NCJ Number
226490
Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 182-199
Date Published
March 2009
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study explored the prevalence of past-year intimate partner violence (IPV) and its subtypes for women with and without disabilities, examined the demographic, service system, and relationship-based differences between women with and without disabilities with any past-year IPV, and conducted an assessment of help-seeking behavior between groups.
Abstract
More than half of the women with disabilities reported experiencing past-year intimate partner violence (IPV). Adding to existing research, the study suggests that women with disabilities may be less likely to experience verbal abuse as an IPV subtype, but more likely to experience threats and physical violence. The findings support existing research-based recommendations related to IPV among women with disabilities in the areas of (1) physically and attitudinally accessible programming, (2) increased involvement with social service systems, and (3) improvement of agency, State, and Federal accessibility protocols. Violence against women is a significant human rights issue for women with disabilities; a population that is more at risk for intimate partner violence. Existing research points to the need for population-based sampling, the inclusion of women of non-White descent, and the use of literature-based definitions. Data for this study were drawn from an existing data file for a 1995 study examining IPV and labor force participation among women in a neighborhood in Chicago, IL. Tables and references