title: E-mail Use among a sample of intimate partner violence shelter residents.
abstract: Although it is estimated that approximately 75% of U.S. adults have e-mail access, the proportion of battered women's shelter residents who use e-mail is currently unknown. Remaining in contact with residents following shelter stays is challenging. E-mail might hold promise for follow-up contact if a sufficient number of survivors use e-mail and safety concerns can be addressed. Among a convenience sample of residents of 11 Massachusetts shelters (N = 57), the authors find that 47% had a current e-mail account. Among those with e-mail accounts, 89% used e-mail in locations other than their own homes; 81% reported that, to their knowledge, their e-mail accounts had never been accessed by unauthorized dating partners; and 88% reported that they thought it would be safe for the shelter to e-mail them following their departure. Additional research assessing the feasibility (i.e., safety, acceptability, and cost benefit) of remaining in contact with shelter residents via the Internet would be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Emily F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meade
authors.forename: Michele R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Decker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011638:Public Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult