A New Factor Solution for the Domestic Violence–Related Financial Issues Scale (DV-FI)

2019 ◽  
pp. 088626051986088
Author(s):  
Carolyn Copps Hartley ◽  
Lynette M. Renner ◽  
Caitlin Ward

Economic abuse is a distinct form of intimate partner violence (IPV); yet, few measures of economic or financial factors exist. Weaver, Sanders, Campbell, and Schnabel’s Domestic Violence–Related Financial Issues Scale (DV-FI) was developed to assess the role of financial-related issues in an individual’s experiences of IPV as well as perceptions of financial self-efficacy and the future role that financial issues will play in one’s sense of financial security. Despite its relevance to research focused on IPV, only portions of the DV-FI have been used in a handful of studies. The original factor analysis of the DV-FI identified five subscales within a shelter-based sample of impoverished, predominantly African American women. The DV-FI demonstrated good psychometric properties at the time of development; yet, to our knowledge, the factor structure of this measure has not been evaluated with another sample. Given the importance of identifying economic abuse and financial self-efficacy among women who experience IPV, it is essential to have a reliable and valid measure of these constructs. In this article, we describe the results of a confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis of the DV-FI using a community sample of 150 predominantly White, low-income women seeking civil legal services. We identified a four-factor solution of the DV-FI. Our findings provide support for the Financial Self-Efficacy subscale as a domain-specific measure of financial self-efficacy among women who experience IPV, but further validation is needed to explain the divergent findings for the remaining factors.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1079-1089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine U. Shalowitz ◽  
Christine Dunkel Schetter ◽  
Marianne M. Hillemeier ◽  
Vernon M. Chinchilli ◽  
Emma K. Adam ◽  
...  

Objective Allostatic load (AL) represents multisystem physiological “wear-and-tear” reflecting emerging chronic disease risk. We assessed AL during the first year postpartum in a diverse community sample with known health disparities. Study Design The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development Community Child Health Network enrolled 2,448 predominantly low-income African-American, Latina, and White women immediately after delivery of liveborn infants at ≥20 weeks' gestation, following them over time with interviews, clinical measures, and biomarkers. AL at 6 and 12 months postpartum was measured by body mass index, waist:hip ratio, blood pressure, pulse, hemoglobin A1c, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein, and diurnal cortisol slope. Results Adverse AL health-risk profiles were significantly more prevalent among African-American women compared with non-Hispanic Whites, with Latinas intermediate. Breastfeeding was protective, particularly for White women. Complications of pregnancy were associated with higher AL, and disparities persisted or worsened through the first year postpartum. Conclusion Adverse AL profiles occurred in a substantial proportion of postpartum women, and disparities did not improve from birth to 1 year. Breastfeeding was protective for the mother.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-484
Author(s):  
Rebecca Reno

Background: Increasing breastfeeding rates among low-income African American women may work toward the achievement of health equity. The dynamic breastfeeding assessment process (D-BAP) is a community-grounded, equity-focused intervention designed to increase prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy. Research aim: The aims of the pilot study were (a) to determine the effect of the D-BAP on breastfeeding self-efficacy among pregnant, low-income African American women, (b) to examine the findings among women with no previous breastfeeding experience, and (c) to compare the findings between women with prior breastfeeding experience and those without it. Methods: A pre/post, paired-samples design was utilized. Convenience sampling was used to recruit pregnant, low-income African American women ( N = 25). Participants completed the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form prior to and following the D-BAP. Results: The Wilcoxon signed rank test indicated that participation in the D-BAP had a statistically significant influence on breastfeeding self-efficacy ( z = −2.01, p = .04). Among a subsample of participants with no previous breastfeeding experience ( n = 12), completion of the D-BAP resulted in a statistically significant increase in breastfeeding self-efficacy ( z = −2.36, p = .02). There was no statistically significant difference between those with prior breastfeeding experience and those without it. Conclusion: Breastfeeding among low-income African American women is a health equity issue for which culturally responsive, effective breastfeeding interventions are needed. This research demonstrates an association between completion of the D-BAP and an increase in prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-91
Author(s):  
Christa Haifley

Economic abuse is another form of intimate partner violence (IPV) used by batterers to maintain power and control over their partners which often goes unreported, unrealized, and under-supported by IPV survivor advocates. Economic abuse is misunderstood as an IPV and is often incorrectly considered a financial crime, financial fraud, or white-collar crime. Economic abuse impacts the victim’s short and long-term physical and mental well-being in efforts to achieve economic wellness for basic living conditions as well as job placement and professional development opportunities. Healthy minds fuel healthy bodies and economic self-efficacy contributes to both mental and physical health. The awareness and impact of economic abuse is grossly understudied, lacking empirical evidence on victims and survivors of economic self-sufficiency during and at the conclusion of an abusive relationship. The current research has primarily collected and reported data on heterosexual women, leaving a gap in the research regarding the impact of economic abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships. This paper serves as a literature review into current economic abuse research by discussing three constructs: economic control, economic exploitation, and employment sabotage as well as possible solutions for educational opportunities and financial self-efficacy. Further research is needed to raise awareness and provide financial literacy to IPV survivors in all gender communities.


1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Kevin Hamberger ◽  
Theresa Potente

With increasing emphasis in recent years on mandatory arrest for partner violence, there has been a concomitant increase in the number of females arrested for assaulting their partners. The present paper describes the process one community experienced to understand and appropriately intervene with women who had been arrested for domestic violence and referred to court-mandated treatment. Issues related to conceptualization of the problem, identifying intervention goals and defining the intervention targets were discussed. Research with the community sample of domestically violent indicated most were motivated by a need to defend themselves from their partner’s assaults, or are retaliating for previous batterings. As such, the intervention focused on issues of victimization and oppression. It is further suggested that intervention programs for domestically violent women must take place in the context of a broader community intervention which involves training and interaction with law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to determine criteria for arrest and prosecution of battered women when they fight back to protect themselves.


2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela M. Costa ◽  
Brittany Canady ◽  
Julia C. Babcock

The current study investigated the reliability of a new self-report questionnaire assessing accountability for the perpetration of intimate partner violence. The Accountability Scale (AS) is a brief, Likert-type measure designed to assess the degree to which perpetrators acknowledge and accept responsibility for their violent actions. In Study #1, an exploratory factor analysis on a clinical sample revealed two factors: Acknowledging Harm and Internalizing Responsibility. In Study #2, the factor structure was replicated on a community sample using confirmatory factor analysis, revealing an 11-item solution. Factor 1 was related to readiness to change but negatively related to social desirability, suggesting convergent and discriminant validity of that subscale. Factor 2 was negatively related to Factor 1 in the community sample, calling into question the construct of accountability. Preliminary evidence suggests that the AS shows promise as a brief and reliable tool to assess forms of accountability. Future research will examine if the two factors of accountability function as mechanisms of change and outcome measures in intimate partner violence intervention research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1103-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen W. Arnold

Nuisance property laws, which fine people for excessive 911 calls, have become increasingly popular in cities of all sizes. However, research into how these laws affect battered women is still in its early stages. This research study was designed to address the question of whether nuisance property laws harm battered women and, if so, how. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 primarily low-income African American battered women in St. Louis metropolitan area who had come into contact with a nuisance property law because of domestic violence. Interviews addressed circumstances of contact with a nuisance law, the response of law enforcement officials, and how the law affected the participant’s housing, ability to call 911, sense of safety, finances, access to health care, and family stability. Using a multi-stage qualitative analytic procedure, each transcript was coded for themes and then descriptive categories developed for each theme. The data demonstrate that nuisance property laws harm victims of domestic violence in several ways, including by hindering their access to safe and secure housing, discouraging them from calling 911, increasing their vulnerability to violence, and compounding the trauma of the intimate partner violence. This research also reveals ways in which nuisance laws reinforce gender, race, and class inequality. The findings show that nuisance property laws enhance the abuser’s power over his victim, hold victims accountable for the abuse, exacerbate the class- and race-based risks many battered women already face, and obscure the real crime of domestic violence. Policy makers need to be informed of these consequences so that they can take action to reform nuisance laws.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 368-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia E. Barbosa ◽  
Saba W. Masho ◽  
Kellie E. Carlyle ◽  
Maghboeba Mosavel

Background: Positive deviant individuals practice beneficial behaviors in spite of having qualities characterizing them as high risk for unhealthy behaviors. Objective: This study aimed to identify and understand factors distinguishing low-income African American women who breastfeed the longest (positive deviants) from those who breastfeed for a shorter duration or do not breastfeed. Methods: Seven mini-focus groups on infant-feeding attitudes and experiences were conducted with 25 low-income African American women, grouped by infant-feeding practice. Positive deviants, who had breastfed for 4 months or more, were compared with formula-feeding participants who had only formula fed their babies and short-term breastfeeding participants who had breastfed for 3 months or less. Results: Positive deviant women had more schooling, higher income, breastfeeding intention, positive breastfeeding and unfavorable formula-feeding attitudes, higher self-efficacy, positive hospital and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children experiences, more exclusive breastfeeding, and greater comfort breastfeeding in public. Short-term breastfeeding women varied in breastfeeding intention and self-efficacy, seemed to receive insufficient professional breastfeeding support, and supplemented breastfeeding with formula. Some showed ambivalence, concern with unhealthy behaviors, and discomfort with breastfeeding in public. Formula-feeding women intended to formula feed, feared breastfeeding, thought their behaviors were incompatible with breastfeeding, were comfortable with and found formula convenient, and received strong support to formula feed. Conclusion: Tapping into the strengths of positive deviants; tailoring interventions to levels of general and breastfeeding self-efficacy; increasing social, institutional, and community supports; and removing inappropriate formula promotion may offer promising strategies to increase breastfeeding among low-income African American women.


2022 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 174550652110705
Author(s):  
Tiara C Willie ◽  
Laurel Sharpless ◽  
Mauda Monger ◽  
Trace S Kershaw ◽  
Wendy B Mahoney ◽  
...  

Background: Survivors of intimate partner violence are at elevated risk for HIV acquisition, yet there is limited research on the best strategies to optimize biomedical HIV prevention, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis among this population. Domestic violence agencies are critical collaborating partners and function as potential entry points into HIV prevention services for survivors; however, limited knowledge regarding HIV prevention has been an important barrier to advocate-led discussions. This study aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate an HIV prevention intervention for domestic violence advocates. Setting: A nonrandomized, group-based intervention with pre-intervention, immediate post-intervention, and 3-month post-intervention periods were conducted with multiple domestic violence agencies in Mississippi. Methods: Overall, 25 domestic violence advocates participated in the two-session intervention. Surveys were administered to assess pre-exposure prophylaxis knowledge, self-efficacy, subjective norms, and willingness to provide HIV prevention services to intimate partner violence survivors. Generalized estimating equations were conducted to assess change in behavioral outcomes over time. Results: Compared to pre-intervention, there were significant increases at immediate and 3-month post-intervention in advocates’ intervention acceptability, pre-exposure prophylaxis knowledge, and self-efficacy to provide HIV prevention information, discuss pre-exposure prophylaxis eligibility criteria, assist pre-exposure prophylaxis-engaged clients, and initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis counseling. Conclusion: This group-based intervention enhanced domestic violence advocates’ acceptability, pre-exposure prophylaxis knowledge, and self-efficacy to offer HIV care information, discuss pre-exposure prophylaxis eligibility, assist pre-exposure prophylaxis-engaged survivors, and initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis counseling with intimate partner violence survivors. Efforts should focus on training domestic violence advocates in HIV prevention care for survivors and also include these agencies in collaborative strategies to reduce HIV incidence.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marnette Bender ◽  
Sarah Cook ◽  
Nadine Kaslow

Mediating effects of social support on the link between childhood maltreatment and adult intimate partner violence (IPV) were explored in a sample of 362 low-income, African American women. We examined relations between childhood maltreatment experiences (total maltreatment, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect) and adult maltreatment (physical IPV and nonphysical IPV). Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed small, but significant, effects. Further, social support mediated revictimization. Social support fully mediated relations in which the form of childhood maltreatment was different than the form of adult IPV (e.g., the relation between childhood sexual abuse and adult nonphysical IPV), but only partially mediated the relations in which the form of childhood maltreatment was similar to adult IPV (e.g., the relation between childhood emotional abuse and adult nonphysical IPV). Implications for clinical interventions for women with intimate partner violence experiences are discussed.


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