Intimate Violence and Sexual Abuse: Lived Experiences Essay

Abraham Maslows (1970) Hierarchy of Needs listed love and belongingness as the third aim of human need (Kozier et al., 2006). Indeed, among the nearly basic needs of human beings is belongingness. Thus, humanness go into home(a) familys to fulfill that need for love.Intimate relationships cover a wide range of interactions. It may include marital relationships, but it is non confined to these. It may likewise include formerly married accessory in crimes, geological dating partners, and live-in partners(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2006).Unfortunately, though, instead of fulfilling the need for love and belonging, round of these signify relationships ca call more harm than good. Sadly, a lot of ridicule and violence occur within the supposed shelter of these relationships. In US alone, 4.8 million cases of tangible assaults and rapes recorded each grade occurred within informal relationships(Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000).With this, the landing field aims to examine the lived experiences of individuals in an abusive mention relationship, focusing on its perceived showcase, and its forcefulness on the jest atd individual. However, it is the ponders crowning(prenominal) hope that with the selective information gathered it may provide and serve as a basis for preventive and curative interventions for signify relationship violence. more specifically, this need aims to answer the following questions1. What atomic number 18 the to the highest degree common reasons and lay on the line of infection constituent ins for ab intake as perceived by individuals experiencing inner(a) violence?2. What ar the perceived physical and horny/psychological health consequences of intragroup relationship violence and internal pervert on the ill-treatmentd individual? literary works ReviewIntimate partner abuse or violence, in its most basic sense, is defined as a maltreatment occuring among two non-blood-related individuals intera cting in an intimate relationship (CDC, 2006).The term intimate relationship is most commonly associated with marriage. However, it fag also refer to any relationship between individuals not related by blood or consanguinity. Therefore, intimate relationships also cover dating or courtship relationships, relationships where partners live together, relationships where two state have children in common but are no yearlong formally involved with one an otherwise, and marital relationships(Mouradin, 2000). And in all these relations, intimate violence or informal abuse can occur.Intimate partner violence manifests itself in contrary forms. Physical abuse involves the existent use of force to inflict physical harm. It may include hitting, cutting, slapping, choking, spanking, kicking, hair pulling, pushing, and others(Mouradin, 2000). ruttish abuse, on the other hand, involves verbal and non-verbal acts that inflict harm on the other, without the actual use of physical force. It c an include threats, yelling, swearing, insulting or belittling, and other treatments that need the respect deserved by the other partner (Mouradin, 2000).However, although physical and emotional abuse are most common, there are also other forms of abuse that exist. Economic abuse entails the deprivation of a partners right for financial independence. This type of abuse achieves the same proceeds as emotional abuse by inflicting fear and dependence in the abused individual(Mouradin, 2000). Another type of intimate partner abuse includes social isolation. Social isolation refers to prohibiting a partner to go out, interact and maintain social support earningss(Mouradin, 2000). Still, perhaps among the worst kind of intimate partner violence is sexual abuse.Intimate sexual violence includes a range of coercive behaviors from mentionive comments to forced intercourse(Allen, Raimer, & Rothman, 2004). Although research studies on intimate partner violence are limited, comes have sho wn that this problem has change magnitude in preponderance over the years.In a national look into conducted by the National Violence Against Women, it was revealight-emitting diode that 0.3% of males and 7.7% of females experience in their lifetime an try or consumated rape by an intimate partner(Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). In addition, statistics suggest that Hispanic and Native American women are at a great risk for intimate partner sexual abuse(Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000).Further, a study conducted by Campbell et al. (2002), revealed that out of 2,005 women participating in an organization for health maintenance, round 361 account that they were forced into sexual activities at least once in their lifetime (Campbell et al., 2002).Overall, an estimated number of five women and one man out of 1,000 individuals, are documented as new cases of intimate sexual abuse cases per year(Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000).Survey organizations point out a lot of factors causing intimate sexual abuse. A mong these factors include unemployment, do drugs or alcohol use, low educational attainment, early onset of sexual experience, and a lot others. Also, another perplex of intimate sexual abuse is the existence of myths on rape (i.e. roughly people deserve or benefit from rape), and the idea that rape can serve as a proof of power or sureness(Allen, Raimer, & Rothman, 2004).In all these, women respond to sexual abuse in different manners. However, most commonly, dupes of intimate sexual violence sustain psychological trauma and negative effectuate, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder(Allen, Raimer, & Rothman, 2004).MethodologyPrimarily, this study utilise a qualitative research design. Qualitattive research focus on the quality, alternatively than the quantity, of a human experience. This study design gives emphasis on the constituent(a) depth of humans, and the ability of humans to shape and create their own experiences(Polit & Beck, 2006).This study foll ows the phenomenological qualitataive research tradition, by attempting to understand the social context in which intimate partner abuse occur(Polit & Beck, 2006).Twenty individuals experiencing intimate violence and sexual abuse were chosen for this study through snowball or network sampling. All respondents were aged 18 y/o and above, with mixed genders 17 females and three males. Race was not expressly considered among the respondents, but some heathenish variations were noted. After being ensured of confidentiality and anonimity, the respondents gave their consent to participate in the study. informationFor this study, data was collected through thirdhand data analysis and surveys.In secondary data analysis, previously existing data related to the study is examined. Data may come from journals, books, records, magazines, documents, previous studies, and others. This is done to establish a service line and support for the study(Polit & Beck, 2006).Surveys, on the other hand, ar e nonexperimental studies involving polls. In here, researchers use questionnaires, inteviews, and checklists to gather data(Polit & Beck, 2006).For this study, after the analysis of secondary data, a dim-witted questionaire was constructed. The questionnaire focused on the causes and perceived health consequences of intimate violence and sexual abuse on the abused individual. It was administered among the respondents and then was followed by an interviewed to expound on each specific issuing.HypothesesThis study aims to prove the following hypotheses1. The commonly perceived causes/risk factors for intimate abuse are drug and alcohol use, unemployment, childishness abuse invoice, conflicts, and stressful life events.2. The perceived physical health consequences of intimate violence and sexual abuse on abused individuals are wounds and lacerations, fracture, fatigue, malady and vomiting, bleeding, emaciated body state, eye/facial damage, and abdominal injuries.3. The perceived emotional/psychological health consequences of intimate relationship violence and sexual abuse include post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, trust issues, depression, eating and sleeping disorders, and severe sexual behavior.Discussion and InterpretationThis chapter deals with the discussion of the data gathered from the survey and analysis.Perceived Causes/Risk Factors of Intimate shameAfter the data was tallied and analyzed, it was revealed that most of the causes of abuse among intimate relationships are personal and situational, although some societal factors may also come into play. It must also be remembered that abuse is the effect of the interaction of multiple factors, and not just the effect of a atomic number 53 event or factor.In the survey, 80% of the respondents said that their partners abuse them collect to the influences of alcohol, while 55% responded that the abuse was due to the partners drug use. This was supported by the orbit Health Organizatio ns (WHO) World Report on Violence and Health that there is a control relationship between a mans drinking frequency, and a muliebritys increased risk for being a victim of violence (World Health Organization (WHO), 2005).Respondents also confirmed that unemployment was another factor for intimate violence. Nine out of 20 respondents said that their partners abused them because he/she has no job or is having a hard time conclusion one. This was verified by Allen, Raimer & Rothman (2004), who listed unemployement as a cause or factor for intimate abuse (Allen, Raimer, & Rothman, 2004).Another reason agreed on by respondents are marital or relationship conflicts. Ten respondents claimed that they fight most a lot of things. Indeed, the WHO enumerated the following as parts of conflict that cause intimate abuse lack of obedience on wifes part, arguing back to the partner, questioning the mans actions, refusing sex and the womans suspected infidelity (WHO, 2005).Further, five respond ents added that their partners beat them due to a sexual compulsion/ dysfunction. These dysfunctions may also be attributed to personality disorders that arrogate a persons sexual behavior. Although research on this topic is limited, it was included as a risk factor for abuse by the WHO (WHO, 2005).However, a most serious cause and risk factor for intimate abuse pointed out by respondents was the presence of a history of chilhood abuse. cardinal percent of the respondents reported that their abusive partners were abused emotionally, physically, and sexually as children. jibe to the WHO, history of violence in the family of origin is a powerful risk factor for intimate violence and sexual abuse. Studies all over the realism showed that rates of abuse were higher among women whose husbands had either been beaten as children or had witnessed their mothers beaten (WHO, 2005). In addition to this, victims of intimate abuse themselves presented a history of abuse as children. Sixteen respondents claimed that they were abused as children. In an interview, a respondent revealed that this history of abuse made her feel like abuse was a normal thing, since she grew up with it.Other factors pointed out was lack of education, lack of information on rights as a wife or partner, and the acceptability of intimate violence as a social norm. Among the respondents, abuse was great among individuals who did not finish high school and among those with low self-esteem. Around 45% of the respondents did not finish high school, while 70% claimed that they were ugly and worthless. Abuse was also higher in those that experienced a recent stressful life event, and in some cultures that considered the wife as a station of the husband.Perceived Physical Effects of Intimate AbuseDepending on the prevalence of these causes, the severity of abuse can vary. However, the effects are all the same. Among the respondents, light speed% of them reported that after each abuse, there were cut s, wounds, bruises and tears in their body, particularly in the vagina or anus.Seventy-five percent of the respondents reported abdominal or chest injuries and disorders, 60% reported the presence of fracture, 55% reported vaginal/anal bleeding, 50% reported fatigue or tiredness, 35% reported nausea, vomiting and eye/facial damage, and around 25% claimed that the abuse led to an emaciated body state.Still, some added that the sexual abuse led to abdicable pregnancies and that the intimate violence caused miscarriage or stillbirths in some big(predicate) women.This finding was validate by the WHOs report which enumerated physical effects of abuse very much similar to those found in the study (WHO, 2005).