PTSD symptoms and partner abuse: low income women at risk

Abstract

Aspects of partner abuse (types, severity, chronicity, treatment of injury, fear, etc.) were addressed with low income community women, half of whom scored above the cutoff on the Crime Related PTSD scale. Using this cutoff 47% of women who sustained moderate violence were high in CR-PTSD symptoms. If their partner also raped them, the rate (63%) was similar to women who sustained severe violence (65%) or severe violence and rape (71%). No ethnic differences were found for rates or severity of CR-PTSD symptoms. A MANCOVA by ethnicity (African Americans, Euro-Americans, Mexican Americans) and CR-PTSD symptoms (low vs. high) identified ethnic differences only on total sexual aggression and recent threats of violence. The high symptom group reported more abuse on all measures. Results from the CR-PTSD and the general lack of ethnic differences support the notion that SES contributes more to women's vulnerability to abuse and stress symptoms than does ethnicity.