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The physical, sexual and emotional violence history of middle‐aged women: a community‐based prevalence study
Author(s) -
Mazza Danielle,
Dennerstein Lorraine,
Garamszegi Corrine V,
Dudley Emma C
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2001.tb143095.x
Subject(s) - sexual abuse , physical abuse , psychological abuse , population , domestic violence , conflict tactics scale , psychiatry , observational study , medicine , child abuse , sexual violence , clinical psychology , psychology , longitudinal study , poison control , suicide prevention , medical emergency , nursing , environmental health , pathology
Objectives To determine current and lifetime rates of the experience of partner abuse and sexual violence in a community‐based sample of middle‐aged women and compare these to figures obtained in a general practice setting. Design and methods This research was part of the Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project (MWMHP), an observational, longitudinal, population‐based study of 438 Australian‐born women conducted over nine years. In 1996, during the sixth year of the study, we asked the MWMHP participants to complete a self‐administered “violence questionnaire”, incorporating a modified Conflict Tactics Scale and questions on sexual abuse experienced during childhood and adult life. Results Of the 395 women remaining in the sixth year of follow‐up of the MWMHP, 362 (92%) completed the questionnaire. Overall, 28.5% ( n =101) of the women had experienced some form of domestic violence (physical, sexual or emotional) during their lifetime; 5.5% ( n = 15) of women had experienced severe physical abuse in the past year at the hands of a partner; and 11.8% ( n =42) of the women had experienced rape or attempted rape between the age of 16 and the time of our survey. Regarding abuse in childhood, 8.9% ( n =32) of women had experienced physical abuse, 42.3% ( n =152) had experienced non‐contact sexual abuse, and 35.7% ( n =128) contact sexual abuse. Compared with the general‐practice‐based study, rates of childhood physical abuse and penetrative sexual abuse were similar, but rates of less intrusive child sexual abuse were significantly higher in our study. Conclusions Doctors in all areas of medicine who are dealing with middle‐aged women need to be aware of the levels of violence sustained by women throughout their lives. Such experiences may have a substantial impact on women's physical and mental wellbeing.