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Perceived Risk for Future Intimate Partner Violence Among Women in a Domestic Violence Shelter

NCJ Number
226013
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2009 Pages: 75-85
Author(s)
Hilary G. Harding; Marie Helweg-Larsen
Date Published
February 2009
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study of 56 women residing in 4 domestic violence shelters in Pennsylvania examined their perceptions of risk for future intimate partner violence (IPV) in association with previous abuse experiences and behavioral intentions regarding their relationship with the abusive partner.
Abstract
Contrary to expectations, the study found that past-year injury, psychological abuse, and physical abuse by their partner were not related to heightened perceptions of future personal risk for IPV. On the other hand, a past-year experience of sexual coercion by the partner was associated with perceptions of increased personal risk in the future for all conditions. Women who had experienced previous intervention attempts by contacting the police or leaving their partner temporarily perceived an increased risk for future IPV if they planned to return to the relationship, possibly because they did not believe any intervention would be effective. Women who planned and had confidence in the effectiveness of future protective behaviors, such as terminating the abusive relationship, perceived that they were at lower risk of future IPV; whereas, women who were planning to return to the relationship with a low confidence that any interventions would be protective perceived a high risk for future IPV. Suggestions for future research are offered. The five sections of the nine-page survey administered to women who volunteered for the study covered the following topics: perceptions of risk for future IPV, current intentions regarding the relationship and protective measures, relationship behaviors, previous types of abuse, and demographic information. 4 tables, 1 figure, and 34 references