The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59817

Carla S. Lewis, PhD¹, Sascha Griffing, PhD², Melissa Chu, MS², Tania Jospitre, BA², Lorraine Madry, MHS², Robert E. Sage, PhD², and Beny J. Primm, MD². (1) Urban Women's Retreat, P.O. Box 804, New York, NY 10037, (2) Urban Resource Institute, 22 Chapel Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Community Domestic Violence Survivors and Psychosocial Health Change in an Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter

This evaluation study investigates pre-and post differences in psychological functioning amongst predominately, minority inner-city domestic violence survivors after 30 days at an emergency domestic violence shelter. Sixty-three survivors completed baseline and follow-up structured interviews on an array of background and psychosocial variables at two community-based domestic violence shelters. Paired comparison t-tests (N=63) were conducted to assess change in depression and self-esteem from baseline to follow-up. As expected upon arrival at a crisis facility, mean depression score (CES-D scale M=28.30; SD=14.10) far exceeded criteria indicating depressive symptomatology (i.e. scores above 16). The results show a significant decrease in symptomatology after only one month at the shelter (30-day M=16.95 p < .0001). Self-esteem also improved at follow-up (p < .0001). The findings generate a profile of community survivors that challenge trait-based assumptions of battered women. Population-specific studies are warranted to better understand risk and long-term consequences of violence against women. 90 day and 1 year follow-up is suggested. The limitations of the design relative to convenience sampling and the absence of a control group are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: (
• Articulate the need for prospective, population-specific health services evaluation designs; (2)discuss the relationship between domestic violence, depression, and self-esteem; (
• Apply a pre-post paired comparison t-test design and identify 2 potential obstacles to internal validity.

Keywords: Battered Women, Evaluation

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.