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Life Constraints and Psychological Well-Being of Domestic Violence Shelter Graduates

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Abstract

Psychosocial adjustment and life constraints of 81 domestic violence shelter graduates were examined via field interviews in the community, assessing women’s current life status, satisfaction with core life domains, and violence experience, pre- and post-shelter. Psychometric scales for depression and trauma symptoms were also administered. Participants had received extensive services in either an emergency or a transitional living shelter. Although fairly satisfied across life domains, many had serious post-shelter financial hardships. Most importantly, they reported remarkably little post-shelter violence exposure, either within or outside of romantic relationships. Despite now living independently, 43% and 75% reported clinical levels of depression and trauma symptoms, respectively. In hierarchical stepwise regressions, depression was related to women’s childhood sexual abuse, dissatisfaction with housing and their own parenting, and experience of financial difficulties conjoined with public assistance. Trauma symptoms were associated with childhood sexual abuse and post-shelter financial difficulties. The impaired psychosocial functioning and life difficulties of these predominantly successful domestic violence survivors highlights the need for specialized shelter intervention and continuity of care in the community.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California

    Kathleen A. Ham-Rowbottom, Erin E. Gordon, Kelly L. Jarvis & Raymond W. Novaco

  2. Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-7085

    Raymond W. Novaco

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  1. Kathleen A. Ham-Rowbottom
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  2. Erin E. Gordon
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  3. Kelly L. Jarvis
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  4. Raymond W. Novaco
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Correspondence to Raymond W. Novaco.

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Ham-Rowbottom, K.A., Gordon, E.E., Jarvis, K.L. et al. Life Constraints and Psychological Well-Being of Domestic Violence Shelter Graduates. J Fam Viol 20, 109–121 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-005-3174-7

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