Social work intervention with wife assaults

Taking Advantage of a Window of Opportunity: Factors Associated With Jewish Bathhouse Attendants' (Balaniyot) Assistance to Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Victims of intimate partner violence may endure years of pain, fearing to turn for help. Informal service providers are potential sources of assistance. This study explored factors impacting two assistance outcomes provided by Jewish "balaniyot" (bathhouse attendants): actions aimed at protecting the woman, and actions aimed at protecting family integrity. Balaniyot (n = 166) completed self-report questionnaires assessing mastery, organizational commitment, spirituality at work, and beliefs about violence. All variables were associated with at least one outcome. Organizational commitment mediated most of these associations. The findings suggest the need to increase balaniyot's organizational commitment and condemnation of violence and offer them specialized training.

Attitudes of Palestinians Toward Social Work Interventions in Cases of Wife Assault

The study examined the attitudes of Palestinian adults toward social work interventions in cases of husband-to-wife assault (HWA). A survey, using self-administered questionnaires and interviews, was conducted among a random sample of 624 adults from the Palestinian Authority. Results indicate higher levels of support for interventions aimed at helping the couple solve their problems than for interventions aimed at protecting the safety of battered women. However, this trend becomes reversed in cases of repeated and severe HWA. Greater support for interventions aimed at protecting the safety of battered women was found among women versus men and younger versus older adults, as well as among individuals with lower levels of justifying wife abuse and more egalitarian expectations of marriage.