This article presents some results of a random household survey that examined the effects of domestic violence on the labor force participation of 824 women living in a low-income neighborhood. It also uses data from twenty-four long interviews.Eighteen percent of the respondents reported having experienced physical aggression in the past twelve months, and 11.9% reported more severe physical violence. Women who reported abuse were more likely to have experienced unemployment and held more jobs and to report more health problems. They also had lower personal incomes, and were significantly more likely to receive public assistance. At the same time, women who reported abuse were employed in roughly the same numbers as those who did not. Thus, it appears that domestic violence may depress women's socioeconomic and occupational status attainment over time, but does not affect employment status per se.The article concludes with comments about the implications of the findings for the redesign of public assistance and job training programs.

The current study used a random sample of 563 low‐income women to test Johnson's (1995) theory that there are two major forms of male‐partner violence, situational couple violence and intimate terrorism, which are distinguished in terms of their embeddedness in a general pattern of control. The study examined the associations between type of violence experienced and respondents’ physical health, psychological distress, and economic well‐being. Analyses revealed three distinct patterns of partner violence: intimate terrorism, control/no threat, and situational couple violence. Compared to victims of control/no threat and situational couple violence, victims of intimate terrorism reported more injuries from physical violence and more work/activity time lost because of injuries. Compared to women who experienced no violence in the previous year, victims of intimate terrorism reported a greater likelihood of visiting a doctor, poorer health, more psychological distress, and a greater likelihood of receiving government assistance.

This article examines the effects of male violence on the labor force participation of 824 women in a randomly selected household survey in a low-income area of Chicago. In the year prior to interview, 18.0% had been physically assaulted and 11.9% had experienced more severe violence; 40.3% had experienced coercive and threatening behaviors ever in their adult lives, and 28.4% had experienced abuse at the criminal assault level. Analysis indicates that although women who experienced male violence were as likely to be currently employed as those who did not, they were more likely to have been unemployed in the past, to suffer from health problems, and to have higher rates of welfare receipt.

In North American society driving is closely linked with independence. Unfortunately, the freedom to operate a motor vehicle may be lost when an individual develops a specific medical diagnosis. The complex issue of dementia and driving safety is frequently encountered by health care professionals. Physicians are required, by law, to report any medical diagnosis such as dementia, that may affect driving safety. Physicians often refer to occupational therapists to assist them in determining if an individual's impairment significantly impacts driving safety. Unfortunately many health care professionals are not using reliable, valid and sensitive tests to determine the point at which an individual with dementia will become an unsafe driver. Through a review of the literature, the authors explore the effects of normal aging and cognitive impairment on driving safety. Specific assessment tools used to assess driving ability are examined and the role of health professionals in driver assessment is discussed. Some suggestions to improve the overall approach to evaluating driving safety are offered in the conclusion.

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