A review of the literature was conducted relevant to the history of wife battering, the incidence of such abuse in the United States, and difficulties in the definition of domestic violence. Major attempts to explain wife battering found in the literature included a focus on: (1) personality factors of the individuals involved (the ontogenic…

Evaluates the impact on spousal violence of shelters for battered women. Predicts that shelters will have beneficial effects only for battery victims who are already taking control of their lives. For other women, a shelter stay may in the short run encourage retaliation. (Author/ABB)

According to the California State Department of Justice there were 182,000 reported cases of domestic violence in 1988 that required police intervention. This descriptive study, an explorative evaluation survey, examined 47 shelter programs in California to determine what components are essential to a shelter's effectiveness in facilitating…

A three-fold exploratory study was conducted to examine the current literature regarding the effects of spousal abuse on observing children, evaluate children's programs within battered women's shelters, and propose a model children's program designed to meet children's needs. Based on the literature and the children's programs currently existing,…

Crisis intervention type services were initiated in the Battered Women's Shelter in Fayetteville, Arkansas with the purpose of assisting children with their immediate distress and possibly preventing repetition of the violent patterns within families. Services were provided by volunteers or hired staff as funding allowed. The families the shelter…

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.…

Results of a statistical analysis of a study of battered wives in shelters indicated that the wives' economic dependence on their husbands almost always ensured that they would return to their husbands and that respondents who considered the shelters useful had a higher probability of returning to their husbands. (Author)

Summarizes the findings of a study on battered women's children who accompany their mothers to protective shelters providing intervention and remedial services. Recommendations to improve such services for victims of family violence are offered. (BB)

Presents integrated theory which identifies attributes of intimate life assumed to reduce deterrent efficacy of arrest and thus increase probability of violence in marriage and marriagelike relationships. Research findings suggest that increased privacy, inequality, and legitimation of violence are associated with reduction in perceived arrest…

Preschool children (N=26) who accompanied their mothers to a battered women's shelter were found to have elevated rates of behavior problems and social competence difficulties. White males appeared more impaired than any other gender/ethnic combination. Abused children and non-abused children who witnessed family violence were compared.…

In 1988, over one-third of all North Carolina magistrates, from 87 of 100 counties, responded to a survey from the Governor's Task Force on Domestic Violence. Ninety-nine percent of respondents indicated that they had handled at least one case in which a woman had complained about physical violence or threats from her husband or boyfriend. The…

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…

This report defines domestic violence as a method of maintaining control through the use of force. An historical perspective is presented which describes the many centuries during which men legally wielded absolute power over their wives and children, who were considered to be chattel of the husband. Different hypotheses suggest various causal…

The prevalence of sexual abuse by male batterers has been estimated to be between 34% and 59%, although there are few studies examining the effects of this sexual abuse on the female victims. Further, the relationship between other forms of abuse and sexual abuse by a battering partner has not been systematically examined. The purpose of this…

Reports on a study of various aspects of communicable disease occurrence (focusing on diarrheal illness) in shelters for battered women and their children, the extent and methods of screening for disease, training of staff in health care principles, resources available for health care needs, and the health regulations governing these shelters. (PS)