NCJ Number
53114
Journal
British Medical Journal Dated: (JANUARY 1975) Pages: 194-197
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF 100 BATTERED WIVES IN ENGLAND, CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FAMILY VIOLENCE, ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
OPEN QUESTIONNAIRE AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH WOMEN CLAIMING TO HAVE SUFFERED FROM SERIOUS PHYSICAL ASSAULT BY THEIR HUSBANDS WERE USED TO COLLECT DATA. MOST OF THE WOMEN SURVEYED CAME FROM THE CHISWICK WOMEN'S AID HOSTEL. IN THIS SURVEY, A BATTERED WIFE WAS DEFINED AS A WOMAN WHO HAD RECEIVED DELIBERATE SEVERE AND REPEATED TRANSFER SITUATIONS. BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT MINIMAL INJURY WAS SEVERE BRUISING. ALTHOUGH RECOGNIZED AS IMPORTANT, MENTAL CRUELTY WAS NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. A MAN AND WOMAN WHO LIVED TOGETHER FOR A YEAR AS HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE CONSIDERED MARRIED IN COMMON LAW. OF THE 100 WOMEN IN THE STUDY, 85 WERE MARRIED AND 15 COHABITED. ALL OF THE WOMEN HAD BRUISES, OFTEN WITH OTHER INJURIES SUCH AS LACERATIONS AND FRACTURES. A STUDY OF THE MEDICAL HISTORIES OF THE WOMEN REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: THE MAJORITY FREQUENTLY VISITED THEIR GENERAL PRACTITIONER; 71 WERE TAKING ANTIDEPRESSANTS OR TRANQUILIZERS AND SUICIDAL ATTEMPTS OCCURRED FREQUENTLY. IN 44 CASES, VIOLENCE OCCURRED REGULARLY WHEN THE HUSBAND WAS DRUNK. TWENTY-THREE CONCEDED THAT AN ARGUMENT USUALLY PRECEDED THE BATTERING. THERE WAS A HIGH INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY HISTORIES OF BOTH PARTNERS AND OF PREVIOUS IMPRISONMENT AMONG HUSBANDS. THE HUSBANDS AND WIVES SHOWED A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS. AS THEIR HUSBANDS' ATTACKS BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND SERIOUS AND AS CHILDREN BECAME INVOLVED, THE WIVES TRIED TO LEAVE HOME AND SEEK HELP. TWENTY-SEVEN WOMEN RETURNED TO THEIR HUSBANDS AFTER THEY HAD PLEADED AND PROMISED TO REFORM, 14 RETURNED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO, 13 WENT BACK BECAUSE THE CHILDREN WERE STILL IN THE MARITAL HOME AND 17 WENT BACK AS A RESULT OF THREATS AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF FURTHER VIOLENCE. MANY OF THE CHILDREN WERE DISTURBED, AND 37 WOMEN ADMITTED VIOLENCE TOWARD THEIR CHILDREN. PLACES OF SANCTUARY ARE NEEDED WHERE A WOMAN WITHOUT INDEPENDENT MEANS MAY TAKE HER CHILDREN WHEN VIOLENCE IS OUT OF CONTROL, WHERE, WITH SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, SHE CAN PLAN HER FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR OF REPEATED ASSAULT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MGB)