The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48734

Christine Hagion Rzepka, BS, CHES, MPH, The Ripple Effect, San Jose State University, Department of Health Science, MPH Program, 510 Saddlebrook Drive, #295, San Jose, CA 95136, (408) 225-2381, chagion@aol.com

Domestic violence is among the most common of all health issues, with 1 in 3 women around the globe having experienced abuse within a committed intimate relationship at some point in time . However, research on the issue of domestic violence has been limited to interventions focused on the acute transitional stage, when one is fleeing the batterer. Little or no attention has been given to the long-term effects of domestic violence on survivors of abuse—and the few studies that have been conducted have centered solely on psychopathology of former victims.

The purpose of this study was to document the long-term impact of domestic violence on survivors, and to describe the pathways of healing from abuse. A socio-ecological framework shaped this qualitative study, which also explored the potential contributing effects of religion, economic status, age, culture, disability, continued contact with the abuser, and involvement with the courts and penal system on the survivor’s experience of the abuse itself, as well as in her journey to transcend it.

Preliminary results indicate that there are long-lasting effects on the mental health of survivors; that there is indeed a distinct healing trajectory common to the experience of surviving and moving beyond abuse; that current support services for survivors are severely lacking, not only for the former victim, but also for collateral victims as well (friends, family members, children exposed to abuse). Implications for policy and practice will be explored, and recommendations for further research will be outlined.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to

• Recognize the long-term effects of domestic and family violence on survivors and child witnesses of abuse.
• Articulate the need for policy changes in the provision of domestic violence services from a primary focus on the acute transitional period when one is fleeing abuse to a more holistic, longer-term orientation.
• Describe behavioral indicators that demonstrate the strength and resiliency of survivors of domestic violence.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.