Battered women and help-seeking – a study of Swedish women subjected to partner violence

1. Battered women and help-seeking – a study of Swedish women subjected to partner violence Mariana Dufort, PhD Student, Dep. of Clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet Marlene Stenbacka, Associate professor, Dep. of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet Annika Eriksson, PhD, The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention Anders Tengström, Associate professor, Dep. of Clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet

2. To explore battered women who have not sought professional help due to IPV and compare these with battered women who sought help, regarding violence exposure and psychosocial characteristics. Research questions: Are there any differences between the groups concerning: psychosocial health, socio-economic status and relationship to the perpetrator? violence exposure? Could any of these potential differences be related to help-seeking? Aim Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

3. Participants Mariana Dufort Non help-seekers (n=136): Age 18 or older Exposed to violence by a male partner sometime during the last 5 years Have not received help due to IPV from the social services or women’s shelter Help-seekers (n=353): Age 18 or older exposed to violence by a male partner 9 July 2012

4. Procedure Non help-seekers (n=136): 3 national newspapers 4 regional papers 7 women’s magazines Help-seekers (n=353): 4 community based social service sites 20 women shelters around Sweden Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

5. Measures Psychosocial health: • Symptom Checklist (SCL-90), GSI • Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) Violence: • Conflict Tactic Scales (CTS2) Single questions about: • Age, education, occupation • Violence during childhood/prior relationships • Relation to the perpetrator Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

6. Age Born in Sweden University studies Work Good economy Psychological distress (GSI) Alcohol consumption Non help-seekers Help-seekers 40 years* 34 years* 87%* 49%* 54%* 28%* 49%* 33%* 60%* 48%* 1,1 (0,75)* 1,5 (0,76)* 8,8 (6,92)* 2,9 (4,89)* Psychosocial and socioeconomic factors Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

7. Children together* Separated* New partner* Non help-seekers Help-seekers 27%* 64%* 85%* 66%* 35%* 10%* Relation to the perpetrator Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

8. During childhood Prior relationships Physical violence Psychological violence Sexual violence Severe violence by perpetrator Physical violence Psychological violence Sexual violence Non help-seekers Help-seekers 68% 69% 42% 34% 52% 46% 20% 19% 88% 91% 87%* 95%* 38% 43% Violence exposure Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

9. Help-seeking… • decreases with age (OR=0,932) • decreases with university education (OR=0,368) • decreases if the woman has a new partner (OR=0,205) • decreases with higher alcohol consumption (OR=0,873) • Increases with higher levels of psychological distress (OR=2,829) • Increases if the woman has children together with the perpetrator (OR=3,801) Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

10. Summary Majority of women (both groups) • High levels of psychological distress • Exposed to diverse and severe violence Of relevance for help-seeking: • Age, psychological health, education, alcohol consumption, if children together with the perpetrator, new partner Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

11. Conclusions Great need of help and support among non help-seekers Results support previous recommendations of general screening Preventive interventions should be directed towards children with experiences of violence Further research on women’s own reasons for not seeking help Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012

12. mariana.dufort@ki.se Thank you Mariana Dufort 9 July 2012