title: Marginality and physical and sexual abuse in women.
abstract: We examine the role of marginality as a social determinant of physical and sexual abuse in women. In this study of a community sample of 568 women of reproductive age, and women with a history of physical and sexual abuse reported significantly more marginality than women without a prior history of abuse. An inverse relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and marginality existed. Sexual abuse initially experienced in childhood had a more profound impact on marginality in women than when the abuse initially occurred in adolescence or adulthood. Early identification of abused women in clinical practice may help to prevent further marginality and adverse health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, 6700 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030-2343, USA. akoci@mail.twu.edu
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koci
authors.forename: Ora
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Strickland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult