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

• Published in: Violence against women Vol. 17; no. 8; pp. 1067 - 1085
• Main Authors: Flicker, Sharon M., Cerulli, Catherine, Zhao, Xi, Tang, Wan, Watts, Arthur, Xia, Yinglin, Talbot, Nancy L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.08.2011; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans; Black White Differences; Counselling; Domestic violence; Emotional Abuse; Ethnicity; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Females; Gender studies; Health Surveys; Help Seeking Behavior; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Outreach Programs; Partner Abuse; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - ethnology; Polls & surveys; Psychological abuse; Racial Differences; Rape; Sexual Abuse; Social services; Spouse Abuse - ethnology; Stalking; U.S.A; United States; Victim support; Women; Women's Health Services; Young Adult; United States; ethnicity; help seeking; intimate partner violence
• ISSN: 1077-8012; 1552-8448
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801211414846

This study uses National Violence against Women Survey data to investigate the differential impact of concomitant forms of violence (sexual abuse, stalking, and psychological abuse) and ethnicity on help-seeking behaviors of women physically abused by an intimate partner (n = 1,756). Controlling for severity of the physical abuse, women who experienced concomitant sexual abuse are less likely to seek help, women who experienced concomitant stalking are more likely to seek help, whereas concomitant psychological abuse is not associated with help seeking. Ethnic differences are found in help seeking from friends, mental health professionals, police, and orders of protection. Implications for service outreach are discussed.