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The relation between physical assault and psychological functioning in a sample of university women, and the relative effects of physical and sexual assault
Author(s) -
Wayland Kathleen,
Lochman John E.,
Roth Susan
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.2490040405
Subject(s) - psychosocial , psychology , physical abuse , clinical psychology , poison control , injury prevention , sexual abuse , sexual assault , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , psychological abuse , victimology , human factors and ergonomics , psychiatry , medicine , medical emergency , pathology
The purpose of this study was threefold: to determine the prevalence and descriptive characteristics of physically abusive relationships in a sample of university women, to identify the psychological correlates of physical abuse and the relative effects of physical and sexual assault on psychological functioning, and to determine the relationship between psychosocial functioning and various abuse characteristics. Fifteen percent of respondents had been physically assaulted in the course of their lifetime, with 4% of women assaulted in the last year. The risk of physical assault increased with closer relationship intimacy, and with a history of prior assault. Results indicate that physical assault constitutes a mild concurrent risk factor for psychological dysfunction among nonclinical women. Social cognitive variables appeared to moderate victims' response to physical assault, as the subjective perception of threat was related to poor social adjustment in several areas. Implications of these findings are discussed.