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The impact of violence and abuse on women's physical health: Can trauma‐informed treatment make a difference?
Author(s) -
Weissbecker Inka,
Clark Colleen
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.20189
Subject(s) - physical health , health care , medicine , physical abuse , psychiatry , occupational safety and health , interpersonal communication , interpersonal violence , suicide prevention , clinical psychology , poison control , domestic violence , psychology , mental health , medical emergency , social psychology , pathology , economics , economic growth
A history of traumatic experiences has been associated with poor physical health. This study examined associations between trauma and physical health, as well as changes in physical health over time, in women with co‐occurring disorders and histories of violence who received either integrated trauma‐informed services or usual care. Results revealed that women who had experienced more severe trauma also suffered worse physical health and were more likely to engage in poor health behaviors. Receiving behavioral health care services was associated with improved physical health and health behaviors. Predictors of physical health improvements included reduced interpersonal abuse, reduced severity of posttraumatic symptoms, improved health behaviors, and adequate access to medical care. Implications for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention are discussed.