Citation

Clements C, Ogle RL. J. Psychol. Trauma 2007; 6(1): 29-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J513v06n01_03

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Domestic violence research has been limited by lack of appropriate comparison groups. In the present study, shelter-living, abused women were compared to community-living, abused women, maritally distressed women, and non-distressed non-abused women on relationship characteristics, emotional status, and family problem solving and coping. Shelter-living abused women reported more physical violence in the past year than community-living abused women. Both abused groups reported higher levels of depression and anxiety than non-abused groups. Community-living women reported greater use of aggressive solutions to family problems than other groups. Differences between community-living and shelter-living abused women point to the utility of including appropriate comparison groups in studies of abused women.