Women's responses to battering over time - An analysis of change

A community volunteer sample of 98 battered women teas interviewed using a combination of established instruments and in-depth questions over three po ints in time during a period of 3 1/2 years. An ANOVA change analysis appro ach was used, dividing the women into three approximately equal groups acco rding to abuse status. Groups I and 2, women who indicated a change from ab use to nonabuse status, reported significantly better health as compared to women reporting abuse at all three times. In contrast depression decreased for all 3 groups from Time I to Time 2, with a significant increase at Tim e 3 with no effect of abuse status. Self-esteem in non- African American wo men had a similar trajectory. However, for African American women, the mean s in both self-esteem and self-care agency increased across all three times , regardless of abuse. Depression trajectories also differed between Africa n American and non-African American women.