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Asocial influence approach to the psychological abuse of women (Marshall, 1994; 1996) was expanded and tested. Distinctions are made between obvious acts (e.g., verbal aggression, controlling behaviors), overt acts which are easily recognized and described, and subtle acts which are least likely to be recognized as psychologically abusive. Men’s violence and sexual aggression, and overt (dominating acts, indifference, monitoring, discrediting) and subtle (undermining, discounting, isolating) psychological abuse were examined as they related to women’s psychological and emotional state and perceptions of their relationship. Results of regression equations with 834 low-income women in long-term heterosexual relationships are reported. In general, subtle psychological abuse had stronger and more consistent associations with women’s state and relationship perceptions than did their partners’ overt psychological abuse, violence, or sexual aggression. The importance of extending research beyond obvious acts was underscored by findings showing that subtle psychological abuse accounted for a small but significant proportion of the variance in outcome variables even after the effects of violence and sexual aggression (Step 1) and overt psychological abuse (Step 2) were controlled in eight of the nine regression equations. In contrast, when subtle and overt psychological abuse were entered first (in Steps 1 and 2, respectively), violence and sexual aggression (Step 3) made significant contributions in only two of the nine equations.

The study investigated the methods used by small businesses to select people under the age of 20. While over 88 per cent of all businesses employ fewer than 25 people (about a third of the total workforce), very little is known about how they recruit and select their staff. A national sample of498 small businesses, employing a total of 5612 people, were interviewed by a team of about 50 interviewers. A structured face-to-face interview was used to explore each organization's most recent selection of one or more young people. The recruitment and selection procedures they followed and techniques they used were probed in detail. Data were analysed in terms of general trends and differences relating to four main variables: size of business; geographical location; industry sector; and type of occupation. The results raise questions about 'good' and 'fair' practice and are discussed in terms of difference in selection practice between small and larger businesses.The selection and recruitment procedures used by small businesses, especially those employing 10 or fewer people, differ markedly from those of large organizations, being far more informal and unstructured. Among the major findings was a strong emphasis by employers on the importance of personality characteristics-such as honesty and integrity-and of interest in the job. All were rated as far more important than ability, aptitude or attainment.Over 88 per cent of businesses employ fewer than 25 people, with 73.2 per cent of all employers employing 10 or fewer (NOMIS analysis of employment statistics, 1989). The sheer number of such businesses means that they account for nearly one-third (29.8 per cent) of the total workforce. Despite this very high proportion, very little is known about how businesses of this size recruit and select their staff.Previous studies have tended to concentrate on management selection practices-in particular, selection in the recruitment of graduates for management training schemes (e.g. Mabey, 1989; Robertson & Makin, 1986;Shackleton & Newell, 1991). This trend has been continued by more recent surveys which have provided comparison between the approaches adopted by different countries (DiMilia, Smith & Brown, 1994;Shackleton & Newell, 1994). Other research has looked at selection more broadly-across all areas of work. The Institute of Manpower Studies (IMS) survey (Bevan & Fryatt, 1988) looked at *Requests for reprints 340Dave Bartram et al. 320 companies in the UK and the Industrial Relations Services (IRS) reported an analysis of data from 17 3 companies (IRS, 199 1).Particular interest has focused on the developing use of psychological tests in selection, for assessing both ability and personality. In addition to the above surveys, which discuss the use of tests together with other assessment techniques, the Banking Insurance and Finance Union (BIFU, 1991) has reported on the use of tests in the finance sector and the Local Government Training Board (Hughes, 1990) has produced a guide to the tests in use in management selectio...

This study contrasted the effects of intimate partner and nonpartner sexual assault on women's mental health among a sample (N=835) of low-income, ethnically diverse community women. Compared to sexual assault by a previous partner or by a non-intimate partner, sexual assault by a current partner was the strongest predictor of PTSD, stress, and dissociation. Non-intimate partner sexual assault was only a significant predictor of PTSD and only for African American women. These findings suggest that the victim-offender relationship is important when considering the impact of sexual assault. Specifically, sexual assault perpetrated by an intimate partner may be especially traumatic.

Emotional distress and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined among women in psychologically abusive relationships. Women (N = 93) were divided into three groups (none, moderate, severe) according to scores on the violence subscale of the Severity of Violence Against Women Scales (Marshall, 1992). All groups reported serious emotional distress on the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (Derogatis, 1983) dimensions (e.g., more so than 93% of the nonclinical norm for global distress). Psychoticism was the highest subscale for all groups. Most women (56%) suffered PTSD according to a subscale of the SCL90 (Saunders, Arata, & Kilpatrick, 1990). Difficulties with perception, memory, and motor functions (cognitive failure) more consistently predicted intrusive thoughts, PTSD scores, and attempted suicide than did women’s attention to their inner thoughts and feelings (private self-consciousness), which was important for the sample and the subgroup that had sustained severe violence. Limitations and contributions are discussed as are different uses for conservative and inclusive measures of PTSD.