Lisa Shannon

Factors associated with substance use during pregnancy: results from a national sample.

OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence and correlates of substance use during pregnancy among women in the United States. METHODS We analyzed data from pregnant (n=1800) and non-pregnant women (n=37,527) aged 15-44 years who participated in the 2002 or 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative epidemiologic survey. Study variables included demographics, any substance use in the prior 30 days, and possible current psychopathology. Data were analyzed using weighted chi-square and multiple logistic regressions that accounted for the complex survey design. RESULTS The overall prevalence of any past month substance use during pregnancy was 25.8%; the prevalence rates of past month illicit drug, cigarette and alcohol use were 4.7%, 18.9% and 10%, respectively. Compared to the prevalence of substance use among women in their first trimester, use was significantly lower among women in their second or third trimesters. Women who reported using substances during pregnancy were significantly more likely to meet the criteria for possible current psychopathology and be White. Additionally, women who were employed, married, and in their second or third trimester compared to the first were significantly less likely to have used any substance during pregnancy, adjusting for age, ethnicity and income. CONCLUSIONS Although the prevalence of substance use among pregnant women was significantly lower than non-pregnant women, some groups of women remain vulnerable to continued use, including those who are unemployed, unmarried, and experiencing possible current psychopathology. Prevention and intervention programs aimed at high-risk populations are warranted to reduce the deleterious effects of substance use on pregnancy outcomes.

Help-Seeking and Coping Strategies for Intimate Partner Violence in Rural and Urban Women

Women experiencing intimate partner violence may use a variety of help-seeking resources and coping strategies. The purpose of this study was to examine rural (n = 378) and urban (n = 379) womens help seeking, coping, and perceptions of the helpfulness of resources used in dealing with partner violence. Overall, results suggest that women from both areas utilized a variety of help-seeking resources and coping strategies in significantly different ways. Urban women used more help-seeking resources than rural women. Urban and rural women used different types of resources. Rural women perceived the justice system services as less helpful than urban women. Coping strategies and help seeking are related, with problem-focused coping associated with the use of more formalized help-seeking resources. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Protective Orders in Rural and Urban Areas A Multiple Perspective Study

This study is one of the first to examine the protective order process, barriers, and outcomes by combining qualitative and quantitative research in rural and urban areas. State statutes suggest the protective order process should be fair, consistent, and accessible to all women in the state. However, study results suggest that (a) the process of obtaining protective orders varies depending on community context; (b) although there are barriers to obtaining and enforcing protective orders regardless of geographic region, rural women appear to have more barriers; and (c) differences exist in victimization experiences, protective order stipulations, violations, and perceived effectiveness among rural and urban women.

Protective orders: questions and conundrums

Current media portrayal of protective orders is often negative, focusing on weaknesses in how protective orders are obtained and enforced. This review of research findings on protective orders examines issues and suggests areas in need of future research to clarify and improve public policy. More specifically, this review has five main objectives: (a) to provide background information about partner violence and the need for protective orders; (b) to describe what protective orders are, how many women obtain them, and the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining protective orders; (c) to examine characteristics of women who seek protective orders; (d) toexplore research on whether protective orders actually increase womens safety; and(e) to highlight opportunities and gaps in the practice and research literature regarding theuse of protective orders for women with violent partners or ex-partners.

Police attitudes toward domestic violence offenders.

Police attitudes are important in facilitating a sense of safety and comfort in women seeking justice-system support for protection from partner violence. This study examined police attitudes toward sanctions and treatment for domestic violence offenders compared with other violent and nonviolent offenders. In addition, police attitudes toward domestic violence offenders who do and do not use substances were examined. Officers from one city police department (n = 315) participated in a survey. Results indicate there is a trend toward attitudes that treatment, rather than sanctions, was more appropriate for domestic violence offenders. In addition, officers rated the use of sanctions higher for domestic violence offenders who abuse alcohol or drugs compared with domestic violence offenders who did not abuse alcohol or drugs. Understanding police attitudes toward domestic violence offenders may have implications for police training and victim services in facilitating the use of the justice system in protecting women from partner violence.

Partner Stalking and Implications for Women’s Employment

In general research suggests partner violence has a negative impact on women’s employment. However, there has been limited examination of partner stalking and consequences for employment. The purpose of this study was to examine partner stalking and employment consequences among two samples of women. One sample was women who had obtained a protective order against a violent partner and had worked in the prior year (n = 482), about one half of these women were stalked by their violent partner and one half were not. The second study examined qualitative information from women recently stalked (n = 62) by a violent partner. Results from both studies suggest that women who were stalked by a violent partner were significantly more susceptible to on-the-job harassment and problems. Also, women reported that stalking by a partner interfered in their work through on-the-job harassment, work disruption, and job performance problems. Implications for policy and research are discussed.

The Impact of Differential Patterns of Physical Violence and Stalking on Mental Health and Help-Seeking Among Women With Protective Orders

This study examined the severity of partner violence on women’s mental health and help-seeking as well as perceptions of safety and protective-order effectiveness. Three groups based on partner violence victimization in the past year were compared: (a) women who reported experiencing moderate physical violence but no history of severe violence or stalking (n = 102), (b) women who experienced severe violence but no history of stalking (n = 142), and (c) women who experienced severe violence and stalking (n = 145). Results suggest that stalking has a unique impact on victims’ mental health and perceived safety, and that protections afforded by protective orders may not be adequate for women experiencing stalking.

Combining Ethical Considerations With Recruitment and Follow-Up Strategies for Partner Violence Victimization Research:

In general, the literature on research ethics and the literature on recruitment and retention of research participants tend to be separated by different purposes and principles. This article uses multiple methods to compile information about research ethics with vulnerable participants as well as with recruitment and follow-up strategies, including (a) literature reviews, (b) key informant interviews, (c) focus group interviews, (d) a pilot study to test ideas for study implementation, and (e) documentation of recruitment and follow-up efforts for a longitudinal study of 757 women with partner violence victimization experiences. This article shows how considering research ethics may actually enhance recruitment and follow-up strategies with women experiencing partner violence victimization.

Stalking Victimization in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence

This article is one of the first to extensively compare characteristics of women who do and do not report stalking by a violent partner or ex-partner using a large sample of women with civil protective orders. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to examine similarities and differences in relationship and victimization history characteristics, mental health symptoms, help-seeking, and protective order violations for women who report being stalked in the past year (n = 345) by the partner they received a protective order against compared to women who received a protective order against a violent partner but who report no stalking by that partner ever in the relationship (n = 412). Results indicate that women who report partner stalking have more severe partner violence victimization, histories, increased distress, greater fear, and more protective order violations, suggesting that partner stalking victimization warrants more research and practice attention.

Factors Associated with Separation and Ongoing Violence among Women with Civil Protective Orders

This study examined a large sample of women recruited out of court at the time they received a civil protective order to better understand relationship status after obtaining a protective order (PO) and factors associated with protective order violations. Results are consistent with prior research suggesting that the protective order may be the impetus in separating from the abusive partner for some women, while for other women it is part of the separation process. Results also indicated that five out of ten women who did not continue a relationship experienced a violation while seven out of ten women who did continue a relationship with the PO partner experienced a violation. The majority of women felt safer and reported they believed the protective order was effective 13 months post-PO, regardless of relationship status. Furthermore, stalking played a significant role in separation from an abusive relationship and in protective order violations regardless of relationship status. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.