Disclosure, intimate partner violence, and workplace assistance

Date

2003-05

Authors

Hall, Iva L. Haynes

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the rate of disclosure of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the associated type and extent of assistance received. The differences associated with factors, such as, demographics, severity of violence, level of danger, harassment, and occurrence of stalking, to disclosure of the IPV to the employer were examined, along with the relationship factors between the presence of a registered nurse or physician at the workplace, and the existence of an employee assistance program. The data were collected by interviewing women from a sample of 112 employed multiethnic women that was stratified into two groups, those who disclosed (n = 79, 70%) and those who did not disclose (n = 33, 30%). No statistically significant difference was found between the ages, education, ethnicity or income of the two groups in relation to their rate of disclosure. Although no statistical significance was found, it was clinically significant that the women in the disclosed group experienced more harassment by their abuser, were reprimanded more, and missed more work than the women of the did not disclose group. The disclosed and non disclosed groups were statistically similar in terms of their mean scores for threats, actual violence, stalking, danger, and worksite harassment. None of these factors influenced the rate of disclosure. Neither the presence of a doctor, nurse or EAP influenced the rate of disclosure. In response to the women's disclose, employers provided assistance including time off from work, advice to seek assistance, and emotional support.

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Keywords

Psychology, Disclosure, Domestic violence, Intimate partner violence, Worklplace assistance

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