Patterns of violence against women: A latent class analysis.

Abstract

This study examined patterns of nine types of violence against women (VAW) and associated mental health problems. The following self-reported, lifetime violence victimization was examined among 1424 employed women: (1) childhood physical abuse, (2) childhood sexual abuse, (3) physical abuse between parents/guardians during childhood, (4) psychological intimate partner violence (IPV), (5) physical IPV, (6) sexual IPV, (7) adult physical or sexual assault by a non-intimate partner, (8) physical workplace violence, and (9) psychological workplace violence. Latent class analysis was used to identify homogenous patterns, called “classes,” of women's “yes/no” responses to experiencing these types of violence. The best model consisted of 4-classes characterized by the following probabilities: low violence (class 1: 63.1%), high psychological and physical IPV (class 2: 15.6%), high physical and psychological workplace violence (class 3: 12.4%), and moderate to high childhood abuse (class 4: 9.0%). When compared to class 1 (low violence), membership in classes 2 (IPV) and 4 (childhood abuse) was associated with screening positive for depression in the past week at baseline after controlling for the influence of demographic characteristics on class membership. Also, when compared to class 1 (low all), membership in class 2 (IPV) was associated with greater odds of screening positive for posttraumatic stress disorder in the past month at the six month follow-up assessment. Findings document distinct patterns of VAW and associated proximal and distal mental health outcomes. Implications for interventions aimed to improve employed women's health are discussed.

Poly-traumatization and harmful behaviors in a sample of emergency department Psychiatric Intake Response Center youth

“…Although removing both of these variables would increase the fit of the structural model, leaving them increases understanding of the general sample. Other LCAs of childhood and adult poly-victimization found a higher number of classes among victims (Cavanaugh et al, 2012;Ford, Fraleigh, & Connor, 2009;Reid & Sullivan, 2009). Yet, all of these studies were in larger, nationally representative samples.…”

Mental Disorders Associated With Subpopulations of Women Affected by Violence and Abuse

“…Related studies have revealed between three to six distinct patterns or subgroups of IVA among women (Campbell, Greeson, Bybee, & Raja, 2008; Carbone-Lopez, Kruttschnitt, & Macmillan, 2006; Cavanaugh et al, 2012; Dutton, Kaltman, Goodman, Weinfurt, & Vankos, 2005) and documented mental health problems and substance use associated with distinct subpopulations (Campbell et al, 2008; Carbone-Lopez et al, 2006; Cavanaugh et al, 2012; Dutton et al, 2005). Mental health problems have been associated with subpopulations characterized by similar histories of IVA, but different probabilities of experiencing those types of violence (e.g., low IPV or high IPV; Dutton et al, 2005), and very different types of IVA (e.g., childhood abuse vs. IPV; Cavanaugh et al, 2012). For example, when compared to a subgroup of women with low IVA, a subgroup of women characterized by IVP were significantly more likely to screen positive for PTSD than a subgroup characterized by childhood abuse (Cavanaugh et al, 2012).…”

Latino Immigrant Students in Spain: Potential Poly-Victims and School Underachievers

“…Poly-victimization is more distressful and complex than one single form of victimization because it is cumulative, enhances vulnerability and prevents the development of resilience leaving children and adolescents fewer areas to feel safe (Finkelhor, Turner, Hamby, & Ormrod, 2011;Gustafsson, Nilson, & Svedin, 2009;. Further, poly-victims experience more internalizing and externalizing symptoms generating more negative outcomes as dramatic and harmful as re-victimization in adulthood (Cavanaugh et al, 2011;Desai, Arias, Thompson, & Basile, 2002;Whiting, Simmons, Havens, Smith, & Oka, 2009;Widom, 1989) that according to Widom, Czaja, and Dutton (2008) it might take the form of (a) aggression from partners or non-partners, (b) sexual assaults, (c) kidnapping, (d) stalking, (e) a next of kin murdered or a friend committing suicide. Unfortunately, a history of child maltreatment and neglect seems predictive of worse outcomes over the life course (Desai et al, 2002;Widom et al, 2008).…”