The Nature and Extent of Recurring Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States

Abstract

Physicians play a key part in society’s response to violence against women. Their professional role affords them the opportunity to talk privately with women, identify victims of abuse, and offer support. However physicians’ own history of victimization may undermine their ability to assist battered women. We used an anonymous, selfreport survey to describe the violence history of students enrolled at a medical school, and explore the relationship between students’ violence history, current well being, help seeking, and expected future impact on education and clinical care of patients. Valid surveys were returned by 472 of 810 students. 53% reported experiencing one or more forms of severe violence (30% reported severe child physical abuse; 6% child sexual abuse by a family member; 13% child sexual abuse by a non-family member; 22% severe partner violence; 7% adult sexual assault). Participants with a history of severe violence were more likely to report feeling downhearted and blue. Some participants with a severe violence history reported that these experiences would interfere with their ability to feel good about themselves (32%), develop relationships (38%), work effectively (11%), participate in courses dealing with violence and abuse (15%), and assist patients with experiences similar to their own (18%). Women students experienced more severe physical and sexual violence, and expected more future difficulties in their personal and work life. Results are discussed in the context of the history of gender discrimination in medicine, and the need for new methods for training physicians to identify and assist victims of partner violence.