV during pregnancy. All physical IPV variables were significantly lower during pregnancy. For psychological IPV, all variables but frequency were lower. Only mortal danger was significantly lower in the sexual IPV main category.

Sexual Violence Prevention: The Role of Stages of Change

Banyard, V. L., Eckstein, R. P., Moynihan, M. M. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

Increasing numbers of empirical studies and theoretical frameworks for preventing sexual violence are appearing in the research- and practice-based literatures. The consensus of this work is that although important lessons have been learned, the field is still in the early stages of developing and fully researching effective models, particularly for the primary prevention of this problem in communities. The purpose of this article is to discuss the utility of applying the transtheoretical model of readiness for change to sexual violence prevention and evaluation. A review of this model and its application in one promising new primary prevention program is provided, along with exploratory data about what is learned about program design and effectiveness when the model is used. The study also represents one of the first attempts to operationalize and create specific measures to quantify readiness for change in the context of sexual violence prevention and evaluation. Implications for program development and evaluation research are discussed.

Correlates of Violent Response Among Peruvian Women Abused by an Intimate Partner

Gelaye, B., Lam, N., Cripe, S. M., Sanchez, S. E., Williams, M. A. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

The authors sought to identify correlates of violent response among women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) in Lima, Peru. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on exposure to IPV and women's physical violent reaction towards their abuser. Women who were sexually abused by their partners, as compared with women who experienced emotional abuse only, were more than twice as likely to respond in a violent manner to the abuse (OR = 2.32, 95% CI = 1.14-4.74). Similarly, women who reported being physically abused, were 4 times as likely than those who experienced emotional abuse only to retaliate in a physically violent manner (OR = 4.04, 95% CI = 2.68-6.11). Women's educational status, history of witnessing parental violence as a child, and type of IPV are significantly associated with women's violent response. Community support networks and culturally appropriate intervention programs designed to prevent and mitigate the impact of IPV are needed.

Personal and Interpersonal Correlates of Bullying Behaviors Among Korean Middle School Students

Lee, C.-H. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:37:05 PST

This study simultaneously investigates personal and interpersonal traits that were found to be important factors of bullying behavior using data collected from 1,238 randomly selected Korean middle school students. Using a modified and expanded definition of bullying based on a more culturally sensitive approach to bullying, this study categorizes bullies into three groups: Type I (minor-covert-nonchronic bullying), Type II (moderate-covert-chronic or severe-overt-nonchronic bullying), and Type III (severe-overt-chronic bullying). In addition, this study empirically tests several factors for the first time. Those factors are fun-seeking tendency, teachers’ attitude toward bullying, teachers’ effectiveness of intervention, teachers’ moral authority, power dynamic, and pseudofriendship. The comparison across three groups provided unique findings that different factors were differently related to different groups of bullies. Specifically, teachers have influence on bullying only for the moderate group (Type II), and parents have influence on bullying only for the minor group (Type I). The most important and constant factors across all different groups were prior bullying victimization experience and fun-seeking tendency.

Assessing the Anomalous Research on Hispanic Victimization: A Methodological Critique of a Victimological Enigma

Brown, B. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

This article provides an overview and critique of the research on Hispanic victimization. Analyses of data gathered prior to the mid- to late 1990s consistently show Hispanics were victimized at disproportionately high rates, but numerous recent studies indicate Hispanics were not victimized at disproportionately high rates. Given that research has consistently shown victimization rates are highest among the poor and that Hispanics are a disproportionately impoverished demographic, the findings that Hispanics were not victimized at disproportionately high rates are enigmatic. It is suggested that social changes in the United States—specifically, the increase in the portion of the Hispanic population composed of immigrants and the development of Latin American enclaves—have reduced the efficacy of conventional methodological tactics and that the recent findings on Hispanic victimization were affected by the inadequate representation of disadvantaged Hispanics (especially immigrants and migrants) in survey studies and the reluctance of Hispanic immigrants to report crimes to the police. Finally, it is argued that the practice of conducting analyses of ethnic variation in victimization wherein all non-Hispanics (Asians, Blacks, Native Americans, and Whites) are amalgamated into a single category and compared with Hispanics has generated misleading results.

The Longitudinal Association of Adolescent Dating Violence With Psychiatric Disorders and Functioning

Brown, A., Cosgrave, E., Killackey, E., Purcell, R., Buckby, J., Yung, A. R. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

While the prevalence, correlates and mental health impacts of intimate partner violence are well documented in adolescents and young adults, fewer studies have considered physical dating violence among clinical samples of help-seeking young people. In a sample of 98 young people aged 15-24 years (54% females) referred to a specialist public youth mental health service, we examined the 12-month prevalence of physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner and its relationship with psychiatric disorders and psychosocial functioning. The reported prevalence of dating violence in the 12 months prior to referral was 13%. Physical dating violence reported at referral was associated with poorer psychosocial functioning, substance dependence and comorbid Axis I diagnoses at 6-month follow-up. These findings suggest that youth mental health services are well positioned not only to screen for dating violence but to intervene to ameliorate the mental health consequences of abuse and to prevent further violence.

Violence Against General Practitioners in Turkey

Aydin, B., Kartal, M., Midik, O., Buyukakkus, A. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

We aimed to determine the violence against general practitioners (GPs) through their suggestions on its cause and prevention. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study based on self-administered questionnaire answered by a convenience study population consisting of 522 GPs between November and December 2006. Of the participating GPs, 82.8% reported that they experienced violence. They reported 1,020 events, and verbal form was the most common form (89.3%). Verbal and sexual violence were seen more frequently among women, whereas physical and economic violence were more frequent with men. Perpetrators were patients and/or their relatives in 91.1% of the events. However, they were colleagues and superiors in 67.9% of the economic and sexual violence events. Violence against GPs warrants more attention. For its prevention, there is a need of continuous professional, administrative, and legal support from the government along with systematic, coordinated implementations independent from daily political concerns.

The Relationships Between Social Goals, Skills, and Strategies and Their Effect on Aggressive Behavior Among Adolescents

Winstok, Z. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

It is widely accepted that conflict-related goals, skills, and strategies are linked. Yet it is rarely explored how these factors relate to each other and how they jointly promote or inhibit aggressive behaviors. The aim of this study is to provide answers to these questions. Data were derived from a structured questionnaire administered to 660 male and female adolescents of an average age of 14.99 years from two urban schools in northern Israel. Findings show that goals, skills, and strategies that promote or inhibit violence are positively interrelated. Furthermore, negative association was found between violence promoting and inhibiting goals, skills, and strategies. Gender differences were also analyzed. It has been found that boys display aggressive behavior more frequently then girls. Findings also show that the rate of violence promoting goals, skills, and strategies is higher among boys than among girls, whereas that of violence inhibiting ones are higher among girls than among boys. Yet when controlling the effects of goals, skills, and strategies, girls demonstrate aggressive behavior more frequently than boys. These research findings are discussed and conceptualized within the theoretical framework of social adjustment.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Sri Lankan University Students as a Consequence of Their Exposure to Family Violence

Haj-Yahia, M. M., Tishby, O., de Zoysa, P. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

The article presents the results of a study on the association between exposure to family violence (i.e., witnessing interparental violence and experiencing parental violence) during childhood and adolescence and adult posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study was conducted among a self-selected convenience sample of 476 students from Sri Lanka, using a self-administered questionnaire. The findings indicate that the more participants witnessed interparental violence and the more they experienced parental violence, the more they exhibited PTSD symptoms. Moreover, the findings reveal that participants’ exposure to family violence explains a significant amount of the variance in their PTSD over and above the variance that can be attributed to their sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, number of siblings, and family’s socioeconomic status) and to their perceptions of the environment and functioning of their families. The limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Mutual Partner Violence: Mental Health Symptoms Among Female and Male Victims in Four Racial/Ethnic Groups

Prospero, M., Kim, M. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

This study examines racial/ethnic and sex differences in the prevalence of mutual intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health symptoms. The authors asked 676 university students in heterosexual relationships if they had experienced IPV, coercive victimization, and/or perpetration as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, hostility, and somatization. Analyses were conducted separately for female and male respondents in four racial/ethnic groups, totaling eight groups (female and male groups each for African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and European Americans). Men, as compared to women, reported stronger correlations between IPV perpetration and IPV victimization, with Asian American men reporting the highest associations of any group. Additionally, experiencing higher partner and coercive violence was significantly related to increased mental health symptoms for all groups except Asian American men. Taken together, these findings suggest that the majority of couples experience mutual violence that elicits mental health problems for both members of the couple.

Misperceptions of Sex Offender Perpetration: Considering the Impact of Sex Offender Registration

Craun, S. W., Theriot, M. T. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

A popular misconception among the general public is that sex offenders most often victimize strangers. To better understand these misconceptions about sex offenders, this study determines the frequency of misperception in the general public and establishes if the misconceptions are related to the policy of sex offender registration. Using a self-administered mail survey, it is found that on average, 3 out of 10 respondents indicate more worry about a child being sexually abused by a stranger than a child being sexually abused by someone known to them. In neighborhoods where registered sex offenders reside, awareness of a local sex offender significantly increases the likelihood that a respondent is more worried about a stranger sexually abusing a child. Interpretations of the findings follow, including discussing if the findings demonstrate an unintended consequence of sex offender registries.

Experiences of Sexual Coercion Among Adolescent Women: Qualitative Findings From Rakai District, Uganda

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

Limited data from low-income countries are available on the continuum of coercive experiences, the contexts in which they occur, and how adolescent women perceive and respond to coercion. This article presents results from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with pregnant and never pregnant sexually active female adolescents, aged 15 to 17, residing in Rakai District, Uganda, to examine sexual coercion, its context, and the links between coercion and adolescent reproductive health outcomes, including early sexual debut and pregnancy. Informants described multiple forms of sexual coercion, including coerced or forced intercourse, unwanted sexual touching, verbal harassment, and transactional sex. Sexual coercion was perceived to be a normal part of intimate relationships; in particular, informants felt that a woman’s lack of decision-making authority, including choices on sexual encounters, was implicit to marriage. This information may help violence prevention programs develop a range of strategies for addressing sexual coercion among adolescents.

Illinois Trauma Centers and Intimate Partner Violence: Are We Doing Our Share?

Crandall, M., Schwab, J., Sheehan, K., Esposito, T. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:14:43 PDT

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major source of morbidity and mortality nationally. Trauma Centers can be very helpful for victims of IPV but there may be variability in IPV resource provision. A survey was mailed to each of the 65 Trauma Centers in Illinois. Stata and EZ-Text statistical software were used for analysis. Eighty-three percent of trauma centers returned the survey. Ninety percent of respondents had an IPV screening policy. All but one Center reported having IPV services available, including social work (93%) and 24 hour/day IPV teams (7%). Most Centers felt their IPV services were adequate (69%), but 22% felt services were inadequate, particularly resource availability. Trauma Centers in the state of Illinois are generally succeeding at screening for IPV. However, there is lack of uniformity with respect to screening and services, suggesting that there is room for improvement.

Pathways to Adult Sexual Revictimization: Direct and Indirect Behavioral Risk Factors Across the Lifespan

Fargo, J. D. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

The purpose of this study is to investigate direct and indirect social and behavioral risk factors for adult sexual revictimization. Participants include 147 adult, predominantly African American (88%) women, 59% of whom had a documented history of child sexual abuse. Participants are interviewed in adulthood about adolescent and adult sexual victimization as well as other background and lifestyle characteristics. Structural equation modeling indicates that the relationship between child and adolescent sexual victimization is indirect, mediated by adolescent risk-taking behavior. The relationship between adolescent and adult sexual victimization is also indirect, mediated by risky sexual behavior. The residual effects of early childhood family environment and childhood physical abuse also indirectly predict sexual revictimization. Results provide empirical support for the general supposition that the relationship between child and adult sexual victimization is complex and that many intermediary factors differentially affect risk for a heightened vulnerability to sexual revictimization.

Clinician Ratings of Batterer Treatment Behaviors in Predicting Reassault

Gondolf, E. W., Wernik, H. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

This article examines the use of clinicians’ ratings of batterer program participants to predict their reassaults during a 6-month posttreatment follow-up and a longer and more inclusive postintake follow-up period (n = 380). The ratings consist of 10 items that reflect the behavioral criteria used by clinicians in making judgment about treatment success. Logistic regressions and ROC analyses show that the sums of the clinician ratings are significant but weak predictors of especially severe reassaults in the longer postintake follow-up. Analyses of the individual items and the determinants of the ratings reveal attendance compliance and avoidance techniques to be the strongest predictors and suggest that participant motivation, represented by these items, underlies the ratings. The overall weak prediction, however, reinforces the limitations of clinical ratings and the need to augment them with additional information.

Gender Symmetry, Sexism, and Intimate Partner Violence

Allen, C. T., Swan, S. C., Raghavan, C. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

This study of a predominantly Hispanic sample of 92 male and 140 female college students examines both gender symmetry in intimate partner violence (IPV) and inconsistent relationships found in previous studies between sexist attitudes and IPV. Results indicate that although comparable numbers of men and women perpetrate and are victimized in their relationships with intimate partners, the path models suggest that women’s violence tends to be in reaction to male violence, whereas men tend to initiate violence and then their partners respond with violence. Benevolent sexism was shown to have a protective effect against men’s violence toward partners. Findings highlight the importance of studying women’s violence not only in the context of men’s violence but also within a broader sociocultural context.

Darfur Refugees in Cairo: Mental Health and Interpersonal Conflict in the Aftermath of Genocide

Meffert, S. M., Marmar, C. R. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

Hundreds of thousands of Darfur people affected by the Sudanese genocide have fled to Cairo, Egypt, in search of assistance. Collaborating with Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA), the authors conducted a mental health care needs assessment among Darfur refugees in Cairo. Information was collected using individual and focus group interviews to identify gaps in mental health care and develop understandings of emotional and relationship problems. The refugee mental health care system has a piecemeal structure with gaps in outpatient services. There is moderate to severe emotional distress among many Darfur refugees, including symptoms of depression and trauma, and interpersonal conflict, both domestic violence and broader community conflict, elevated relative to pregenocide levels. Given the established relationships between symptoms of depression/traumatic stress and interpersonal violence, improving mental health is important for both preventing mental health decompensation and stemming future cycles of intra- and intergroup conflict.

Circumstances Surrounding Male Sexual Assault and Rape: Findings From the National Violence Against Women Survey

Light, D., Monk-Turner, E. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

Much work in the area of male sexual assault and rape relies on small clinical samples. From these samples, researchers reported that most male victims were physically injured during the attack and that penetration occurred. This work rests on a subsample of 219 men from the 1994-1996 Violence and Threats of Violence Against Women and Men in the United States Survey. Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAW) show that the vast majority of male sexual assault victims reported that they were not physically injured during the assault, that a weapon was not used, that there was no substance use at the time of the assault, and that penetration did not occur. Only 29% of male respondents in the NVAW sought medical or psychological help after the assault. Prior work may have overrepresented men who reported being physically injured and/or penetrated. An analysis is presented of how those who presented for help in the NVAW differ from the whole sample. Results show that men who presented for help were more likely to have reported being physically injured during the assault and that penetration occurred. Thus, findings from prior work make sense; however, they may not be representative of male assault victims as a whole.

English-Speaking and Spanish-Speaking Domestic Violence Perpetrators: An MMPI-2 Assessment

Scott, R. L., Flowers, J. V., Bulnes, A., Olmsted, E., Carbajal-Madrid, P. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

The use of assessments to characterize domestic violence perpetrators continues to develop with an emphasis on increasing the effectiveness of domestic violence interventions. The present study examines and compares Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2 responses from 41 English-speaking and 48 Spanish-speaking men who were in court-mandated domestic violence treatment programs. Data are analyzed on all validity, clinical, supplementary, and content scales using composite means and cluster analyses. Although there are significant differences between the 2 groups on 12 scales, no scale shows significant clinical elevations (T >" xbd="1182" xhg="1161" ybd="1650" yhg="1612"/> 65) for either language cohort. Three perpetrator subgroups are identified using a methodology similar to that used in previous MMPI-2 studies: nonpathological, antisocial, and otherwise psychologically disturbed. The proportion of participants falling into each of the 3 groups, for both English and Spanish speakers, is similar to that found in other studies. The results are discussed in terms of cultural influences and the need for treatment approaches tailored to characteristics of each personality type.

Exploring Family Environment Characteristics and Multiple Abuse Experiences Among Homeless Youth

Ferguson, K. M. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

This qualitative study used data from the Social Enterprise Intervention (SEI) pilot study, a comprehensive vocational training program with integrated clinical services for homeless youth. In-depth interviews were conducted with 28 homeless youth participating in the SEI study to explore their perceptions of family environment characteristics and abuse experiences. The constant comparative method was used to analyze transcripts from in-depth interviews with the youth participants. Emergent themes related to family characteristics include home instability, abandonment, and caregiver substance abuse. Abuse-related subthemes include intrafamilial abuse, caregiver abuse, rejection, and deprecation by caregivers. Grounded theory is used to interpret findings and develop working hypotheses to guide future studies of multitype maltreatment among homeless youth.

Correlates of Dating Violence Among Male and Female Heavy-Drinking College Students

Roudsari, B. S., Leahy, M. M., Walters, S. T. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

Objective: To evaluate the correlates for dating violence among heavy-drinking college students. Method: Participants were at least 18 years old and reported at least one heavy-drinking episode in the past 2 weeks. Results: After covariate adjustment, estimated peak blood alcohol concentration during the past month was associated with higher victims’ verbal-emotional abuse score, and perpetrators’ verbal-emotional abuse and threatening abuse scores ( N = 280). In addition, being non-White was significantly associated with higher victims’ threatening abuse, physical abuse, and total abuse scores and perpetrators’ threatening abuse and physical abuse scores. Moreover, male students had significantly lower victims’ threatening abuse and physical abuse scores and perpetrators’ threatening abuse scores compared to female students. Discussion: Preventive programs that target dating violence among heavy-drinking college students should consider alcohol use as an important risk factor for abusive behaviors, both for the victims as well as the perpetrators.

The Perceived Impact of a Child Maltreatment Report From the Perspective of the Domestic Violence Shelter Worker

Steen, J. A. — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

The purpose of this study is to examine domestic violence shelter workers’ perceptions of child maltreatment reporting. A sample of 82 professionals from domestic violence shelters across the United States participated in a survey focusing on a variety of different types of reports and the frequency of both positive and negative outcomes arising from these reports. Possible outcomes included in the study are damage to the relationship between the worker and the battered woman, disempowerment of the battered woman, discouragement from seeking further help, protection of the child, further traumatization of the child, further disruption to the family, and damage to the woman’s likelihood of maintaining custody. Significant differences in perceived impact are found based on identity of abuser (spousal batterer vs. battered woman) and nature of report (child as witness to domestic violence vs. child as victim of abuse). These results point to the complexity of perceptions regarding the impact of reporting.

Relationship Between Type of Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Urban Children and Adolescents

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:50:09 PDT

This study examines the association between trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 157 help-seeking children (aged 8-17). Structured clinical interviews are carried out, and linear and logistic regression analyses are conducted to examine the relationship between PTSD and type of trauma exposure controlling for age, gender, and ethnicity. Confrontation with traumatic news, witnessing domestic violence, physical abuse, and sexual abuse are each significantly associated with PTSD. Witnessing a crime, being the victim of a crime, and exposure to accidents, fire, or disaster are not associated with PTSD. These findings underscore the association between interpersonal violence and childhood PTSD.

Does Acknowledgment as an Assault Victim Impact Postassault Psychological Symptoms and Coping?

Clements, C. M., Ogle, R. L. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

Psychological symptoms, abuse characteristics, abuse disability, and coping were assessed in college women who either did or did not acknowledge victim status relative to rape or intimate partner violence. Women were asked directly whether they had experienced intimate partner violence or rape. They also completed the Conflicts Tactic Scale (CTS) and the Sexual Experience Survey (SES). Participants were then classified into groups depending upon whether their answer, when directly asked, was consistent with their self-report on the CTS or SES. Overall, women who met the experiential criteria for either assault, but who did not acknowledge victimization, reported greater disability, more psychological symptoms, and impaired coping. This effect was particularly strong for the rape groups, where those who did not acknowledge victimization reported far more psychological distress, disability, and impaired coping than controls and other victim groups. The authors discuss the results in terms of their methodological implications for studies of assault victims and in terms of the clinical implications for victim identification and treatment.

Community Violence, Social Support Networks, Ethnic Group Differences, and Male Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence

Raghavan, C., Rajah, V., Gentile, K., Collado, L., Kavanagh, A. M. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

The authors examined how witnessing community violence influenced social support networks and how these networks were associated with male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) in ethnically diverse male college students. The authors assessed whether male social support members themselves had perpetrated IPV (male network violence) and whether female social support members had been victimized by intimates (female network victimization). The results indicated an association between community violence and male network violence; both factors were significantly associated with higher levels of IPV. Furthermore, the relationship between community violence and IPV was partially mediated by male network violence. Additionally, the results indicated a moderated relationship such that male participants who reported the highest levels of exposure to community violence and male network violence were at highest risk for IPV. However, this relationship did not hold across all ethnicities and races. The findings suggest that the mechanisms associating community violence, networks, and IPV are multifaceted and differ across ethnicity and race.

Attitudes Toward Rape and Victims of Rape: A Test of the Feminist Theory in Ghana

Boakye, K. E. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

This study explores the usefulness of the feminist theory in explaining attitudes toward rape and victims of rape in Ghana. The feminist theory of rape posits, inter alia, that patriarchy and gender inequality are major factors in the aetiology of rape and attitudes toward rape and that underlying patriarchy and gender inequality are gender stereotypes and false beliefs (myths) about rape, rapists, and victims of rape. Thus, the theory suggests a relationship between rape myths and less favorable attitudes toward rape and victims of rape. Results from a survey conducted in Ghana show some support for the feminist theory of rape: There is evidence of rape myth acceptance in Ghana; gender is significant in predicting levels of rape myth acceptance; and finally, education or profession and age, but not religion, are associated with levels of rape myth acceptance in a predictable way.

Predicting Stages of Change in Battered Women

Alexander, P. C., Tracy, A., Radek, M., Koverola, C. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

Battered women’s stages of change (SOCs) are examined in this study. First, confirmatory factor analysis and latent profile analysis were conducted on 754 battered women’s responses on the Problems in Relationship Scale (Brown, 1998). Factor loadings were strong, and latent variable mixture modeling produces a two-class solution. Second, comparisons of women (including a subset of 276) suggest that they were relatively advanced in SOC. SOC was unrelated to intimate partner violence experiences, but an earlier stage was associated with ethnicity, economic and emotional dependence, preoccupied attachment, satisfaction with social supports, and women’s use of aggression. Implications for interventions and future research are described.

A Cluster Analytic Investigation of School Violence Victimization Among Diverse Students

Felix, E. D., Furlong, M. J., Austin, G. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

Despite nationwide improvements in school safety, victimization at school continues and affects the well-being of a significant number of students. This study uses the California Healthy Kids Survey, a statewide surveillance instrument administered to students in grades 7, 9, and 11 in California (N = 70,600) to address the multiple victimization experiences of students at school. The authors identify subgroups of students based on victimization experience; assess how perceptions of being targeted due to bias relate to cluster membership; and relate victimization to perceptions of school safety, depression, grades, truancy, and internal assets. Victimization rates are given across grade, gender, and ethnicity. Cluster analysis reveals five victimization subgroups—nonvictims, polyvictims, and victims who are predominantly sexually harassed, predominantly physically victimized, and predominantly teased. Compared to nonvictims, students who are victimized report worse outcomes on measures of psychosocial adjustment, with polyvictims faring the worst. Victims are more likely to perceive that they are targeted due to their gender or perceived sexual orientation. Implications for research and practice are provided.

Sex, Attribution, and Severity Influence Intervention Decisions of Informal Helpers in Domestic Violence

Chabot, H. F., Tracy, T. L., Manning, C. A., Poisson, C. A. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

Most domestic violence (DV) researchers examine professional intervention (e.g., police and nurses), but informal helpers (e.g., friends and bystanders) are critical. The authors measure undergraduates’ intervention likelihood, type of involvement (i.e., contact with abuser), and the influence of attribution decisions in DV situations where the abuser’s sex is manipulated. Self-esteem and other personal variables are not found to be influential, but participants intervene more when the abuser is male and if they have experienced childhood abuse. The influence of attributions in DV situations is influenced by the sex of the attacker and severity of the attack. Participants’ attributions for male attackers predict intervention in severe cases of DV; attributions of drunkenness predict more intervention. In general, informal male helpers choose more risky types of intervention than female helpers do, and more aggressive individuals choose less helpful behaviors than those lower in aggression. Stigma reduction associated with DV and intervention, especially among male victims, and the importance of encouraging appropriate involvement among helpers are discussed.

Unsafe at Any House?: Attendees' Perceptions of Microlevel Environmental Traits and Personal Safety at Fraternity and Nonfraternity Parties

Menning, C. L. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

Although there has been considerable empirical attention to the problem of dangers posed by certain college party environments, little attention has been given to attendees’ perceptions of possible danger cues in party environments, how such perceptions may be linked to concern for personal safety, or variations in perceptions of personal safety at party environments according to gender or party type (i.e., fraternity vs. nonfraternity). This study uses analyses of survey data to explore these issues. The findings suggest that (a) fraternity parties exhibit traits that may indicate greater danger; (b) some of these traits are linked to attendees’ perceptions of personal safety; (c) men and women draw on different cues in making assessments of personal safety, but women feel no more threatened than men; and (d) the amount of alcohol consumed by other party attendees is not associated with perceptions of personal safety. Implications for theory and campus policy are discussed.

Creating Attitudinal Change Through Teaching: How a Course on "Women and Violence" Changes Students' Attitudes About Violence Against Women

Currier, D. M., Carlson, J. H. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

Research on violence against women has consistently revealed that rape-myth acceptance (RMA) is high correlated with rape rates and victim blaming. Other research has shown that education about violence against women is a useful strategy for lessening or stopping various types of violence, particularly rape. Using data gathered at a medium-sized public university in the Northeast, the authors examine changes in rape myth acceptance over the course of a semester among undergraduate students. Comparing students in classes having a greater or lesser emphasis on gender issues (ranging from general sociology to a course specifically addressing violence against women), the authors found significant changes in RMA among students taking a course concentrating on violence against women. The authors conclude that having college courses specifically focused on violence against women can be an effective strategy for changing attitudes about both rape and rape victims.

Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of the Relationship Between Perpetrators and Children Who Witness Violence

Israel, E., Stover, C. — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:50:59 PDT

The issue of the father—child relationship has been greatly ignored in the domestic violence research literature. This study investigated whether intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrated by biological fathers resulted in higher levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms and behavior problems than violence perpetrated by nonbiological fathers and whether children who witnessed violence perpetrated by multiple father figures had increased levels of posttraumatic stress disorder and behavioral symptoms. Eighty mothers who experienced domestic incidents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the University of California at Los Angeles Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (PTSD-RI) for their children aged 2 to 18. Children with multiple violent father figures had significantly more symptoms on the CBCL than children in the other two research groups while controlling for maternal symptoms and trauma history. There were no significant differences between the biological and nonbiological father groups or among the three groups on the PTSD-RI.