NCJ Number
219123
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 13 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 549-561
Date Published
June 2007
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This British study used focus groups in order to identify the sleep problems experienced by 17 women survivors of domestic violence.
Abstract
The findings show the connection between sleep deprivation and the experience of living under the power and control of another person, which is the hallmark of domestic violence. The experiences of these women survivors of domestic violence show that feeling anxious, frightened, insecure, stressed, or traumatized due to oppression from and mistrust of those around us causes chronic sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation in turn has detrimental effects on mental and physical health and the ability to cope and function effectively. Abused women often present to their physicians with "sleep problems" rather than problems of abuse. A response that focuses only on the "sleep problems" through medication fails to assess either the nature of the problem or an effective intervention. In the United Kingdom, few survivors of domestic violence have access to interventions through which they can re-establish their sense of identity, safety, and trust. This is essential in addressing chronic sleep deprivation and associated mental and physical health issues. Three women's groups of domestic-violence survivors gave permission for focus groups to be held. Sixteen women chose to attend the focus groups, and one in-depth interview was conducted with a woman who could not attend a focus group. All but one of the women had separated from the violent partner. Their accounts of sleeping problems involved both current sleeping patterns and recollections about past sleeping patterns in the course of being in the abusive relationship. The main topics of the focus groups were the organization and management of sleep; constraints on sleep; and sleep, risk, and safety. 24 references