Reanalysis of the Omaha Domestic Violence Experiment: Situational and socio -economic factors that affect abused women's fear, sense of personal control, self -esteem, and depression
Abstract
This study examines the effects of situational and social contexts on the subjective experiences of women who have been in abusive relationships. Two research questions guide this study: (1) how does situational context, measured by abuse experiences, relationship status, and living arrangement, affect fear, sense of personal control, self-esteem, and depression in abused women? and (2) to what extent does social context, measured by level of education, employment status, level of income, race, and perception of financial situation, affect fear, sense of personal control, self-esteem, and depression in abused women? This study examines the subjective experiences of female victims of domestic violence who participated in the Omaha Domestic Violence Experiment. The Omaha Domestic Violence Experiment began in Omaha, Nebraska, March 1986 and ended August 1987. Victims were interviewed three times. Victim interview data that are analyzed in this study consist of 521 female respondents who were abused either by husbands, former husbands, boyfriends, or former boyfriends. The subjective experiences of the women are examined within a social learning perspective. The results of ANOVA indicate that the abuse experience did not always affect the women's fear, sense of personal control, self-esteem, and depression. The results of the multiple regression analysis suggest that the effects of situational and social context variables on the subjective experiences of the women vary among those who were interviewed once, twice, or three times. This study provides mixed support for a social learning perspective. It illustrates the importance of understanding the women's situational and social contexts to explain their fear, sense of personal control, self-esteem, and depression and suggests some important directions for future research.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Miller, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology|Social psychology|Psychotherapy|Womens studies
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