Violence & Disability: 15 Recent Studies

This post lists 15 studies on the relationship between abuse and disability that were published in 2008 and 2009. A brief description of each study is reported.

1. Domestic violence and women with disabilities: locating the issue on the periphery of social movements Author(s): Nixon J  Source: DISABILITY & SOCIETY Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Pages: 77-89 Published: 2009 This is a review paper that discusses the reasons that intimate partner violence against women with disabilities has received only minimal attention. It suggests that compound oppression may be an important reason for the limited attention given this issue…..

2. Racial/ethnic variation in the relationship between physical limitation and fear of crime: an examination of mediating and moderating factors Author(s): Taylor J, Eitle D, Russell D. Source: DEVIANT BEHAVIOR Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Pages: 144-174 Published: 2009 This is a complex study that considers race and age as they predict the strength of the relationship between physical limitations and fear of violence. The findings are complicated but generally suggest an interaction among factors and role of disability related stigma.

3. End the Silence: A Survey of Abuse Against Men with Disabilities Author(s): Powers LE, Curry MA, McNeff E, et al. Source: JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION Volume: 74 Issue: 4 Pages: 41-53 Published: OCT-DEC 2008 In this survey, 342 men with disabilities (a variety of physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities, mostly 83% physical disabilities but including some with cognitive disabilities) who used personal assistance services were participants. Since acquiring their disabilities, 55% had experienced physical abuse and 24% had experienced sexual abuse (these rates are similar to the rates reported by women with disabilities). Within the last year, 8.5% had been physically abused and 2.5% had been sexually abused. Men with cognitive disabilities were much more likely to experience several categories of abuse, for example they were 2.5 times as likely as  other men to report being hit, kicked or slapped. There are lots more interesting results in this study.

4. Eyewitness Memory and Eyewitness Identification Performance in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Author(s): Ternes M, Yuille JC Source: JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES Volume: 21 Issue: 6 Pages: 519-531 Published: NOV 2008 This study compares witnesses with intellectual disabilities with control a control group on identifying an individual in a lineup. It does identify some performance deficits among witnesses with intellectual disabilities but concludes that they can be satisfactory witnesses, particularly if care is taken to prevent leading the witness.

5. Chronic Pain in Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Author(s): Wuest J, Merritt-Gray M, Ford-Gilboe M, et al. Source: JOURNAL OF PAIN Volume: 9 Issue: 11 Pages: 1049-1057 Published: NOV 2008 This study assessed chronic pain among 292 women who had separated from an violently abusive partners. Chronic pain was a frequent finding in this group, resulting in significant disability in about 30% of the participants.

6. ‘I didn’t violent punch him’: parental accounts of punishing children with mental health problems Author(s): O’Reilly M Source: JOURNAL OF FAMILY THERAPY Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Pages: 272-295 Published: AUG 2008 This study how parents of children with emotional-behavioral disorders construct descriptions of how they discipline their children.

7. Sexual Harassment Among Students With Educational Disabilities Perspectives of Special Educators Author(s): Young EL, Heath MA, Ashbaker BY, et al. Source: REMEDIAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Pages: 208-221 Published: JUL-AUG 2008 In this study 129 special education teacher in Utah were surveyed on their observation of and perspectives on sexual harassment of special education students. 92% of these teachers had observed at least one incident. Male students were more frequently the aggressors, but male and female students were approximately equally likely to be victims.

8. The high risk of IPV against Canadian women with disabilities Author(s): Brownridge DA, Ristock J, Hiebert-Murphy D Source: MEDICAL SCIENCE MONITOR Volume: 14 Issue: 5 Pages: PH27-PH32 Published: MAY 2008 See previous description on icad.

9. On intimacy, sexual activities and exposure to sexual abuse among children and adolescents with mobility impairment Author(s): Jemta L, Fugl-Meyer KS, Oberg K Source: ACTA PAEDIATRICA Volume: 97 Issue: 5 Pages: 641-646 Published: MAY 2008 This study describes both normal sexual behavior and sexual abuse experiences of youth with mobility impairments.

10. National study of physical and sexual assault among women with disabilities Author(s): Casteel C, Martin SL, Smith JB, et al. Source: INJURY PREVENTION Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Pages: 87-90 Published: APR 2008 This study was based on data from the 1995-1996 national study of violence against women. Women with severe disabilities were four times as likely to report beings sexually assaulted as women without disabilities.

11. Profiles of women who have mental retardation with and without a documented history of abuse Author(s): Hickson L, Khemka I, Golden H, et al. Source: AMERICAN JOURNAL ON MENTAL RETARDATION Volume: 113 Issue: 2 Pages: 133-142 Published:MAR 2008 Women with intellectual disabilities who had experienced documented history of abuse within the last five years were  compared to women with intellectual disabilities without known abuse history. Women with this history of abuse were more likely to be employ passive/avoidant decision-making strategies. They reported higher levels of stress and  had more dual diagnoses.

12. Disability, gender and intimate partner violence: Relationships from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system Author(s): Smith DL Source: SEXUALITY AND DISABILITY Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Pages: 15-28 Published: MAR 2008 Compares rates of abuse among women with disabilities with rates among women without disabilities an men with disabilities.

13. Repeated interviews with children who have intellectual disabilities Author(s): Cederborg AC, La Rooy D, Lamb ME Source: JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Pages: 103-113 Published: MAR 2008 Nineteen children with intellectual disabilities were interviewed repeatedly about abuse, repeated interviews provided substantial additional information that was not gathered in the first interview.

14. Disability and child abuse: an introduction to study review Author(s): Jarosz E Source: NEW EDUCATIONAL REVIEW Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Pages: 15-28 Published: 2008 This is a systematic review of studies of the connection between child abuse and disability. The authors conclude that a clear association has been demonstrated but the association is complex and sophisticated.

15. Examining the impact of physical and sexual abuse on the employment of women with disabilities in the United States: An exploratory analysis Author(s): Smith DL, Strauser DR Source: DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION Volume: 30 Issue: 14 Pages: 1039-1046 Published: 2008 This study looks at the relationship between women with disabilities history of abuse and their employment. An association is found between abuse and unemployment among women with disabilities.

icad will post updates on research from time to time.

Tags: Abuse & Disability, Caregiver violence, intellectual disability, Intimate partner violence, Research