Interviewed 27 battered women about violence and abuse to their children by themselves and the men involved. Reinterviewed 21 women six months later. Longitudinal comparisons indicated that the total group of children was abused less after the women's stay at a shelter. Most reductions resulted from women no longer living with abusive men.…

Examined interactional dynamics following woman battering. Based on in-depth interviews with 50 white women at battered women's shelter, found that abusers generally were not likely to stop accounting for violent behavior but that shelter victims were progressively less likely to honor accounts. As time passed, men were more likely to blame their…

Investigated relationship between courtship violence and later spouse abuse in 82 women clients at domestic violence shelters. Examination of histories with regard to physical violence during childhood, courtship, and marriage demonstrated remarkable similarity between courtship and marital violence. Relationship violence rather than courtship or…

Asserts that courtship and marital violence represents forms of the same phenomenon and should be examined as relationship violence. Presents a model of relationship violence based on three premises concerning courtship and marital violence. Discusses advantages and implications of a model of relationship violence for family professionals.…

Examined difference between male and female reports of violence and threats directed by the man toward the woman. In many categories, significantly more women were found at intake to report more threats and violence than their male partners. After extensive intervention these differences were not found in the more severe categories of violence.…

Evaluated self-esteem of 20 abusive husbands and made comparisons to two groups of nonviolent husbands: maritally discordant group; and satisfactorily married group. Results suggested association between wife abuse and low self-esteem in abusive husband. Abusive husbands were more likely to perceive their wives' behavior as threatening to…

Analyzed data on services offered to battering males in a survey of 90 agencies. Found that most agencies are young, inadequately funded, and provide diverse services independent of each other, and that batterers exhibit characteristics that need specific treatment. Described a developing model for successful treatment. (JAC)

Presents an ecological model of intervention for physical abuse based on the Lazarus and Folkman conceptualization of stress and coping. Claims that the model identifies the stages that abused women may experience in their appraisal of the abuse experience. Focuses on barriers to ending abuse, stress and coping, and effective interventions. (RJM)

Applies structural family systems perspective to clinical intervention in violent families. Describes structural family therapy techniques which were used with a multi-problem family whose symptoms included family violence. Discusses cooperation needed among researchers, therapists, and therapy trainers who would use a systems approach to analyze…

Employed data from the National Family Violence Survey to explore predictors of fear of future abuse among married or cohabitating women (n=356) whose partners abused them. Fear was higher in women whose partners initiated the violence; subjected them to forced sex or; made them afraid to retaliate in violence. (SNR)

Describes a number of brief interventions for providing services directly to children, including individual counseling as well as peer, sibling, and family group meetings. Mothers received education regarding parenting skills. A school liaison system was established; the shelter staff members were trained regarding child advocacy. (Author)