Domestic Violence Trauma

Literature Review
Buss, K. E. & Warren, J. M. (2015, March 1). Trauma and treatment in early childhood: A review of the historical and emerging literature for counselors. The Professional Counselor,5(2), 225-231.
The first author, Buss, is a counselor at Hope-Thru-Horses, Inc. in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina and the second author, Warren, is an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke. Citing the high level of dependence on parents and other caregivers, the authors note that children aged 5 years and younger are especially vulnerable to trauma due to domestic violence. Moreover, these young people are particularly susceptible to different types of trauma due to a wide range of events and incidents involving some form of severe in-home domestic violence. In addition, the authors emphasize that fully 85% of all fatalities among this segment of the American population are caused by domestic violence, and this alarming figure only diminishes slightly by age 7 years. Following a detailed description of the symptoms of trauma in young people exposed to domestic violence and noting that there remains a dearth of relevant research in this area, the authors conclude that more research is needed to identify risk and protective factors that can help formulate more efficacious interventions in the future.
Kulkarni, S. J. & Racine, E. F. (2012, March 1). Examining the relationship between Latinas' perceptions about what constitutes domestic violence and domestic violence victimization. Violence and Victims, 27(2), 182-186.
The authors are PhDs practicing at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte who note that domestic violence among the Latina population in the United States is a serious public health issue and cite the cross-cultural differences that exist among the mainstream American population and Latinas concerning their perceptions of what types of behaviors can be regarded as domestic violence. The authors point out that identifying these types of cross-cultural differences represents a timely and valuable enterprise since these issues can have an impact on the effectiveness of interventions that are designed to help this segment of the population as well as determining with more precision the prevalence rate of domestic violence among Latinas. At present, estimates indicate that almost 25% of Latinas experience some type of domestic violence during some point in their lives, but these victims may not consider themselves as legitimate victims of domestic violence due to cultural differences, thereby making accurate estimates as well as developing appropriate and timely interventions for this population far more difficult for health care providers. In addition, the authors provide a detailed description of the wide array of mental and physical health care problems that are associated with domestic violence in general, as well as the enormous economic costs that are involved. Some of the risk factors for domestic violence for Latinas were shown to include being young, poor and having large numbers of children. The authors conclude that domestic violence reporting rates for Latinas can be expected to increase in the foreseeable future as this segment of the population becomes more acculturated.
LeGeros, M. & Savage, J. (2012, Fall). Building bridges: Training social work students in domestic violence work. Field Educator, 2(2), 37-39.
The authors are MSWs practicing at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Passageway, Center for Community Health and Health Equity in Boston. The authors point out that there remains a lack of connection between classroom learning and internship experiences in the field where students gain first-hand experience in responding to the needs of traumatized domestic violence victims. In response, the authors describe the implementation of innovative social work programming at the hospital-based Passageway program that is designed to provide social work students with the background and tools they will need to help traumatized domestic violence victims in a wide variety of settings with an even wider range of needs. During this program, interns learn about empowerment and different perspectives and models that can be applied to unique situations involving domestic violence trauma. Finally, the authors conclude their article with an overview of trauma theory and its application to real-world situations involving domestic violence, and describe several types of interventions that have proven effective in the past.
Plumb, J. L. & Bush, K. A. (2016, April 1). Trauma-sensitive schools: An evidence-based approach. School Social Work Journal, 40(2), 37-41.
The authors are school social workers at Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency, Fort Dodge, Iowa and Student Wellness at Assumption High School, Davenport, respectively, who emphasize that tens of millions of young Americans are traumatized by repeated exposures to domestic violence. In fact, the authors note that while precise figures are unavailable, it has been estimated that as many as two-thirds of American youths are exposed to domestic violence at some point, and far too many suffer from the trauma that is associated with chronic exposures over time. Noting that approximately 90% of American students attend public schools, the authors call for an increased focus on this problem by introducing interventions at the school level that can help these young learners better cope with their domestic violence situations. This strategy is especially appropriate, the authors note, because a majority of American young people already receive mental health services through the public schools. In addition, the authors also stress that time is of the essence in formulating more effective interventions for young people that have been traumatized by domestic violence because the adverse effects of trauma are especially pronounced during these formative years. Moreover, the authors point out that although the negative effects of domestic violence on children can harm young people in a number of ways, it tends to adversely affect those parts of the brain that are responsible for learning, making this problem a significant national public health care issue.
Smith, T. J. & Holmes, C. M. (2018, January 1). Assessment and treatment of brain injury in women impacted by intimate partner violence and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Professional Counselor, 8(1), 1-4.
The first author, Smith, is a resident in counseling and a senior client services advocate at Safe Harbor Shelter in Richmond, Virginia and the second author, Holmes, is an assistant professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University. The authors note that despite some modest progress over the past several decades, domestic violence remains a major public health care issue in the United States today. Prefacing their study by operationalizing key terms, the authors then provide a concise but thorough overview concerning the forms that domestic violence can assume, some of which are not typically associated with intimate partner violence. More to the point, however, the authors also describe the severe physical and emotional effects that domestic violence can cause, including severe traumatic brain injuries. One of the more noteworthy points made by the authors concerns the probably underestimation of the historic and current prevalence rates of domestic violence, most especially among those populations that are most vulnerable in the first place such as the poor and homeless. In addition, the authors also emphasize that the trauma that is caused by domestic violence can affect men and women, and both sexes are known to engage in domestic violence practices although American women are believed to suffer at greater rates compared to men. In this regard, the authors report that it has been estimated that at many as 33% of women and 25% of men in the United States have been the victims of domestic abuse, and a significant percentage of these incidents result in physical injuries requiring urgent medical care as well as long-term care for psychological disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
References
Buss, K. E. & Warren, J. M. (2015, March 1). Trauma and treatment in early childhood: A review of the historical and emerging literature for counselors. The Professional Counselor,5(2), 225-231.
Kulkarni, S. J. & Racine, E. F. (2012, March 1). Examining the relationship between Latinas' perceptions about what constitutes domestic violence and domestic violence victimization. Violence and Victims, 27(2), 182-186.
LeGeros, M. & Savage, J. (2012, Fall). Building bridges: Training social work students in domestic violence work. Field Educator, 2(2), 37-39.
Plumb, J. L. & Bush, K. A. (2016, April 1). Trauma-sensitive schools: An evidence-based approach. School Social Work Journal, 40(2), 37-41.
Smith, T. J. & Holmes, C. M. (2018, January 1). Assessment and treatment of brain injury in women impacted by intimate partner violence and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Professional Counselor, 8(1), 1-4.
Appendix A
Copies of Abstracts
Buss, K. E. & Warren, J. M. (2015, March 1). Trauma and treatment in early childhood: A review of the historical and emerging literature for counselors. The Professional Counselor,5(2), 225-231.
Young children are especially susceptible to exposure to trauma. Rates of abuse and neglect among this population are staggering. This article presents a review of relevant literature, including research findings specific to early childhood vulnerability to trauma, symptoms associated with traumatic events, diagnostic validity of early childhood trauma, and treatments for young children. In the past, misconceptions about the mental health of young children have hindered accurate diagnosis and treatment of trauma-related mental illness. Due to the prevalence of trauma exposure in early childhood, counselors are encouraged to become familiar with ways that clients and families are impacted and methods for treatment. Implications for future research also are presented.
Kulkarni, S. J. & Racine, E. F. (2012, March 1). Examining the relationship between Latinas' perceptions about what constitutes domestic violence and domestic violence victimization. Violence and Victims, 27(2), 182-186.
Domestic violence is a serious issue for U.S. Latinas. Better understanding of the potential risk or protection that cultural perceptions about what constitutes domestic violence may convey can help strengthen interventions. Therefore, a convenience sample of 93 Latinas was surveyed about their current levels of domestic violence victimization, acculturation, and demographics, as well as about whether 5 behavioral scenarios constituted domestic violence. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to examine the relationships between the 5 perception items and domestic violence victimization. After adjusting for established risk factors, only viewing male partner stalking and female verbal aggression as domestic violence were significantly associated with decreased domestic violence victimization. Findings can be integrated into the development and implementation of culturally competent interventions targeting Latinas.
LeGeros, M. & Savage, J. (2012, Fall). Building bridges: Training social work students in domestic violence work. Field Educator, 2(2), 37-39.
The pervasive nature of domestic violence in American society is clear. One in four women in the U.S. reports experiencing violence by a current or former partner at some point in her life (Center for Disease Control, 2008). Domestic violence is a chronically underreported crime (U.S. DOJ, 2003); many acts of coercive control within relationships may fall outside traditional legal definitions of abuse. Yet this crime has serious and lasting physical and mental health effects on women, men and children across the lifespan (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). All social workers will work with survivors regardless of their setting or treatment modality (see Danis, "Domestic Violence: A Cross-Cutting Issue for Social Workers").
Plumb, J. L. & Bush, K. A. (2016, April 1). Trauma-sensitive schools: An evidence-based approach. School Social Work Journal, 40(2), 37-41.
If 20 million people were infected by a virus that caused anxiety, impulsivity, aggression, sleep problems, depression, respiratory and heart problems, vulnerability to substance abuse, antisocial and criminal behavior, . . . and school failure, we would consider it an urgent public health crisis. Yet, in the United States alone, there are more than 20 million abused, neglected and traumatized children vulnerable to these problems. Our society has yet to recognize this epidemic, let alone develop an immunization strategy.
Smith, T. J. & Holmes, C. M. (2018, January 1). Assessment and treatment of brain injury in women impacted by intimate partner violence and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Professional Counselor, 8(1), 1-4.
In 1981, the U.S. Congress declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, marking a celebratory hallmark for advocates and survivors nationwide (National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, 2012). Since this time, similar social and legislative initiatives have increased overall awareness of gender inequality, thus influencing a decline in women's risk for intimate partner violence (IPV; Powers & Kaukinen, 2012). Recent initiatives, such as a national briefing focused on brain injury and domestic violence hosted by the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, continue to call increased attention to the various intersections and implications of this national public health epidemic (Brain Injury Association of America, 2017). Unfortunately, despite various social advocacy movements, IPV remains an underrepresented problem in the United States (Chapman & Monk, 2015). As a result, IPV and related mental and physical health consequences continue to exist at alarmingly high rates (Chapman & Monk, 2015).