Prevalence and Impact of Domestic Violence in the Wake of
Disasters
Two questions require attention when considering the
implications of domestic violence for postdisaster recovery.
The first question is whether domestic violence increases in
prevalence after disasters. There are only minimal data that are
relevant to this question. Mechanic et al.
1 undertook the most comprehensive examination of intimate
violence in the aftermath of a disaster after the 1993 Mid-western
flood. A representative sample of 205 women who were either married
or cohabitating with men and who were highly exposed to this
disaster acknowledged considerable levels of domestic violence and
abuse. Over the 9-month period after flood onset, 14% reported at
least one act of physical aggression from their partners, 26%
reported emotional abuse, 70% verbal abuse, and 86% partner anger.
Whether these rates of physical aggression are greater than normal
is not known because studies of domestic violence from previous
years and under normal conditions have showed the existence of
rates of violence as low as 1% and as high as 12%.
A few studies have produced evidence that supports the above.
Police reports of domestic violence increased by 46% following the
eruption of the Mt. St. Helens volcano
2. One year after Hurricane Hugo, marital stress was more
prevalent among individuals who had been severely exposed to the
hurricane (e.g., life threat, injury) than among individuals who
had been less severely exposed or not exposed at all
3. Within 6 months after Hurricane Andrew, 22% of adult
residents of the stricken area acknowledged having a new conflict
with someone in their household
4. In a study of people directly exposed to the bombing of the
Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, 17% of noninjured persons
and 42% of persons whose injuries required hospitalization reported
troubled interpersonal relationships
5.
The second question is whether domestic violence, regardless of
the reasons how or why it occurs, influences women's postdisaster
recovery. An important finding from Mechanic et al.'s (2001) study
was that the presence of domestic violence strongly influenced
women's postdisaster mental health. Thirty-nine percent of women
who experienced postflood partner abuse developed postflood PTSD
compared to 17% of women who did not experience postflood abuse.
Fifty-seven percent of women who experienced postflood partner
abuse developed postflood major depression compared to 28% of
nonabused women. Similarly, Norris and Uhl
3 found that as marital stress increased, so too did
psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety. Likewise,
Norris et al.
4 found that 6 and 30 months after Hurricane Andrew, new
conflicts and other socially disruptive events were among the
strongest predictors of psychological symptoms.
These findings take on additional significance when it is
remembered that not only are women generally at greater risk than
men for developing postdisaster psychological problems, but women
who are married or cohabitating with men may be at even greater
risk than single women
6,
7. In contrast, married
status is often a protective factor for men
8,
9. It also has been found
that the severity of married women's symptoms increases with the
severity of their husbands' distress, even after similarities in
their exposure have been taken into account
7.
In summary, although the research regarding the interplay of
disaster and domestic violence is not extensive and little of it
has been derived from studies of incidents of mass violence, the
available evidence does suggest that services related to domestic
violence should be integrated into other mental-health services for
disaster-stricken families. Screening for women's safety may be
especially important. Helping men find appropriate ways to
manage/direct their anger will benefit them and their wives. It
will also help their children, as children are highly sensitive to
postdisaster conflict and irritability in the family
7,
10.
Summary of Empirical Findings
Although there is little
conclusive evidence that domestic violence increases after
major disasters, research suggests that its postdisaster
prevalence may be substantial.
In the most relevant study, 14% of women experienced at least
one act of postflood physical aggression and 26% reported
postflood emotional abuse over a 9-month period.
One study reported a 46% increase in police reports of
domestic violence after a disaster.
Other studies show that substantial percentages of disaster
victims experience marital stress, new conflicts, and troubled
interpersonal relationships.
There is more-conclusive evidence that domestic violence
harms women's abilities to recover from disasters.
In the most relevant study, 39% of abused women developed
postdisaster PTSD compared to 17% of other women, and 57% of
abused women developed postdisaster depression, compared to 28%
of other women.
Marital stress and conflicts are highly predictive of
postdisaster symptoms.
In light of the fact that, in general, married women are a
high-risk group for developing postdisaster psychological
problems, it seems advisable to integrate violence-related
screenings and services into programs for women, men, and
families.
References
1.
Mechanic, M.,
Griffin, M., & Resick, P. (2001).
The effects of intimate partner abuse on women's psychological
adjustment to a major disaster. Manuscript submitted for
publication.
2.
Adams, P.
R., & Adams, G. R. (1984). Mount Saint Helen's ashfall
. American Psychologist, 39, 252-260.
3.
Norris,
F. H., & Uhl, G. A. (1993). Chronic stress as a mediator of
acute stress: The case of Hurricane Hugo.
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 23, 1263-1284.
4.
Norris,
F. H., Perilla, J. L., Riad, J. K., Kaniasty, K., & Lavizzo, E.
A. (1999). Stability and change in stress, resources, and
psychological distress following natural disaster: Findings from
Hurricane Andrew.
Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 12, 363-396.
5.
Shariat,
S., Mallonee, S., Kruger, E., Farmer, K., & North, C. (1999). A
prospective study of long-term health outcomes among Oklahoma City
bombing survivors.
Journal of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, 92,
178-186.
6.
Brooks,
N., & McKinlay, W. (1992). Mental health consequences of the
Lockerbie disaster.
Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5, 527-543.
7.
Gleser,
G. C., Green, B. L., & Winget, C. N. (1981).
Prolonged psychological effects of disaster: A study of Buffalo
Creek. New York: Academic Press.
8.
Fullerton, C.S., Ursano, R.J.,
Tzu-Cheg, K., & Bharitya, V. R. (1999). Disaster-related
bereavement: Acute symptoms and subsequent depression.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 70,
902-909.
9.
Ursano, R.
J., Fullerton, C. S., Kao, T. C., & Bhartiya, V. R. (1995).
Longitudinal assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder and
depression after exposure to traumatic death.
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 183, 36-42.
10.
Wasserstein, S. B., & LaGreca,
A. (1998). Hurricane Andrew: Parent conflict as a moderator of
children's adjustment.
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Science, 20, 212-224.