Distress resulting from perceivers' own intimate partner violence experiences predicts culpability attributions toward a battered woman on trial for killing her abuser: a path model

Developing an Understanding of Victims and Violent Offenders: The Impact of Fostering Empathy

This study explores the consequences of fostering empathy-for both victims and perpetrators-after large-scale violent events. Participants ( N = 834) read a description of a school shooting and were randomly assigned to one of six conditions revealing varying amounts of background information about the victim and the perpetrator of violence. The impact of empathy on reactions toward the victim and perpetrator were then assessed. Empathy for the perpetrator could be fostered with increased information about his background, resulting in recommendations of increased leniency. Fostering empathy for the victim promoted positive community responses, including increased intentions to engage in helping behavior and make charitable donations. The degree to which participants could make sense of the violent event was also associated with decreases in blame and anger toward the perpetrator. Potential implications of the findings for news media and community coping strategies are explored.

Relationship of Physical Intimate Partner Violence with Mental Health Diagnoses in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample

OBJECTIVES

We examined associations of physical intimate partner violence (PIPV) with selected mental health disorders using a nationally representative sample of emergency department (ED) discharges corresponding to men and women (18-64 years) from the 2010 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample.

METHODS

PIPV was determined using International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) external cause of injury code E967.3 (battering by spouse or partner). ICD-9-CM clinical classification of discharge diagnoses was used to identify mental health disorders. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR_adj) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

PIPV prevalence was estimated at 0.36 per 1000 ED discharges. The strongest correlates of PIPV were alcohol-related (OR_adj = 3.02, 95% CI: 2.62-3.50), adjustment (OR_adj = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.56-3.58), intentional self-harm (OR_adj = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.05-1.89), anxiety (OR_adj = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.07-1.40), drug-related (OR_adj = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47), and mood (OR_adj = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.31) disorders. PIPV's association with alcohol-related disorders was stronger among women (OR_adj = 3.22, 95% CI: 2.79-3.72) versus men (OR_adj = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.42-2.77). Similarly, drug-related disorders were stronger correlates of PIPV among women (OR_adj = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.09-1.60) versus men (OR_adj = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.31-1.16).

CONCLUSIONS

In EDs, PIPV was linked to several mental health disorders, with women experiencing comorbid PIPV and substance use more frequently than men.