title: Women's use of physical and nonphysical self-defense strategies during incidents of partner violence.
abstract: Two incidents of partner violence are investigated using qualitative methodology to discover strategies women use to protect themselves and examine women's use of violence. Data were collected from 447 women (age 18 or older) from 7 domestic violence programs and 5 substance use disorder treatment programs in a midwestern state. Women were found to have developed numerous self-protection strategies, some using nonphysical means only, others using physical means only, and others combining nonphysical and physical means. Women often used a variety of strategies in the same incident. Few women initiated violence against partners. Implications for theory and research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Downs
authors.forename: Barb
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rindels
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009042:Motivation; D017008:Negotiating / Q000523:psychology; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012419:Runaway Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014705:Verbal Behavior