Impact of Domestic Violence on Mental Health
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between victims of domestic violence and mental health symptoms that result from experiencing intimate partner abuse. The paper will analyze the prevalence rate of a mental health issues for those women experiencing domestic violence. It will also look at current literature on women of domestic violence and related mental health outcomes. It will explore specifically the research for the link between depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and self-harming, suicidal behavior and provide a personal reflection on the research. According to the American Bar Association, 56% of women who are have experienced domestic
…show more content…
Experiencing domestic violence is the single greatest health and mental health threat to female victims in the United States between the ages of 15 and 50 (Robertiello, 2006). For victims engineering abuses at the hand of their own partner are more likely to experience mental health issues because this kind of experience can be horrifying. From personal experience, I know the long lasting consequences of being the victim of domestic violence. Loving someone who can put you through so much can leave you feeling trapped and alone. Witnessing and being the victim of such a terrifying act can have an impact on someone for a long …show more content…
Victims who are still living with their perpetrator are living in a high stressful environment with high amounts of fear and anxiety. Living in these conditions is associated with the development of depression. Studies explored the link between depression and women experiencing domestic violence. Depression is recognized as being one of the most common disorder for which individuals seek care. Depression is ranked second, PTSD being first, between a range of 63% to 77% and anxiety ranks third between the ranges of 38% to 75% (Jackson, 2011). According to the DSM-IV, symptoms of depression include hopelessness, insomnia, worthlessness, and guilt, just to name a few (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The research found an average prevalence rate of depression amongst abused women of 47.6% (Humphreys, & Thiara, 2003). The overview of studies found rates of depression between 38% and 83%, this prevalence rate substantially exceeds that for women in the general population (Humphreys, & Thiara, 2003). Evidence shows many women recover from their mental health problems once they leave the abusive relationship but other can suffer from long-term problems. The co-occurrence of depression and PTSD can be a risk factor for long-term problems (Humphreys, & Thiara,
Domestic Violence is a widely recognized issue here in the United States. Though many people are familiar with domestic violence, there are still many facts that people do not understand. Abuse is not just physical, it is mental, emotional, verbal, sexual and financial. Many victims of physical abuse are also fall victim to these abuse tactics as well. An abusive partner often uses verbal, mental, emotional, and financial abuse to break their partner so to speak. It is through this type of abuse the victim often feels as though they are not adequately meeting their partner’s needs.
This study was conducted as correlational study in order to determines the relationship between the variables being measured. The independent variables of this study are the battered women. All these women were involved in a heterosexual relationship were they experience some form of violence. 90% of these women experienced severe violence in the form of physical and/or sexual. There are four dependent variables: violence exposure, the symptoms of PTSD and MDD, LH and background variables that can attribute to the behavior. These variables were evaluated through self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews.
The dynamics surrounding the decision to leave or stay, and possible consequences are very complex. There are various reasons victims may either opt to stay in an abusive relationship. Feelings of fear, shame, hopelessness, and the inability to provide for themselves are common factors. However, one of the primary reasons is some people do not realize they are victims. Quite often abusers can be very charismatic using apologies, affection, and promises to end the negative behavior to control their victims. Unfortunately, this tactic can create an emotional sense of conflict as the victim begins to reflect on the good times, while battling with the reality of the present. This type of behavior often predicates or serves as the prelude to the cycle of abuse theory, a component of the Battered Woman Syndrome; thus being the primary reason victims find it difficult to leave. In an article entitled “When Love Hurts” by Jill Cory and Karen McAndless –Davis, various facets and resulting impact of domestic violence are explored and correlated to BWS. In making the correlation between the cycle of abuse of and BWS, the cycle of abuse is the eighth component of the Battered Woman Syndrome (Fulero & Wrightsman, 2009) defined as a distinct pattern having three
Although domestic violence is a significant societal problem, which continues to receive public and private sector attention, intervention and treatment programs have proven inconsistent in their success. Statistics by various organization show that many offenders continue to abuse their victims. Approximately 32% of battered women are victimized again, 47% of men who abuse their wives do so at least three times per year (MCFBW). There are many varying fact...
An abused woman is always faced with a number of different choices from which she may consider, with regards to seeking help or ending the relationship with a variety of alternatives, the woman knows each decision involves a variety of risks. Time after time, the common question arises, “why doesn’t she just leave?” This question can be answered by analyzing the psychological effects domestic abuse has on women. Many women are unable to cope with the emotional and psychological stress of domestic abuse and resort to violence and extre...
Every year about 4000 women die in the U.S. because of the domestic violence. Every year this number gets higher and higher. Even though we live in the 21st century people can’t find the way to improve the situation. But before searching for the solution, people should understand what domestic violence is. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, domestic violence is: “any abuse—including physical, emotional, sexual, or financial—between intimate partners, often living in the same household” (Encyclopedia Britannica). Most of the people believe that domestic
Shannon Brennfleck, Joyce. Ed. Domestic Violence Sourcebook: Third Edition. Detroit, Michigan: Omnigraphics Inc. 2009. 276-279. Print.
Warshaw, C., Sullivan, C., & Rivera, E. (2013, February). Domestic violence and other lifetime trauma can have significant mental health consequences. Retrieved October 27, 2017, from http://www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org/
A representative study (Rees et al. 2011, p. 513) concluded the rates for female victoms in intimate partner violence: 77% for an anxiety disorder, 53% for a mood disorder, 47% for a substance abuse disorder and 56% for post-traumatic stress disorder with 35% having attempted suicide. These statistics clearly show a need for psychological help for these women, and this is reflected in the psychological services offered within domestic violence shelters, support groups and specialised counselling services. There is very limited empirical research done on the efficacy of domestic violence shelters and the psychological help provided, but the scarce body of work indicates that counselling assists in improving these women’s lives dramatically. Tutty, Bidgood & Rothery (1993) evaluated 12 support groups for female victims of intimate partner violence and found that the women who had left their abusive partner and continued to attend the support groups sessions had significantly improved “self-esteem, belonging support, locus of control… [and] perceived stress” (Tufty, Bidgood & Rothery 1993, p. 325). It was found that in comparison to when they started attending sessions, these women held less traditional views of family and marriage and marital functioning. With these conclusion the support groups being instrumental to women’s recovery (Tufty, Bidgood & Rothery, 1993), it can be seen that the creation of psychological support shows positive reform for
According to Joan Didion's essay "On Going Home", continuing changes in life makes it almost impossible to remove memories of one's past. Especially when one has been away from a previous home, which that person was raised, then return to that same home a number of years later. In a home which family and friends shared memories of events, news, gossip and situations, whether it be bad or good. Old artifacts and various family heirlooms in the home that stimulates a memory of those old times when used. Surrounding areas of that old home are remembered just as well also. Being in a new home makes the old memories even more missed. These may be the strongest influences in why memories are kept and remembered.
Domestic violence is a behavioral trait used to establish power and control over a person; the abuser uses fear and intimidation through threats or the use of violence. Other terms for domestic violence include intimate partner violence, battering, relationship abuse, spousal abuse, or family violence. One in four women will experience some type of domestic violence in her lifetime and 4,744,000 women a year are victims to this physical violence (Erez, 2002). Out of all these physical attacks towards women only 25% are reported! When a women is physically harmed by an intimate partner they are known to think it is out of love
Domestic violence After high school, many parents are excited to send their children to college. They send them to schools like Hampton, Harvard, and Yale to get the best college education possible. A loving father knows that his little girl is growing up and is going to find love soon. But what he doesn’t expect is that his beautiful, precious daughter might be the next victim of domestic violence. Reports of domestic violence have flourished on the college campuses of this country.
Domestic violence is not just fighting, hitting or an occasional argument. It’s a chronic abuse of power. The abuser of domestic violence, controls and tortures the victim of threats, intimidation, and physical violence. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of violence in America. The abusers are not only men, women can be abusers as well. Women make up the vast majority of domestic violence. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), 90-95% of domestic violence victims are females and 70% of intimidating homicides are females. Domestic violence is a serious crime and everyone needs to be aware of its effects. This essay presents and explains the evidence supporting the major risk factors for intimate partner homicides.
“Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States” (Jones 87). Every twelve seconds, a woman is beaten by a man (Jones 6). Every nine days, a woman is murdered by her husband or boyfriend (Jones 7). Statistics like these outline the severity and seriousness of the domestic violence epidemic in this country. Unfortunately, it has taken lawmakers too long to recognize domestic violence as a devastating situation that affects millions of people both physically and emotionally. Domestic violence affects not just people, but businesses as well. Domestic violence results in high turnover and absenteeism at work, extended sick leave, and losses in productivity (Jones 12). The financial cost of domestic violence on business productivity helped facilitate government intervention towards addressing domestic violence, and encouraged laws protecting victims of this type of abuse.
“One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States” (Stewart & Croudep, 1998-2012). Domestic violence can interfere with the husband-wife relationship because one spouse is always in constant fear of the other. This violence could vary from physical abuse to ps...