While domestic violence has been recognized as a serious women's health issue and specialized services have been designed, little attention has been given to understanding battered women's help seeking behaviors. Previous research focused on factors that inhibited help seeking efforts. Battered women are now reaching out for help to multiple service providers across various service delivery systems. Yet, these women often relinquish the help and return to a violent partner. The concepts of hope and fear have been given scant attention as influences upon help seeking behavior.
This study explored hope and fear among 22 battered women who sought group counseling as non-residents at a domestic violence shelter. Study objectives included determining levels of hope and fear, and exploring characteristics of violent relationship and help seeking behaviors. Semi-structured interviews and Hope and Fear Scales were administered. Findings suggest that 100% of the participants had previously sought help from multiple service providrers yet returned to their violent partner and continued abuse. While 73% were not currently living with their abusive partner, most (91%) indicated their current levels of hope were high and 73% indicated their greatest fear was of continued abuse. Implications of these findings suggest that sensitive and effective programming for battered women who indeed do seek help must include appreciation of and attention to the co-existence of hope and fear as these factors affect reltionships with abusive partners.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, the participant will be able to 1. Recognize and identify different types of hope and fear among battered women 2. Appreciate and articulate the impact of hope and fear on help seeking behavior 3. Develop a sensitive, effective approach to battered women that may enable them to follow through with the help offered
Keywords: Battered Women, Counseling
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.