Violent Victimization As a Risk Factor For

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Violent Victimization As a Risk Factor For U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention J. Robert Flores, Administrator December 2002 Violent Victimization as a Risk Factor for Violent A Message From OJJDP Compared with adults, juveniles are disproportionately affected by high Offending Among Juveniles rates of violence as both offenders and victims. Understanding the rela- tionship between victimization and offending is therefore of critical Jennifer N. Shaffer and R. Barry Ruback importance. As a group, juveniles have high rates of vi- and many of these risk factors suggest Examining data from the National olent victimization and violent offending, a opportunities for intervention. Longitudinal Study of Adolescent pattern suggesting that some juveniles are Health, the authors of this Bulletin The Bulletin includes background informa- both victims and perpetrators of violence. found that victims of violence were tion, a brief theoretical discussion, study To explore that hypothesis, this Bulletin significantly more likely than nonvic- methods and findings, conclusions, policy analyzes the relationships between violent tims to become violent offenders. implications, and suggestions for future victimization and violent offending across They also found that violent victim- research. a 2-year period, using data for 5,003 juve- ization and violent offending share niles who participated in the National Lon- many of the same risk factors, such gitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The Background as previous violent victimization and Bulletin looks at victimization and offend- offending, drug and alcohol use, and ing experiences in subgroups of juveniles Statistical evidence suggests dispropor- depression. These findings are partic- classified by age, gender, race, and level tionately high rates of violence by and ularly important because they sug- gest that interventions directed at of physical development. It also identifies against juveniles. This evidence comes preventing victimization could also risk and protective factors for victimiza- both from surveys that ask about behav- reduce offending, and vice versa. tion and offending. Key conclusions and iors and victimization experiences and policy implications include the following: from official records. The analysis presented in this Bul- letin provides evidence that peers and ◆ Violent victimization is indeed a warn- Surveys of self-reported behaviors of ado- lescents and young adults indicate high adults can and do play important roles ing signal for future violent offending in the lives of juveniles. Juveniles who among juveniles. Protecting juveniles rates of offending among these age groups (Elliott et al., 1983; Lauritsen, Sampson, said that they had support from friends, against violent victimization may, there- parents, teachers, and others were and Laub, 1991). Similarly, surveys of vic- fore, reduce overall levels of juvenile less likely to commit a violent offense. tims’ perceptions of offender characteris- violence. These findings underscore the need tics indicate that the most common age for and value of mentoring, parenting, ◆ Because some groups are at higher risk group for offenders committing rape, rob- than others for violent victimization, and anger management programs bery, and assault is youth ages 18–20, fol- that provide opportunities for juveniles policies and programs aimed at prevent- lowed by juveniles ages 15–17 (Hindelang, to interact with caring adults. By iden- ing victimization may be most effective 1981). Furthermore, Uniform Crime Report tifying youth who are most at risk and if they are focused on these groups. data show that arrest rates for murder, examining the links between victim- ◆ Violent victimization and violent offend- forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated ization and offending, we can improve ing share many of the same risk factors, assault are higher for older teens than for our ability to intervene positively in these juveniles’ lives. Access OJJDP publications online at ojjdp.ncjrs.org any other age group (Federal Bureau of victimization to the police (Finkelhor and Data Source Investigation, 2000). Ormrod, 1999). The findings reported in this Bulletin When asked about their victimization Research findings are consistent with these are based on statistical analyses of the experiences in the previous year, 18 per- theoretical reasons for expecting that the restricted-access contractual dataset from cent of a large national sample of 8th, 10th, same individuals are often both victims the first two waves of the National Longi- and 12th grade students said they had and offenders. Studies using British Crime tudinal Study of Adolescent Health (known been injured by an attacker who did not Survey data have found a strong positive as the Add Health Study), which is a longi- use a weapon, and 5 percent said they had association between offending and person- tudinal study of a representative national been injured by an attacker with a weapon al victimization among adults (Hough and sample of juveniles in grades 7 through (Johnston, Bachman, and O’Malley, 2001). Mayhew, 1983; Sampson and Lauritsen, 12.1 The study used a clustered sampling Rates of serious violent victimization are 1990). Studies of juveniles in the United design based on a stratified sample of twice as high for juveniles ages 12–17 as States also show that the individuals most 80 high schools and 52 paired middle for adults age 18 or older, and rates of sim- likely to be victims of personal crime are schools.2 Students in these 132 schools ple assault victimization are three times those who report the greatest involvement were asked to complete an in-school ques- higher (Snyder and Sickmund, 1999). in delinquent activities (Lauritsen, Samp- tionnaire. In addition, a subsample, strati- son, and Laub, 1991). In addition, the fied by grade and gender, was selected for greater the variety of delinquent activities, in-home interviews, which included infor- Theoretical Perspective the greater the risk of victimization (e.g., mation about family composition and According to both lifestyle exposure theory Jensen and Brownfield, 1986; Esbensen dynamics, substance use, criminal and and routine activities theory (Hindelang, and Huizinga, 1991; Lauritsen, Sampson, delinquent activities, and violent victim- Gottfredson, and Garofalo, 1978; Cohen and Laub, 1991). ization. The in-home interviews, which and Felson, 1979), individuals’ risk of were conducted in 1995 (year 1) and again criminal victimization depends on their in 1996 (year 2), are the basis for the analy- exposure or proximity to offender popula- Data and Methods ses in this Bulletin. tions, and exposure, in turn, depends on Although earlier studies suggest that crim- The analyses reflect interview data for individuals’ lifestyles and routine activi- inal victimization and criminal offending 5,003 juveniles: 2,402 males and 2,601 ties. Because individuals are most likely are related, the nature of the relationship females; 2,768 non-Hispanic white juve- to interact with those who are similar to is ambiguous. The present study investi- niles and 2,235 minority juveniles;3 1,147 themselves, individuals’ victimization risk gates the nature of the relationship in a juveniles ages 11–14 and 3,856 ages 15–17 is directly proportional to the number of sample of juveniles ages 11–17, addressing at the time of the second interview. The characteristics they share with offenders three issues: analyses exclude respondents who did not (Hindelang, Gottfredson, and Garofalo, ◆ How are violent victimization and vio- have complete data for all of the variables 1978). That is, offenders are more likely lent offending related over time? Does included in the analyses, those whose sec- than nonoffenders to become victims, prior victimization predict subsequent ond interview was conducted less than because their lifestyles frequently bring offending, does prior offending predict 11 months after their first interview,4 and them in contact with other offenders. subsequent victimization, or do they those who were age 18 or older at the Offenders are also more likely than non- both predict each other? In particular, time of the second interview.5 offenders to use alcohol or illegal drugs, is victimization a significant risk factor which lowers their ability to protect them- for subsequent offending? selves and their property, and to live in Analytical Approach neighborhoods characterized by high lev- ◆ What individual-level factors might First, the sample is described in terms of els of population mobility, heterogeneity, explain the relationship between vic- the percentages who reported violent vic- and social disadvantage (e.g., poverty and timization and offending? Do the same timization, violent offending, and both vic- unemployment), which increases their factors predict both violent victimiza- timization and offending, in year 1, year 2, exposure to other offenders (Sampson tion and violent offending? and both years; and the links between vic- timization and offending within each year and Lauritsen, 1994). ◆ Does drug use affect the relationship are summarized. Next, relationships be- between victimization and offending? Offenders are also likely to be attractive tween violent victimization and violent targets for crime because they can be vic- The study focuses on violence among juve- offending over time are examined—i.e., timized with little chance of legal conse- niles for three reasons. First, from a policy between
Recommended publications
  • Current Issues in Victimization Research and the NCVS's Ability To
    Current Issues in Victimization Research and the NCVS’s Ability to Study Them Lynn A. Addington, J.D., Ph.D. Department of Justice, Law and Society American University Prepared for presentation at the Bureau of Justice Statistics Data User’s Workshop, February 12, 2008, Washington, D.C. Introduction and NCVS have played an essential role in shaping what researchers know about victimization as well as providing Thirty-five years have passed since the fielding of the first the national measure of criminal victimization for the National Crime Survey (NCS) and 15 years since its redesign United States.2 For the NCVS to continue in this crucial and emergence as the National Crime Victimization Survey and central role, it should be capable of serving the needs of (NCVS).1 This BJS Data Users Workshop presents a good, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Continuing to and much-needed, opportunity to examine how the survey meet the current needs of these various users of NCVS data has been (and could be) used in its present form as well as may require changes to the survey. to consider possible ways the survey could be changed to explore new issues of concern to victimization researchers. This paper has two primary aims. The first is to provide an Current Trends and Open Issues in overview of the current trends and issues in victimization Victimization Research research. Trends include topics that have attracted research Before examining specific issues, it is useful to place the attention as well as those yet to be fully explored as available current state of victimization research into a larger context.
    [Show full text]
  • Boys 2 Full Report (PDF)
    1 Page No Contents Acknowledgements 2 Background 3 Aims of the project 3 Section 1: Systematic review of the area 5 Section 2: Workshops with professionals 5 Section 3: File-based information on the sample 8 Section 4: Interviews with the young men within the sample 11 Section 5: Quantitative analysis of identified problems 37 Discussion points from the previous sections 44 Final Summary 53 References 55 Appendix A: Literature review 56 Appendix B: Training days summary 104 Appendix C: Pen portraits of the young people 105 Appendix D: Interview schedule 117 Appendix E: Themes chart 119 2 Acknowledgements The Boys 2 Research Project was a one-year project funded by the Home Office. The purpose of the project was to work alongside boys and young men impacted by child sexual exploitation (CSE) to improve identification, assessment and intervention of this largely hidden group. Alongside boys and young men, we developed standardised assessment tools and intervention resources for front line professionals to support boys and young men to cope and recover from CSE. We would wish to extend our appreciation to the Home Office in enabling us to undertake this research project. This resource could not have been developed without the energy and enthusiasm of all those involved. In particular, we would like to thank all the boys and young men who participated in the research and the schools and front line professionals that supported us in working with them to make this resource possible. We would also like to thank Sue Thurman for her support with ensuring the needs of boys and young men with additional learning needs were included.
    [Show full text]
  • ACTION to END CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE and EXPLOITATION: a REVIEW of the EVIDENCE • 2020 About the Authors
    ACTION TO END CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE • 2020 About the authors Lorraine Radford is Emeritus Professor of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire, UK; Debbie Allnock is Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre, University of Bedfordshire, UK; Patricia Hynes is Reader in Forced Migration in the School of Applied Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, UK; Sarah Shorrock is Research Officer at the Institute of Citizenship, Society & Change at the University of Central Lancashire, UK This publication has been produced with financial support from the End Violence Fund. However, the opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the End Violence Fund. Suggested citation: United Nations Children’s Fund (2020) Action to end child sexual abuse and exploitation: A review of the evidence, UNICEF, New York Published by UNICEF Child Protection Section Programme Division 3 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 Email: [email protected] Website: www.unicef.org © United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) December 2020. Permission is required to reproduce any part of this publication. Permission will be freely granted to educational or non-profit organizations. For more information on usage rights, please contact: [email protected] Cover Photo: © UNICEF/UNI328273/Viet Hung ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This evidence review was commissioned by UNICEF to support Hanna Tiefengraber, Associate Expert, UNODC; Catherine
    [Show full text]
  • Advancing the Study of Violence Against Women: Evolving Research Agendas Into Science Carol E
    University of Kentucky UKnowledge Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Policy Studies on Violence Against Women Women Publications 4-2009 Advancing the Study of Violence Against Women: Evolving Research Agendas Into Science Carol E. Jordan University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits oy u. Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ipsvaw_facpub Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Family Law Commons, Law and Gender Commons, Law and Psychology Commons, Law and Society Commons, Psychology Commons, Social Work Commons, and the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Jordan, C.E. (2009). Advancing the study of violence against women: Evolving research agendas into science. Violence Against Women, 15, 393 – 419. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Policy Studies on Violence Against Women at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women Publications by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Advancing the Study of Violence Against Women: Evolving Research Agendas Into Science Notes/Citation Information Published in Violence Against Women, v. 15, no. 4, p. 393-419. The am nuscript provided, in accordance with publisher copyright rules, is the author’s postprint version. Digital Object Identifier (DOI) http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1077801208330692 This article is available at UKnowledge: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ipsvaw_facpub/9 Violence Against Women Volume XX Number X Month XXXX xx-xx © 2009 Sage Publications 10.1177/1077801208330692 Advancing the Study of http://vaw.sagepub.com hosted at Violence Against Women http://online.sagepub.com Evolving Research Agendas Into Science Carol E.
    [Show full text]
  • Connecting the Dots: an Overview of the Links Among Multiple Forms of Violence
    Connecting the Dots: An Overview of the Links Among Multiple Forms of Violence Prevention and equity at the center of community well-being Connecting the Dots: An Overview of the Links Among Multiple Forms of Violence is a publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Prevention Institute. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, Director National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Daniel M. Sosin, MD, MPH, FACP, Acting Director Division of Violence Prevention Howard R. Spivak, MD, Director Prevention Institute2 Larry Cohen, MSW, Executive Director Authors Natalie Wilkins, PhD1 Benita Tsao, MPH, CHES2 Marci Hertz, MS1 Rachel Davis, MSW2 Joanne Klevens, MD, PhD, MPH1 July 2014 Suggested citation: Wilkins, N., Tsao, B., Hertz, M., Davis, R., Klevens, J. (2014). Connecting the Dots: An Overview of the Links Among Multiple Forms of Violence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oakland, CA: Prevention Institute. “Gang violence is connected to bullying is connected to school violence is connected to intimate partner violence is connected to child abuse is connected to elder abuse. It’s all connected.” -Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD, Adjunct Professor, Harvard School of Public Health Violence takes many forms, including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child maltreatment, bullying, suicidal behavior, and elder abuse and neglect. These forms of violence are interconnected and often share the same root causes. They can also all take place under one roof, or in a given community or neighborhood and can happen at the same time or at different stages of life.1,2 Understanding the overlapping causes of violence and the things that can protect people and communities is important, and can help us better address violence in all its forms.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mental Health Community
    Chapter 8: The Mental Health Community CHAPTER 8 The Mental Health Community Victims of crime often suffer a broad range of psychological and Millions of Americans of social injuries that persist long after their physical wounds have healed. Intense feelings of anger, fear, isolation, low self-esteem, all ages suffer from crime- helplessness, and depression are common reactions.1 Victimization can related mental health shatter the most basic assumptions that allow people to function problems. Although there normally in their daily lives—that they are safe from harm, that the have been improvements world is meaningful and just, and that they are good, decent people. This happens not only to victims of violent assaults but also to victims in providing effective of crimes such as burglary and fraud.2 Survivors of prolonged, repeated mental health counseling trauma, such as battered women and abused children, often suffer for victims, more needs to severe mental health problems. be done. Mental health The emotional damage and social isolation caused by victimization professionals must join can be compounded by a lack of support and even stigmatization by with victim assistance friends, family, and social institutions, producing a “second wound” for professionals to ensure victims. Those closest to the victim may be traumatized by the crime. that every crime victim They may be so overwhelmed by their own anger, fear, and guilt that they are unable to provide much care and understanding. Some has access to effective friends and family members, particularly of victims of sexual assault, mental health services at distance themselves from the victim and blame them for what every stage of the criminal happened.3 To protect their own belief in a just world where people justice system process.
    [Show full text]
  • An Evidence-Based Review of Sexual Assault Prevention Intervention
    The author(s) shown below used Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and prepared the following final report: Document Title: An Evidence-Based Review of Sexual Assault Preventive Intervention Programs Author(s): Shannon Morrison, Jennifer Hardison, Anita Mathew, Joyce O’Neil Document No.: 207262 Date Received: October 2004 Award Number: 2002-WG-BX-0006 This report has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice. To provide better customer service, NCJRS has made this Federally- funded grant final report available electronically in addition to traditional paper copies. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. September 2004 An Evidence-Based Review of Sexual Assault Preventive Intervention Programs Technical Report Prepared for National Institute of Justice 810 Seventh Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20531 Prepared by Shannon Morrison, Ph.D. Jennifer Hardison, M.S.W. Anita Mathew, M.P.H. Joyce O’Neil, M.A. RTI International Health, Social, and Economics Research Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 NIJ Grant Number: 2002-WG-BX-0006 This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department.
    [Show full text]
  • Addressing Youth Violence and Victimization from an Environmental Perspective: a Resource Guide for Practitioners Author(S): Eileen M
    The author(s) shown below used Federal funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice to prepare the following resource: Document Title: Addressing Youth Violence and Victimization from an Environmental Perspective: A Resource Guide for Practitioners Author(s): Eileen M. Ahlin, Ph.D., Maria João Lobo Antunes, Ph.D. Document Number: 255057 Date Received: July 2020 Award Number: 2016-R2-CX-0044 This resource has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice. This resource is being made publically available through the Office of Justice Programs’ National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Addressing Youth Violence and Victimization from an Environmental Perspective This resource was prepared by the author(s) using Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. This resource was prepared by the author(s) using Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Addressing Youth Violence and Victimization from an Environmental Perspective A resource guide for practitioners Eileen M. Ahlin, Ph.D. and Maria João Lobo Antunes, Ph.D. March 2020 This resource was prepared by the author(s) using Federal funds provided by the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Intimate Partner Violence and the Justice System: an Examination of the Interface Carol E
    University of Kentucky UKnowledge Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Policy Studies on Violence Against Women Women Publications 12-2004 Intimate Partner Violence and the Justice System: An Examination of the Interface Carol E. Jordan University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits oy u. Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ipsvaw_facpub Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Family Law Commons, Law and Gender Commons, Law and Psychology Commons, Law and Society Commons, Psychology Commons, Social Work Commons, and the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Jordan, C.E. (2004). Intimate partner violence and the justice system: An examination of the interface. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19, 1412-1434. http://jiv.sagepub.com/content/19/12/1412 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Policy Studies on Violence Against Women at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Office for Policy Studies on Violence Against Women Publications by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Intimate Partner Violence and the Justice System: An Examination of the Interface Notes/Citation Information Published in Journal of Interpersonal Violence, v. 19, no. 12, p. 1412-1434. Digital Object Identifier (DOI) http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0886260504269697 This article is available at UKnowledge: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ipsvaw_facpub/18 10.1177/0886260504269697JOURNALJordan / INTIMATE OF INTERPERSON PARTNERAL VIOLENCE VIOLENCE AND / Month THE JUSTICE2004 SYSTEM Intimate Partner Violence and the Justice System: An Examination of the Interface CAROL E.
    [Show full text]
  • Daily Co-Occurrence of Physical, Sexual, and Psychological Partner Violence in a 90-Day Study of Substance-Using, Community Women" (2012)
    University of Connecticut OpenCommons@UConn UCHC Articles - Research University of Connecticut Health Center Research 4-2012 Is it the Exception or the Rule? Daily Co- Occurrence of Physical, Sexual, and Psychological Partner Violence in a 90-Day Study of Substance- Using, Community Women Howard A. Tennen University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Dentistry Follow this and additional works at: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles Part of the Medicine and Health Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Tennen, Howard A., "Is it the Exception or the Rule? Daily Co-Occurrence of Physical, Sexual, and Psychological Partner Violence in a 90-Day Study of Substance-Using, Community Women" (2012). UCHC Articles - Research. 211. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/uchcres_articles/211 NIH Public Access Author Manuscript Psychol Violence. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2013 December 11. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptPublished NIH-PA Author Manuscript in final edited NIH-PA Author Manuscript form as: Psychol Violence. 2012 April 1; 2(2): . doi:10.1037/a0027106. IS IT THE EXCEPTION OR THE RULE? DAILY CO-OCCURRENCE OF PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PARTNER VIOLENCE IN A 90-DAY STUDY OF SUBSTANCE-USING, COMMUNITY WOMEN Tami P. Sullivana, Tara McPartlanda, Stephen Armelib, Véronique Jaquiera, and Howard Tennenc aDepartment of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 389 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511 bDepartment of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickenson University, 1000 River Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666 cDepartment of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut Health Center School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030 Abstract Objective—This study aims to describe the daily co-occurrence of physical, sexual, and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) among substance-using, community-based women currently experiencing IPV.
    [Show full text]
  • US Department of Veterans Affairs
    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Public Access Author manuscript J Interpers Violence. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2020 January 06. Published in final edited form as: J Interpers Violence. 2018 September ; 33(17): 2704–2724. doi:10.1177/0886260516628810. VA Author Manuscript Author VA Manuscript Author VA Manuscript Author VA Development of an Innovative Treatment Paradigm for Intimate Partner Violence Victims With Depression and Pain Using Community-Based Participatory Research Ellen Poleshuck1, Catherine Mazzotta2, Kathryn Resch1, Adriana Rogachefsky1, Kelly Bellenger1, Christina Raimondi1, Jennifer Thompson Stone1, Catherine Cerulli1 1University of Rochester, NY, USA 2SUNY Buffalo State College, NY, USA Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health issue with complex physical health, mental health and social consequences that can exacerbate survivors’ barriers to health care engagement and support. Furthermore, health care professionals are often unaware of or feel ill-equipped to address survivors’ complex needs. Depression and chronic pain are particularly prevalent co- occurring problems for survivors and can impede engagement and outcomes in traditional health care. This study’s purpose was to understand what interventions might be more responsive to survivors’ myriad needs, particularlly those with depression and pain. Survivors were involved with the design, execution, analysis, and interpretation of results, based on community-based participatory research principles. Intervention development happened in two phases: the first consisted of focus groups with survivors to inform the intervention and the second included intervention design, informed by a community advisory board (CAB). Thirty-one survivors participated in Phase 1, and they reported preferring a range of support including formal help- seeking, informal coping strategies, and spirituality.
    [Show full text]
  • The Health Care Costs of Domestic and Sexual Violence
    The Health Care Costs of Domestic and Sexual Violence Domestic, dating and sexual violence are costly and pervasive problems in this country, causing victims, as well as witnesses and bystanders, in every community to suffer incalculable pain and loss. On average, more than four women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States1 and women experience two million injuries from intimate partner violence each year.2 In addition to the devastating human trauma, this violence costs our health care, criminal justice, education, child welfare and other systems, as well as diminishing worker productivity. The United States has made progress in the last few decades in addressing this violence, resulting in welcome declines3 – but there is more work to do be done. Violence Against Women Imposes a Substantial Burden on the Health Care System • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the cost of intimate partner rape, physical assault and stalking totaled $5.8 billion each year for direct medical and mental health care services and lost productivity from paid work and household chores. Of this total, nearly $4.1 billion are for direct medical and mental health care services and productivity losses account for nearly $1.8 billion in the United States in 1995.4 When updated to 2003 dollars, the cost is more than $8.3 billion.5 And in 2010 dollars, it would be considerably more. • Nationally, the medical cost burden of intimate partner violence against women age 18 and older within the first 12 months after victimization, range from $2.3 billion to $7 billion dollars.6 • A 2009 study of more than 3,000 women (ages 18-64) from a large health plan located in the Pacific Northwest found costs for women suffering ongoing abuse were 42 percent higher when compared with non-abused women.
    [Show full text]