Psychological Distress and Substance Use Among Community-Recruited Women Currently Victimized by Intimate Partners

Abstract

Latent class analysis was used to examine patterns of victimization among a community sample of 212 women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Results identified three classes of women characterized by victimization history (recent IPV, childhood victimization); classes were further differentiated by IPV-related PTSD symptoms, other indicators of psychological distress, and substance use. Differentiating levels of victimization and their associated patterns of psychosocial functioning can be used to develop intervention strategies targeting the needs of different subgroups of women so that mental health and substance use problems can be reduced or prevented altogether. Implications for treatment and future research are presented.

Psychological distress among victimized women on probation and parole: A latent class analysis.

“…The PDS may be utilized as a diagnostic screening tool for PTSD; as such, a final indicator was included to assess whether or not (yes = 1; no = 0) the woman met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. 1 Although there is conceptual and statistical overlap between this final indicator and the other variables operationalizing this domain, this variable was included to provide an understanding of the proportion of respondents who met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and to increase the interpretability and utility of the results (Golder, Connell, & Sullivan, 2012). …”

Modeling posttraumatic stress disorder among victimized women on probation and parole : examining the impact of childhood victimization.

“…While the prevalence of childhood victimization among justice involved women was first noted 15 years ago (Browne et al, 1999), little research has examined the impact of such victimization since that time with women under community corrections (Golder, Connell, & Sullivan, 2012;Golder et al, 2013). Evidence suggests that childhood victimization may have particularly deleterious consequences for women involved with the criminal justice system as compared to adult victimization (e.g., intimate partner violence; adult stranger rape or sexual assault, etc.)…”

The effects of cumulative victimization on psychological distress.

“…In particular, there is a clear association between substance use, depression and PTSD (Kendler, Gardner, & Prescott, 2002). Substance use, psychological distress, and victimization have been found to co-occur and simultaneously influence continued use, distress, and violence (Briere & Jordan, 2004;Engstrom, El-Bassel, & Gilbert, 2012;Golder, Connell, & Sullivan, 2012;Golder & Logan 2011;Logan et al, 2006;Peters, Khondkaryan, & Sullivan, 2012). In a study by Hedtke and colleagues (2008) Golder & Logan, 2011;Peters, Khondkaryan, & Sullivan, 2012).…”

“…Additionally, based on seminal research by Houskamp andFoy (1991), andGolding (1999) there is clear evidence of a relationship between adult IPV and psychological distress (Basile, Arias, Desai, & Thompson, 2004;Becker, Stuewig, & McCloskey, 2010;Bonomi et al, 2006;Briere & Jordan, 2004;Carbone-Lopez, Kruttschnitt, & Macmillan, 2006;Clements & Sawhney, 2000;Coker et al, 2002a;Coker et al, 2000b;Coker, Watkins, Smith, & Brandt, 2003;Dienemann et al, 2000;Dutton, 2009;Golder, Connell, Sullivan, 2012;Hedtke, et al, 2008;Houry, Kaslow, & Thompson, 2005;Kennedy et.al, 2012;Krebs, Breiding, Browne, & Warner, 2011;Lacey, et al, 2013;Mburia-Mwalili, ClementsNolle, Lee, Shadley, & Yang, 2010;Mitchell et al, 2006;Najdowski & Ullman, 2009;Nurius & Macy, 2008;Peters, Khondkarayn, & Sullivan, 2012;Pico-Alfonso et al, 2006;20 Salisbury & Voorhis, 2009;Woods, 2005;Young-Wolff et al, 2013). Various types of psychological distress result from adult IPV experiences including depression, suicidality, anxiety, PTSD, dissociation, somatization, and chronic stress (Briere & Jordan, 2004;Clements & Sawhney, 2000;Dutton, 2009;Nurius & Macy, 2008).…”

“…Further, substance-using women are also more likely to experience IPV compared to non-substance using women (Briere & Jordan, 2004;Engstrom, El-Bassel, & Gilbert, 2012;Golder, Connell, & Sullivan, 2012;Golder & Logan 2011;Logan et al, 2006;Peters, Khondkaryan, & Sullivan, 2012). It is hypothesized that women who are involved in risky or illicit activities are less likely to seek assistance from institutions such as the criminal justice system due to perceived stigmatization and fear of connecting themselves with criminal activity (Logan et al, 2006).…”