Social support among women in methadone treatment who experience partner violence - Isolation and male controlling behavior

This study explores types, availability, use, and satisfaction of support a mong women in methadone treatment who reported partner violence. It also ex amines the role of the woman's intimate partner in isolating her from her s ocial network. A total of 68 women participated in 1 of 14 two-hour focus g roups. The findings suggest that male dominance and control function to iso late and prevent women from accessing support needed to cope with partner v iolence. The participants not only felt that they had few people to turn to for support but also expressed dissatisfaction with the support that they received.