Browsing by Subject "Domestic Violence"
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Item Architectural Design Factors Of Domestic Violence Shelters That Affect Outcomes For Female Domestic Violence Victims: A Naturalistic Inquiry To Establish Grounded Theory For Future Research(2011-08-08) Prestwood, Laura E.Designing domestic violence shelters for women must be considered from a feminist perspective, inclusive of theories of embodiment, as the female victim's emotional state (mind) is a critical component in determining her overall state (i.e., level of distress). The primary objective of this study (Specific Aim 1) was to identify the mental and emotional state of female domestic violence victims upon entry into a shelter as a means of establishing specific user needs which should directly impact the design of the shelter. The primary hypothesis (Hypothesis 1) was that upon entry into a shelter environment, victims are experiencing high levels of distress compared to normative controls. The secondary objective of this study (Specific Aim 2) was to identify shelter users? perceptions of the current shelter environment in which they lived as a foundation for matching specific design criteria with the specific needs of the female domestic violence victim (i.e., stress reduction) in an attempt to understand the relationship between user needs and individual design characteristics of the shelter. The secondary exploratory hypothesis (Hypothesis 2) was that anxiety or stress is reduced over time; therefore, the architectural design of a shelter that promotes independence will result in less distress among domestic violence victims utilizing the shelter. Thirty-three domestic violence victims in Fort Worth, Texas participated in focus groups and interviews conducted over a four-month period of time in 2009. Qualitative analysis of this data yielded four emergent themes: (1) loss of independence and control: the second layer of fear; (2) the search for security; (3) reconnecting to self; and (4) expressions of humanity. Quantitative analysis was utilized to measure participant stress levels at three intervals during their thirty day shelter program: (1) within the first twenty-four hours of shelter entry; (2) seven to ten days after shelter entry; and (3) fourteen or more days after shelter entry. Findings of this researcher have been utilized to generate design objectives that can be extrapolated to apply to other locations of shelters and could impact the design of new facilities as well as the redesign of current shelters.Item Domestic violence prevention effectiveness in the United States Air Force(Texas A&M University, 2005-08-29) Hall, Jennifer MichelleIn 2000, the Department of Defense task force estimated roughly 8.8 in every 1,000 military children were victims of some form of maltreatment. In response to the rising incidence of child maltreatment in the military the United Stated Air Force, in accordance with the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974, developed the New Parent Support Program (NPSP). The NPSP is a primary maltreatment prevention program for military or dependent parents who have children under the age of three. The formal goals of the program are to decrease potential for family maltreatment, enhance parent role adaptation, increase problem-solving skills and increase knowledge of child growth and development. Literature has indicated that parental stress is a viable indicator of the potential for child maltreatment. The NPSP uses two quantitative instruments sensitive to parental stress levels, the Family Needs Screener and Parenting Stress Index, to indicate the progress of NPSP participants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the success of the NPSP at decreasing the potential for maltreatment. Through secondary data analysis, the study examined pre- and post test scores on the PSI for participants in orderto assess whether parental competence, attachment and role restriction scores improved after completion of the program. The study also examined the scoring for any occurrence of racial or rank disparities. The results of the secondary data analysis showed no significant improvement in overall PSI, parental competence, role restriction scores or attachment scores. The study found racial or rank differences in the FNS scores even though the majority of participants were Caucasian, low ranking, enlisted personnel. The study did not find racial or rank differences in PSI scores. The study results suggest, based on PSI scores, the NPSP does not significantly lower the parental stress, thus lowering the potential for maltreatment. According to the literature, which confirms prevention methods such as home visitation and parent education have been successful in other prevention programs, the NPSP should have the potential to be an effective prevention. Additional research and outcome analysis is necessary to determine which aspects of the program are ineffective and require modification.Item Haitian women and domestic violence: an assessment of the influnce of the mother-daughter relationship(2009-05-15) Lamothe-Francois, Marie B.The current study uses a structured survey with a sample of 97 Haitian women who are or have been involved in violent domestic relationships, to examine the impact of the daughters? levels of differentiation from their mothers, cultural expectations, religious beliefs, and other potential intervening variables that may mediate the decision to stay or leave the abuser. Analyses were conducted to ascertain whether characteristics of the mother-daughter relationship, level of individuation/fusion, culture, and/or religion plays a significant role in the women?s decision making process. It was hypothesized that daughter?s decisions regarding the relationship would be highly influenced by the type of relationship that they have with their mothers, hence, influencing them to remain or leave the perpetrator. Findings from the current study supported the second hypothesis that there would be a significant negative correlation between the degree of differentiation of a daughter from her mother and the likelihood of leaving an abusive relationship. Correlations were performed with the Personal Authority in the Family Systems Questionnaire and the Differentiation of Self Inventory and the findings from the tests revealed that women who obtained higher scores on the DSI were less likely to remain with their abusers. Furthermore, when the PAFS and the DSI were combined, they were a significant predictor of the outcome. Additionally, the hypothesis that women who are highly influenced by cultural factors will be more likely to stay in an abusive relationship than women who are not highly influenced by such factors, was not conclusive. There was no relationship between adhering to cultural beliefs and the decision regarding an abusive relationship. Findings regarding the influence of the women?s religious on their decision regarding the abusive relationship were also inconclusive. The discussion and conclusions focus on the clinical significance of the study?s findings. Implications for treatment with this population, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research are also addressed.