Occurrence, Characteristics, and Impact of Chronic Pain in Formerly Abused Women

• NCJ Number: 237370
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 17 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2011 Pages: 1327-1343
• Author(s): Janice Humphreys; Bruce A. Cooper; Christine Miaskowski
• Date Published: October 2011
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the potential health consequence of intimate partner violence (IPV) chronic pain.

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to describe the occurrence of chronic pain and to evaluate for differences in pain characteristics and intimate partner violence between women who reported mild compared with moderate to severe chronic pain. A convenience sample of community-based women (N = 84) was recruited. The 77 percent of women who reported chronic pain were dichotomized into two groups. Women with moderate to severe pain (n = 49) were significantly more likely to be unemployed, to be in the abusive relationship longer, to report more minor injuries and threats of violence, and to report pain in multiple locations that significantly interfered with every aspect of their lives. (Published Abstract)