Development of Measures of Abuse Among Women with Disabilities and the Characteristics of Their Perpetrators

• NCJ Number: 228308
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 15 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 1001-1025
• Author(s): Mary Ann Curry; Paula Renker; Rosemary B. Hughes; Susan Robinson-Whelen; Mary Oschwald; Paul R. Swank; Laurie E. Powers
• Date Published: September 2009
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the validity and reliability of questions used to assess abuse against women with disabilities and the characteristics of their perpetrators.

Abstract

The lack of reliable and valid measures for assessing violence against disabled and deaf women impacts the ability to formulate public policy regarding the prevalence, scope, and consequences of such abuse. The authors administered audio computer-assisted self-interviews to 305 women with diverse disabilities during the Safer and Stronger Program (SSP) to increase awareness of abuse, teach safety planning behaviors, and inform subjects of community resources. Data were automatically entered into a statistical software database that indicated preliminary support for the validity and reliability of the items used to assess abuse. Use of these measures and this technique is both helpful in assessing abuse experienced by this unique segment of the population and essential for the development of victim assistance programs, services, and public health policies. Tables and references