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)

Explores how proposed wellness model has special significance for interventions within battered women's shelter settings. This paradigm shift to a wellness orientation emphasizes people's power to make choices toward enhanced growth. Conceptualizes wellness orientation by six dimensions: social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual, and…

This commentary identifies critical issues regarding social interventions with families in which both child maltreatment and woman battering are suspected. Addresses several common assumptions of service providers and suggests changes in current practice. (Author)

Human Options is a non-profit social service agency in Orange County, California which provides services for battered women and their families. This study: assessed the outcomes for graduates of its programs; obtained consumer evaluations of the agency's services; measured the needs for aftercare services; and assessed how the children of program…

Alcohol abuse is often a precipitating factor in domestic violence, especially in the most serious forms of violence. The term coalcoholic has been used to describe persons in a dyadic relationship with an alcoholic including spouses, lovers, parents, or close friends. Two intervention programs for coalcoholic battered women were studied. In the…

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.…

Reviews findings obtained from a review and analysis of 37 standards for batterer programs in the United States that were in existence as of September 1997. Examines standards for content, categories, and common themes. Reviews conclude that regulations achieving greater uniformity in the field of intervention have been remarkably successful.…

This document reports on the relationship between alcohol abuse and battering. Several theories, e.g., the disinhibition, disavowal, and learned behavior theories concerning the relationship between alcohol abuse and family violence are discussed. Literature on the relationship between alcohol and family violence is reviewed. Five intervention and…

This practicum took place at a spouse abuse shelter located in a county classified as urban in the southeast United States. It was found that once a family left the shelter, support groups were not available to help the children with feelings related to living in a home where domestic violence has occurred. Most of these children were already…

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)

Interviews with preadolescents (n=14) and their mothers provide a detailed description of the experiences of children exposed to violence at home. Findings, which are organized into five phases, indicate potential directions for understanding and intervening with children exposed to women being battered. (SLD)

Although many battered women seek help from their family physicians as outpatients, rates of current and lifetime victimization among outpatient female patients have not been well studied. This study tested two hypotheses regarding whether battered women presented to the clinic in a different manner than did nonbattered women. First, within the…

Over 1,000 Alaskan women experienced domestic abuse during pregnancy in 1996-97. Alaska Native and teenage mothers are at increased risk of experiencing physical abuse before or during pregnancy. Most Alaska mothers do not receive domestic violence screening during prenatal care. Domestic violence training is recommended for prenatal care…

The shelter for battered women described in this report was established for three purposes: (1) to provide assaulted and battered women and their children refuge from domestic violence; (2) to enable women to identify viable alternatives to life-threatening situations and encourage self-reliance; and (3) to act as an advocate for change within the…