A Model for the Treatment of Marital Violence

Battered women frequently experience difficulties in seeking help from formal sources. They do not always know what services are available and they may be deterred by feelings of embarrassment, shame and even guilt. They may also fear reprisals. A further problem is that services are poorly co-ordinated. This paper examines the response of the three agencies most frequently approached by battered women seeking help. The police, social workers and medical and paramedical personnel reveal the same or similar attitudes towards marital violence and the problem is either ignored or redefined (usually in terms of child care). There is a marked reluctance on the part of all practitioners to become involved in cases of marital violence which they see as peripheral to their main concerns. The privacy of the family and of marriage is constantly stressed and women are viewed primarily as wives and mothers. When practitioners do become involved, therefore, the emphasis is on reconciliation rather than firm action. This response has the effect of trivializing the problems, and the legitimacy of male violence as a means of controlling women remains largely unchallenged. It is small wonder that battered women frequently express dissatisfaction with the services concerned.

Download Full-text

Marital therapy for the divorce-seeking couples in the legal systems, South Korea: Family systemic, mental health-related, and socio-economic analyses

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(11)72494-4 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (S2) ◽

pp. 789-789

Author(s):

S.B. Lee

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Family Therapy ◽

South Korea ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Marital Therapy ◽

Marital Violence ◽

List Type ◽

Court System ◽

Economic Issues ◽

Health Related

AimThis study was to analyze the sample data collected from divorce marital therapy sessions in the local court system in South Korea as well as diagnose typical symptoms in the divorcing couples.MethodsThe survey forms and marital therapy notes were collected from 200 divorce counseling cases in the local court systems, South Korea. The 200 divorce counseling cases were categorized as twelve major themes. Family therapy notes were utilized as an aid in verifying the divorcing couples’ self-reports. The research method was partially adopted from the article, “Working with Korean-American Families: Multicultural Hermeneutics” (Sang Bok Lee, 2003: The American Journal of Family Therapy, 31, 159 – 178). Multicultural hermeneutics was instrumental for explicating multiple layers of multicultural narratives, psychological dynamics, socio-economic systems, and of family systemic relations when dealing with the divorcing couples.ResultsThe results were summarized as: economic issues (20%); extra-marital relationship (16%); in-law conflict (12%); substance abuse, addiction & marital violence (12%); international marriage & cross-cultural differences (10%); personality difference (8%); re-marriage issues (6%); sexual conflict (6%); age gap (4%); personality disorder & mental disorder (2%); parenting & children issues (2%); pre-mature marriage (2%). The twelve categories were grouped as mainly(1)family systemic or relationship-related issues,(2)socio-economic issues, and(3)mental health-related issues.ConclusionPsychiatrists, family therapists, and mental health professionals who work with the divorcing couples need to be aware of the predominant causes for rapidly increasing divorce rates when conducting therapeutic assessment and implementing intervention for the divorcing couples.

Download Full-text

Premarital mental disorders and physical violence in marriage: cross-national study of married couples

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.110.084061 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 199 (4) ◽

pp. 330-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

E. Miller ◽

J. Breslau ◽

M. Petukhova ◽

J. Fayyad ◽

J. Greif Green ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Population Attributable Risk ◽

Married Couples ◽

Marital Violence ◽

World Health ◽

National Study ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Externalising Disorders ◽

Cross National

BackgroundMental disorders may increase the risk of physical violence among married couples.AimsTo estimate associations between premarital mental disorders and marital violence in a cross-national sample of married couples.MethodA total of 1821 married couples (3642 individuals) from 11 countries were interviewed as part of the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Sixteen mental disorders with onset prior to marriage were examined as predictors of marital violence reported by either spouse.ResultsAny physical violence was reported by one or both spouses in 20% of couples, and was associated with husbands' externalising disorders (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.3). Overall, the population attributable risk for marital violence related to premarital mental disorders was estimated to be 17.2%.ConclusionsHusbands' externalising disorders had a modest but consistent association with marital violence across diverse countries. This finding has implications for the development of targeted interventions to reduce risk of marital violence.

Download Full-text