Dana DeHart

Pathways to Prison Impact of Victimization in the Lives of Incarcerated Women

This study examines ways in which victimization may contribute to criminal involvement among incarcerated women. The authors conduct interviews with 60 women in a maximum-security prison to gather each womans perspective on psychological, physical, and sexual victimization in her life. Qualitative analyses indicate ways that victimization relates directly to womens crimes as well as influences health, psychosocial functioning, or systemic involvement to create difficult situations with which the women struggle. Case histories are used to illustrate pervasive impacts of victimization, and the roles of multiple traumas and cumulative impact are discussed.

Defining Psychological Abuse of Husbands Toward Wives Contexts, Behaviors, and Typologies

Little consensus exists regarding which particular behaviors constitute psychological abuse. In this study, a national sample of psychologists rated behaviors by a husband toward his wife as to whether each behavior constituted psychological abuse. For behaviors viewed as “possibly abusive,” psychologists indicated whether their judgments would depend on contextual factors of frequency/duration, intent to harm by the perpetrator, and/or perception of harm by the victim. Frequency/duration was more influential than intent to harm or perception of harm in determining whether a behavior was viewed as abusive. Cluster analyses revealed conceptual groups that were labeled (a) threats to physical health; (b) control over physical freedoms; (c) destabilization through intimidation, degradation, isolation/monopolizing, and control; (d) dominating/controlling behaviors; and (e) “inept” relationship behaviors. Threats to physical health, control over physical freedoms, and destabilization were most likely to be perceived as psychological abuse, whereas inept behaviors were rarely viewed as inherently abusive.

Trying to practice safer sex: Development of the sexual risks scale

Psychometric techniques were used for the development of a theoretically‐based measure of constructs related to safer sexual activity. A pilot study and two studies using college student samples were conducted to derive, retain, and validate scale items. The final 38‐item scale is comprised of subscales measuring attitudes about safer sex, normative beliefs, intention to try to practice safer sex, expectations about the feasibility of safer sexual activity, perceived susceptibility to HIV/AIDS, and substance use. Each subscale contributed to the prediction of critical theoretical constructs, accounting for about 40% of the variance in intention to try to practice safer sex and for about one fifth of the variance in self‐reported HIV risk behavior. The final scale, as well as each subscale, was characterized by internal reliability and both construct and predictive validity.

Predictors of Attrition in a Treatment Program for Battering Men

This study examines factors associated with the high attrition rate in treatment programs for men who batter. In accord with past research, we expected demographic variables of age, race, employment status, relationship status, and socioeconomic status to predict attrition. We also hypothesized that attitudinal and personality variables, as well as contextual/program variables, might account for attrition more parsimoniously. Specifically, we hypothesized that attrition would be predicted by frequency and severity of violence, denial of a problem with violence, rigidity of thinking, low levels of self-disclosure, and higher anxiety and constriction in social situations. In addition, we predicted attrition would relate to dependency, maladaptive personality styles, and expectations regarding group counseling (e.g., whether treatment is perceived as aversive). Finally, we proposed that attrition would relate to whether batterer participation in treatment was self-motivated or the result of external pressures. Participants were 61 men enrolled in a batterer treatment program in a mid-sized city. Analyses of variance and discriminant analyses indicated that program attrition was unrelated to demographic, attitudinal, or personality variables. Only the contextual/program variables of mileage traveled to attend and external monitoring of attendance significantly differentiated treatment rejecters, drop-outs, and treatment continuers. Findings are discussed with regard to intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors. Future directions for exploration are discussed.

Life History Models of Female Offending The Roles of Serious Mental Illness and Trauma in Women’s Pathways to Jail

Our mixed-methods study advances understanding of pathways to offending for jailed women with and without mental illness. Life history interviews with 115 women from five U.S. states examined how onset of crime and delinquency varied based on mental health status and trauma exposure. Women in jails had high rates of mental health disorders, with a majority meeting lifetime diagnostic criteria for a serious mental illness (50%), posttraumatic stress disorder (51%), and/or substance use disorder (85%). Cox regression analyses were utilized to examine associations between life experiences and risk of engaging in specific criminalized behaviors. Serious mental illness was associated with substance use, running away as a teen, and drug offending. Substance use disorder was related to earlier onset of substance use and driving under the influence. Intimate partner violence increased women’s risks for property crimes, drug offending, and commercial sex work. Witnessing violence increased risks for property crimes, fighting, and use of weapons. Experiences of caregiver violence increased the risk of running away as a teen. Qualitative narratives were reviewed to provide insight into connections between women’s experiences and onset of criminal behavior. Findings demonstrate a need for gender-responsive and trauma-informed practices to address mental disorders and victimization among women offenders.

Psychologists' judgments of psychologically aggressive actions when perpetrated by a husband versus a wife

Research literature suggests that clinical judgments of men’s versus women’s behavior and symptoms typically rate the men as more pathological and dangerous. To determine whether this view would extend to assessments of psychologically aggressive actions, two separate versions of a survey listing potentially psychologically abusive behaviors perpetrated by either a wife toward her husband or the identical actions perpetrated by a husband toward his wife were sent to a nationwide sampling of practicing psychologists. Results indicated that psychologists, irrespective of demographics, rated the husband’s behavior as more likely to be psychologically abusive and more severe in nature than the wife’s use of the same actions. Psychologists did not differentially rely on any of the three contextual factors (i.e., frequency/duration, intent of the perpetrator, and perception of the recipient) to influence their determination that a behavior was “psychological abuse” dependent upon whether the initiator of the psychological actions was the husband or the wife. Future research could assess more directly the rationale for the psychologists’ differing views of male versus female behavior. In addition, more normative information is needed to inform mental health professionals as to the prevalence and severity of psychologically aggressive actions in the general population.

Treatment Access Barriers and Disparities Among Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: An Integrative Literature Review

The purpose of this integrative review is to examine and synthesize extant literature pertaining to barriers to substance abuse and mental health treatment for persons with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD). Electronic searches were conducted using ten scholarly databases. Thirty-six articles met inclusion criteria and were examined for this review. Narrative review of these articles resulted in the identification of two primary barriers to treatment access for individuals with COD: personal characteristics barriers and structural barriers. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed. In particular, additional studies on marginalized sub-populations are needed, specifically those that examine barriers to treatment access among older, non-White, non-heterosexual populations.

Institutional Responses to Self-Injurious Behavior Among Inmates

To date, little research has systematically investigated perceptions of mental health professionals regarding motivations for self-injury among prison inmates. To help fill this gap, the authors used descriptive techniques to examine self-injurious behavior among inmates from the perspective of correctional mental health professionals. A quantitative survey assessed perceptions of mental health staff regarding etiology, motivations, and manifestations of self-injury. A qualitative interview component was used to explicate responses from the survey. Inmate cutting, scratching, opening old wounds, and inserting objects were the most commonly witnessed behaviors. Findings suggest that self-injury occurred regularly and that a subset of inmates are responsible for recurrent events. Mental health professionals perceived the motivation for inmate self-injury to be both manipulative and a coping mechanism. They described current management strategies and corresponding needs for training and resources.

Family Influences on Female Offenders' Substance Use: The Role of Adverse Childhood Events among Incarcerated Women

Childhood maltreatment, witnessing violence, and growing up with absent, addicted, or mentally ill caregivers influence adult physical and psychological well-being and may play an important role in female offending. This study utilizes data from a study of 60 incarcerated women to examine a possible intervening variable in the victimization-crime relationship. We conduct qualitative analyses to examine family influences on substance use among female offenders. Findings indicate that substance use may arise from a need to cope with child victimization and adversity, and that factors such as poor parental supervision may contribute to girls’ substance use. After onset of drug use, many women may turn to further criminal activity to support their habits. Implications for research and intervention are addressed.

Poly-Victimization Among Girls in the Justice System: Trajectories of Risk and Associations to Juvenile Offending

Life History Calendars and the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire were used to collect data from 100 delinquent girls to (a) examine range and co-occurrence of different types of violence over the life span, (b) examine independent and cumulative trajectories of risk for varied types of victimization, and (c) examine the relationship of victimization to girls’ offending. Risk trajectories demonstrate critical risk periods for different forms of violence exposure. Cox regression was used to examine the predictive value of different forms of violence exposure for the onset of delinquent and criminal behavior. Findings illuminate the need for programs addressing substance use and alternative coping mechanisms.