Are We Comparing Apples and Oranges? Exploring Trauma Experienced by Victims of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse and by Court-Involved Women Who Have Used Force in Relationships

Abstract

Due to the enactment of mandatory and proarrest policies, there has been a sharp increase in the number of women arrested for use of force against an intimate partner. Many of these arrested women are also victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and experience high levels of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our study explores experiences of two groups: 80 women who self-refer into survivor groups or individual counseling sessions facilitated by a trained counselor and 86 court-involved women who have been arrested on an IPV/abuse (IPV/A)-related charge and (in lieu of more substantial punishment) participate in an intervention/treatment program. The current research asks, “What do trauma measures tell us about women who voluntarily seek IPV/A victim support groups and about women court-mandated to a treatment program?” Using measures of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), post-trauma distress, and danger assessments, we explore these two groups. Our findings demonstrate that within the three measures used, women who voluntarily sought victim counseling services had a higher mean compared with women arrested for use of force against an intimate partner. Yet, both groups are significantly different from the general population in terms of having experienced significant trauma. Both groups of women report significantly higher levels of ACEs, post-trauma distress, and danger assessments compared with the general population, indicating that women who experience IPV/A or women who use force in relationships may share more similarities than differences. In addition, we explore the ways in which different relationship characteristics and treatment trajectories might help explain the differences present between these two groups of women. We conclude with a discussion of policy and treatment implications.