Intimate Partner Violence and the Relation Between Help-Seeking Behavior and the Severity and Frequency of Physical Violence Among Women in Turkey

This study examined individual behavioral predictors of help-seeking using the frameworks of the Andersen model and the theory of planned behavior in a sample of help-seeking female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). In-person interviews were conducted with 372 women (Mage = 34.41 years, 66% African American). Results indicated that variables suggested by the Andersen model, including age, depression, psychological aggression, and posttraumatic stress-related arousal symptoms, were significant predictors of help-seeking. Variables suggested by the theory of planned behavior, including perceived helpfulness of resource and perceived controllability of the violence, were also significantly related to help-seeking. However, a combined model including variables from both theoretical approaches accounted for the most variance in help-seeking behavior. Overall, results suggest that these models are useful conceptualizations of help-seeking in an IPV population and that it is important to consider personal characteristics, need-based variables, and cognitive factors in outreach efforts.

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Concomitant Forms of Abuse and Help-Seeking Behavior Among White, African American, and Latina Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/1077801211414846 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 1067-1085 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Sharon M. Flicker ◽

Catherine Cerulli ◽

Xi Zhao ◽

Wan Tang ◽

Arthur Watts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

African American ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Latina Women ◽

Help Seeking Behavior ◽

Seeking Behavior

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Intimate Partner Violence: The Effect of Gender and Contextual Factors on Community Perceptions of Harm, and Suggested Victim and Criminal Justice Responses

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.26.3.347 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 347-363 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Susan M. Dennison ◽

Carleen M. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Community Perceptions ◽

Participant Gender ◽

Male Perpetrators ◽

Seeking Behavior

Using a vignette to depict physical violence by an intimate partner, a 2 (perpetrator gender) × 2 (participant gender) × 2 (frequency) × 2 (intent to cause harm) between subjects factorial design was used to examine under what circumstances individuals perceive: an incident should be illegal, the extent of harm, and appropriate victim and criminal justice responses. There were 868 participants from the Brisbane (Australia) community (48.5% males). The actions of male perpetrators were viewed more seriously and the victims were recommended to seek more forms of assistance when the perpetrator was male. There were few differences in perceptions of violence according to participant gender. The frequency of the violence affected the participant’s responses but the intentions of the perpetrator did not. Results are discussed in terms of stereotypes of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the implications for help-seeking behavior by victims.

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