Battered women in shelters: The contribution of environmental and personality resources to the decline in mental distress.

The phenomenon of intimate partner violence against women is a social issue existing in all corners of the world, regardless of religion, culture, and socioeconomic status (Maziak & Asfar, 2003; Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000; Walker, 1994). Exposure to partner violence affects nearly all areas of a woman’s life, most prominently her mental health (Campbell, 2002; Coolidge & Anderson, 2002; Stein & Kennedy, 2000). Among the most common mental disorders are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression (Golding, 1999; Radford & Hester, 2001; Raphael, 1999).

            One of the most notable responses to the issue of domestic violence is the women’s shelter (George, Grossman, Lundy, Rumpf, & Crabtree-Nelson, 2010). While the shelter is much acclaimed, critics claim that shelters maintain patriarchal patterns detrimental to a woman's mental well-being (Haj-Yahia & Cohen, 2009; Srinivasan & Davis, 1991; Tutty, Weaver, & Rothery, 1999). Thus, the question arises whether staying of victims of domestic violence shelters indeed contributes to a reduction in mental distress. While the effect staying in shelters on women has been well-documented (Paynton and Sali, 1988; Cannon, & Sparks, 1989; Gorge et al., 2010; Itzaky & Ben Porat, 2005; Sullivan & Rumptz, 1994), relatively few studies relate to the processes of change in the intensity of the symptoms of mental distress during their stay in shelters and the factors contributing to these processes.

            The current study is based on the model of the Conservation of Resources Theory.  According to this theory, mental distress is created as a result of loss, the threat thereof, or the inability to obtain resources (Hobfoll, 1989; 2001). In accordance with this model, the study sought to examine the change in the mental distress of women in shelters (PTSD and depression) with variables on two different levels: environmental resources (the extent of receipt of services and social support from the peer group in the shelter) and a personality-oriented resource (the sense of control). Additionally examined was the change in the resource of the woman’s sense of control and the contribution of background variables and duration of stay in the shelter, the sense of mortal danger and the history of the woman’s exposure to violence to the decrease in mental distress. Moreover, the study raised and examined the question of whether a particular kind of service within the shelter (be it concrete, legal, or psychological) contributes more significantly to a reduction in the woman's mental distress as compared to other types.

            The study’s hypotheses are that following a stay at a shelter, the level of mental distress of women will decline and their sense of control will increase. Also hypothesized is that the greater the degree of receipt of services in the shelter, of social support by a peer group, and of the sense of control, the more symptoms of mental distress will decrease. Moreover, it was hypothesized that connections would be found between the women's background and their history of exposure to violence to the mental distress decrease.

            The study population comprised 104 women from 12 domestic violence shelters in Israel. The data was collected as part of a wider study by Prof. Haya Yitzhaki, Prof. Rachel Dekel, and Dr. Anat Ben-Porat of the School of Social Work at Bar Ilan University. The measures included a questionnaires about the woman’s demographic information, the severity of violence (Eisikovits et al., 2004), PTSD (Solomon & Horesh, 2007), depression (Derogatis, 1993), the degree of acceptance of services (Lyon, Lane, & Menard, 2008), social support from peer group (Rantz , 2008) and sense of control (Hobfoll & Wolfish, 1984).

The study’s hypotheses were confirmed in part. With regards to the symptoms of psychological distress: it was found that the intensity of symptoms of mental distress decreased. It was also found that the incidence of mental distress amongst victims of domestic violence in shelters is relatively high as compared to the general populace in Israel. With regards to environmental resources: furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between social support from peer groups and the intensity of the decrease in symptoms of depression. With regards to personality-oriented resources: an increase was found in the women's sense of control. A significant positive correlation was found between the increase in the sense of control and the decrease in the intensity of symptoms of mental distress. With regards to the woman’s history of exposure to violence: amongst women who were sexually abused in their past, it was found that the decline in the intensity of symptoms of mental distress was higher. A negative correlation was found between the sense of mortal danger and a decrease in the symptoms of PTSD. With regards to the background variables: it was found that amongst Muslim women, the reduction in symptoms of PTSD was lower than amongst Jewish women.

From the findings of the study it appears that Israeli shelters achieve their goals rehabilitation and constitute an important link in the therapeutic sequence for female victims of domestic violence. However, the rate of psychological distress of female victims of domestic violence is significantly higher than that of the general population and investment is required in the processes of recovery and rehabilitation. With respect to environmental resources, it appears that merely having women stay together and the relationships that subsequently develop (social support from a peer group) contribute to their psychological rehabilitation, so it is important to design shelters with an atmosphere and conditions that encourage interaction among women. Also, therapeutic assistance within the shelter is a significant resource for the reduction of symptoms of depression and it is important to continue to develop therapeutic responses in the shelter. With respect to personality-oriented resources, an increase in the sense of control of women is essential to their mental distress reduction and it is the responsibility of therapy elements in shelters to work towards increasing women's sense of control. In their attempt to reduce psychological distress of women, the shelters must give special attention to the three sub-populations which became evident in the study: female victims of past sexual assault, women with a high sense of mortal danger and Muslim women.