Prevalence of Violence against Women: Distress, Coping and Psychological Well-Being. Surviving the Fire?

Abstract

The aims of this study were to establish the prevalence of violence in a sample of women in the North West Province of South Africa, and to determine whether a higher frequency of experiences of violence are associated with more distress and differences in coping strategies and levels of psychological well-being. A stratified, random population-based sample of 387 participants completed several questionnaires in a cross-sectional survey design with the aid of trained fieldworkers who conducted the survey in the mother tongue of the participants. Questionnaires measured the frequency and kinds of violence experi enced, distress symptoms, coping strategies, psychological well-being and quality of life experienced. Data on the relevant variables were also gathered in four in-depth individual interviews and a focus group discussion. The results indicated that 62% of women in the sample had experienced some form of violence in relationships and 42% experienced violence on a regular basis. This study adds data on the epidemiology of various types of violence against women in South Africa. Women who had experienced violence, and more so, women who had experienced a higher frequency of violence, showed more distress symptoms, lower levels of psychological well-being and a lower quality of life in several domains of life, than women who had no or less experience of violence. However, even those women who experienced high levels of violence managed to maintain some strengths and constructive coping strategies that might have helped them to survive. It is indicated that identifying and building psychological strengths in women from a positive psychology perspective may add value to current interventions and preventative efforts.

The Impact of an Interim Protection Order (Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998) on the Victims of Domestic Violence

“…This programme has been in operation since 1997 and has led to a paradigm shift from crime control to crime prevention, and from an emphasis on crime as a security issue to crime as a social issue (Smit & Nel, 2002;Van der Hoven, 2001). Oosthuizen and Wissing (2005) support this change in focus and are of the opinion that, in a healthy society, efforts…”

“…Other possible reasons are loyalty to the perpetrator, hoping and believing that the situation will change for the better (Oosthuizen & Wissing, 2005), true love, provocation, self-blame (Damon, 2003), patriarchal belief systems, staying for the sake of the children, protecting the abuser's image (Nordien, Alspaslan & Pretorius, 2003) and fear of secondary victimisation by the legal system (Kruger, 2004). …”

“…To empower victims, it is necessary to understand the impact of domestic violence on their psychological well-being, taking distress symptoms and lower levels of wellness into account, but also their strengths and resources. These strengths and resources, for example constructive coping mechanisms, hope, courage, self-efficacy and other competencies, can then be utilised and enhanced in the fight against domestic violence (Oosthuizen & Wissing, 2005).…”

“…The fight against domestic violence should not only focus on intervention, but also on prevention (Oosthuizen & Wissing, 2005). Approaching and addressing domestic violence from policy level, through community level, to the individual level, by the building of strengths on all these levels, may contribute to preventative efforts.…”

“…The experience of life and the quality of life becomes incomprehensible, unmanageable, meaningless and unsatisfying in the face of domestic violence (McNamara, 1999;Oosthuizen & Wissing, 2005). This implies that general well-being is affected by domestic violence.…”