SAGE Journal Articles
Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.
Article 1: Hegarty, K.L., O’Doherty, L.J., Chondros, P., Valpied, J., Taft, A.J., Astbury, J., Brown, S.J., Gold, L., Taket, A., Feder, G.S. & Gunn, J.M. (2013). Effect of type and severity of intimate partner violence on women’s health and service use: Findings from a primary care trial of women afraid of their partners. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28(2), 273-294.
Summary: This article examines the various characteristics of women enrolled in the Women’s Evaluation of Abuse and Violence Care (WEAVE) project. Exploring association between type and severity of abuse and women’s health, quality of life, and help seeking, the authors describe sociodemographic characteristics, abuse experiences, healthy, safety, and the use of various services by the women. Generally, women that reported more severe abuse have poorer quality of life, along with more health care service visits and less usage of domestic violence services.
Questions to Consider:
1. How can health care professionals assist female victims of domestic violence in accessing domestic violence services?
2. How can the criminal justice system, community organizations, and health care services work together to improve the various health outcomes for female victims of domestic violence?
3. Why might female victims of the most severe forms of domestic violence be the least likely to use domestic violence services?
Article 2: Lacey, K.K., Dilworth McPherson, M., Samuel, P.S., Powell Sears, K. & Head, D. (2013). The impact of different types of intimate partner violence on the mental and physical health of women in different ethnic groups. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28(2), 359-385.
Summary: This article examines the impact of various types of violent acts on health and well-being. Using a nationally representative sample the authors find a significant relationship between intimate partner violence and poor physical and mental health. The authors also find that sociodemographic characteristics moderate the impact of this relationship, as well as the type of intimate partner violence perpetrated.
Questions to Consider:
1. Why might the various types of violent acts affect racial and ethnic groups differently?
2. How can interventions be developed in light of the knowledge that racial and ethnic groups have different physical and mental health outcomes as a result of similar victimizations?
3. What other physical and mental health outcomes might be studied, specifically when studying additional racial and ethnic groups?
Article 3: Keeling, J. & Fisher, C. (2015). Health professionals’ responses to women’s disclosure of domestic violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30(13), 2363-2378.
Summary: This article builds upon extant literature by examining the experiences of women that have disclosed domestic violence victimization to a heath care professional. Using data from 15 interviews, the authors uncover several themes. These themes include the recognition of and the failure to act upon domestic violence. The health care professionals’ responses are described as being analogous to the behavior of the domestic violence perpetrator. However, a third theme emerged that showed women received appropriate support in the redress of domestic violence.
Questions to Consider:
1. In what way(s) can health care professionals be trained to appropriate respond to disclosure of domestic violence?
2. What barriers to disclosure to a health care professional might a victim of domestic violence face?
3. What are appropriate ways for a health care professional to respond to disclosure of domestic violence? How can this process be made to place victims more at ease?
Article 4: Hackett, S., McWhirter, P.T. & Lesher, S. (2015). The therapeutic efficacy of domestic violence victim interventions. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. Advance online publication.
Summary: This article provides a meta-analysis on various domestic violence interventions to examine the efficacy of mental health programs that involve both women and children undergoing joint treatment. The authors find that domestic violence interventions, regardless of their categorical focus, yield medium to large effects for both internalized and externalized symptomatology. The authors conclude with suggestions for greater awareness and support of domestic violence treatment programs.
Questions to Consider:
1. How can awareness and support for domestic violence treatment programs be increased?
2. Why might mental health programs that involve both women and children undergoing joint treatment be so effective? If treated separately, would the same effects be expected? Why or why not?
3. Are there other forms of domestic violence treatment programs that may benefit from the utilization of joint therapy? If so, why?
Article 5: Dagher, R.K., Garza, M.A. & Kozhimannil, K.B. (2014). Policymaking under uncertainty: Routine screening for intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women, 20(6), 730-749.
Summary: This article provides a framework for guidance to policymakers on addressing intimate partner violence. The authors discuss current public health goals, intimate partner violence screening, and steps for policymakers to improve the response to intimate partner violence. The authors conclude that the most appropriate form of redress may be at the local level, areas in which policymakers serve and are better equipped to address local challenges and take advantage of local opportunities.
Questions to Consider:
1. How can routine screening be improved to identify intimate partner violence? What potential benefits can result from improved screening?
2. What are some of the implications for policymakers in response to the IOM and USPSTF recommendations?
3. What barriers might be faced by policymakers in establishing and mandating routine screening of intimate partner violence?
Article 6: Wu, V., Huff, H. & Bhandari, M. (2010). Pattern of physical injury associated with intimate partner violence in women presenting to the emergency department: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 11(2), 71-82.
Summary: This article builds upon extant intimate partner violence literature by examining patterns of physical injury association with intimate partner violence among women presenting to emergency room departments. The authors conducted a very thorough systematic review and meta-analysis in their study. Using available data, the authors find that the relationship between head, neck, or facial injuries and intimate partner violence was higher in studies that excluded cases with verifiable injuries. Unwitnessed head, neck, or facial injuries are considered significant indicators of intimate partner violence, while other injuries are less likely to intimate partner violence-related.
Questions to Consider:
1. What implication for practice does the current study propose? What assessment or screening can be done in emergency room departments to determine if IPV is present?
2. How can assessments of injury be used by health care professionals outside of the emergency room department to determine if IPV is present?
3. In what way(s) might law enforcement and criminal courts use patterns of physical injury to be supportive evidence of intimate partner violence?
Article 7: O’Reilly, R., Beale, B. & Gillies, D. (2010). Screening and intervention for domestic violence during pregnancy care: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 11(4), 190-201.
Summary: This article provides a systematic review of research to assess the efficacy of domestic violence screening and interventions for women identified for domestic violence through screening in pregnancy. The authors find that the use of a standardized screening instrument identified domestic violence at a significantly higher rate compared to the use of a nonstandardized screening instrument or no screening instrument. Continued screening throughout pregnancy can also increase the rate of identification. Interventions for pregnant victims of domestic violence reduced the amount of subsequent violence.
Questions to Consider:
1. What interventions are effective in the redress of domestic violence for pregnant women?
2. How might culture play a role in the identification and treatment of domestic violence of pregnant women?
3. Following screening, what interventions and protections should be afforded to pregnant women that are victims of domestic violence?