Help-seeking for intimate partner violence and forced sex in South Carolina

PURPOSE: In this population-based, random-digit-dial, cross-sectional survey, we assessed the lifetime victimization of intimate partner violence (IPV) and forced or coerced sex among 556 women and men in South Carolina, and the help-seeking behaviors of victims. RESULTS: Among women, 25.3% experienced IPV (sexual, physical, or emotional violence) compared with 13.2% of men. Although women were significantly more likely to report physical or sexual IPV (17.8%) than were men (4.9%), men (8.3%) were as likely as women (7.4%) to report perceived emotional abuse without physical or sexual IPV. One half of men and women with annual incomes <$15, 000 reported IPV. Among women experiencing physical or sexual IPV, 53% sought community-based or professional services for IPV; women with higher education levels and those experiencing more severe violence were most likely to seek services. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that IPV is common and that most victims do not receive services to address this violence.     

The role of the spouse in regulating one's drinking

This article examines the relationship between experiences of external influence from spouses and partners to influence one's drinking and one's own concern over drinking; whether spouse's control attempts and concern over one's own drinking are in congruence; how the level of drinking and the frequency of drinking to intoxication and the estimate of the spouse's level of drinking are related, for women and men belonging to different sociodemographic groups. Using data from the 2000 Finnish Drinking Habit Survey (n?=?1337), our results show that (1) drinking habits – especially drinking large quantities on a single occasion – are strongly related to both external control from the spouse and one's own concern about drinking and (2) there are significant differences between genders in the level of control from the spouse and concern over one's own drinking habit. These results are important when planning treatment and prevention for drinkers and their families.     

The health impacts of international migration on Mexican women

Abstract

Mexican migration to the USA is a phenomenon that affects a significant number of Mexican households. In the area of health, considerable research has been devoted to international migrants, but less is known about the health impacts of migration on other household members, particularly the wives of migrants. I used data from the Mexican Migration Project to investigate the health impacts of having a migrant husband. As part of my analysis I explored the relationship between the husbands’ migration and several health conditions and behaviours among the wives. In contrast to existing research on the subject, I also considered whether the amount of time the husband spent in the US mediates the relationship between migration and health. Finally, I addressed the possibility that the wives of migrants differ in their initial health endowments from the wives of non-migrants. I found that despite having similar initial health endowments, the wives of migrants have poorer mental health, a higher prevalence of heart disease, and they are more likely to be obese or overweight than the wives of non-migrants.     

Spouses' satisfaction with caregiver support in stroke rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE: To examine the satisfaction of spouses of stroke patients with the support given to them during clinical rehabilitation and to explore the relationships between satisfaction and characteristics of the support received. METHODS: Spouses of patients with a first-ever supratentorial stroke were included (n = 194). Satisfaction was measured on a 0-10 scale. Bivariate and multivariate relationships were studied between overall satisfaction score and characteristics of the support provided (number of full days of attendance, participation in caregiver group, discipline providing most support), the spouses (age, gender, family situation, education and employment) and the patients (activity of daily living (ADL) dependency (Functional Independence Measure), length of stay). RESULTS: The median satisfaction score was 7, and 44% of all spouses scored >or=8 (very satisfied) but 23% were dissatisfied. Spouses' and patients' characteristics and satisfaction scores were not associated. Of the support characteristics the number of full days of attendance (p = 0.02), participation in a caregiver group (p = 0.006) and support received from a team member (p = 0.000) were related to satisfaction. No differences in spouses' satisfaction scores were found between the participating rehabilitation centres. Only 39% of the spouses participated in a caregiver group. The most important reason for not participating in such a group was not being aware of the opportunity to take part in a group (49%). Spouses participating in a group showed more depressive symptoms and had a more severely disabled partner. Caregiver support was primarily given by the nurse and the social worker. One in five spouses indicated not to have been supported at all by the rehabilitation team. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of the caregivers were satisfied with the care they had received, although one in four was dissatisfied. Satisfaction was related to support characteristics.     

Spousal experiences of coping with and adapting to caregiving for a partner who has a stroke: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research

Abstract

Purpose: This meta-synthesis was conducted to explore qualitative spousal accounts of coping and adaptation to caregiving when their partner experienced a stroke. Method: Electronic databases were searched systematically and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The meta-synthesis was conducted using guidance from Sandelowski and Barroso to extract salient data relating to coping and adaptation. Results: Twelve papers were identified for inclusion and seven themes resultant themes were extracted: Seeking information; Searching for own space and well-being; Suffering in silence; Putting one’s own needs aside; Adapting to a changed role; Social support and Hope and Optimism: instilling a positive focus. Conclusions: The findings suggested spouses adopt a range of adaptive coping strategies although several barriers to these were also identified and discussed in relation to a number of clinical implications. The limitations of this meta-synthesis were discussed, together with recommendations for future research.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Respite care for partner-carers is important for their well-being and there is a need to improve the availability and quality of such provision.

• It is important to provide stroke-related information and training in practical care tasks, preferably before their partner is discharged home from hospital, in order to avoid leaving spouses feeling vulnerable and unprepared.

• The positive adapting mechanisms identified within this review can be drawn on by clinicians to inform their interactions with stroke spousal carers and to advise them in strategies which have helped their counterparts.

     

女性精神分裂症病人配偶心理健康状况与社会支持的相关性研究

[目的]探讨女性精神分裂症病人配偶的心理健康状况，以及其与社会支持的关系。[方法]应用症状自评量表（SCL-90）及社会支持评定量表（SSAS）对60名女性精神分裂症病人的配偶（观察组）及60名正常女性的配偶（对照组）进行评定。[结果]观察组SCL-90总分及各因子评分均高于对照组（P〈0．05或P〈0．01），而社会支持总分及客观支持、主观支持、支持利用度评分则低于对照组（P〈0．01）。女性精神分裂症病人配偶的SCL-90总分及各因子评分与社会支持总分及客观支持、主观支持、支持利用度评分均呈负相关。[结论]女性精神分裂症病人配偶的心理健康状况较差。与社会支持有关。     

维持性血液透析病人配偶生活质量调查

[目的]了解维持性血液透析病人配偶生活质量，以期在今后的临床护理工作中对病人配偶进行相应的心理干预。[方法]应用生活质量综合评定问卷对98例维持性血液透析病人配偶及62名已婚正常对照者进行评定。[结果]维持性血液透析病人配偶的总体生活质量及躯体功能、心理功能、社会功能、物质生活均较正常对照组差，其中以心理健康和躯体健康对生活质量的影响最大。[结论]维持性血液透析病人配偶的生活质量较正常对照组差，并涉及身心健康多个方面。     

The long-term social and economic impact of HIV on the spouses of infected individuals in northern Malawi

Objective To assess the social and economic impact of HIV‐related illness and death on the spouses of HIV‐infected individuals. Methods From population‐based surveys in the 1980s in Karonga district, northern Malawi, 197 ‘index individuals’ were identified as HIV‐positive. A total of 396 HIV‐negative ‘index individuals’ were selected as a comparison group. These individuals, and their spouses and children, were followed up in 1998–2000, in a retrospective cohort study. All analyses compared spouses of HIV‐positive indexes with those of HIV‐negative indexes. Results By 1998–2000, most marriages involving an HIV‐positive index individual had ended in widowhood. Twenty‐Six percent of the wives of HIV‐positive index men experienced household dissolution precipitated by widowhood, compared with 5% of the wives of HIV‐negative index men. Corresponding percentages for husbands of index women were 14% and 1%. Widow inheritance was uncommon. The remarriage rate among separated or widowed wives of HIV‐positive index men was half that of such wives of HIV‐negative index men. About 30% of surviving wives of HIV‐positive index men were household heads at the time of follow‐up, compared with 5% of such wives of HIV‐negative index men. Almost all these women were widows who lost their husband when >35 years old, and they had relatively few household assets. Conclusions The social and economic impact of HIV on the spouses of HIV‐infected individuals in rural northern Malawi is substantial. Interventions that strengthen society’s ability to absorb and support widows and widowers, and their dependents, without necessarily involving the traditional coping mechanism of remarriage, are essential.