The Relationship Between Partner Abuse and Welfare Recipients - Literature review Example

The Relationship between Partner Abuse and Welfare Recipients The Relationship between Partner Abuse and Welfare Recipients Goes HereInstitutional Affiliation Goes Here Abstract Partner on partner domestic abuse amongst welfare recipients exists and causes major problems within family units in American society. This paper is the result of a comprehensive literature review that looked at the relationship between partner abuse and welfare recipients. The materials examined were from peer reviewed Journals published in the United States since 2001. It is interesting to note that across the United States the ethnical groups were different but the results were, for the most part, the same. The problems of domestic abuse and welfare recipients transcend ethnic groups and geographic locations. A snapshot of the target group in New York compared to the target group in California had only one major difference: Ethniticity. This most probably is because of demographic differences between the regions. 1. Why is this issue so important This issue is so important because it involves considerable suffering and oppression to a select segment of the population of the United States. Other countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom have similar issues. This study focused on communities within the United States. It is noteworthy that the problems of our poor are the source of much worry in other countries as well. Abuse is cyclical. Children are prone to repeat behaviors modeled by their parents. Children in environments that witness domestic violence are very prone to repeat that behavior in their adult homes. There has been much research that shows that boys who witness domestic violence will grow up to be abusive toward their families, wives, or domestic partners. According to Helpguide.org "Children who witness domestic violence may develop serious emotional, behavioral, developmental, or academic problems. As children, they may become violent themselves, or withdraw. Some act out at home or school; others try to be the perfect child. Children from violent homes may become depressed and have low self-esteem. As they develop, children and teens who grow up with domestic violence in the household are more likely to: Exhibit violent and aggressive behavior. Attempt suicide. Use and abuse drugs. Commit crimes, especially sexual assault. Become abusers in their own relationships later in life." To understand this issue one must be familiar with the terms of welfare and domestic violence that the social services industry uses most commonly. The terms most used in the article are: Partner on partner abuse - spousal abuse, domestic partner abuse, boyfriend or girlfriend abuse, older child on younger Welfare - public assistance provided to low/no income family units. It can be in the form of money, housing, food stamps, childcare, etc Domestic violence - any violence that takes place in the home between family members. This violence or abuse can take the form of physical, sexual, mental, emotional abuse or deprivation. Welfare reform - changes is welfare laws such as the requirement that welfare recipients work to receive benefits, time limits on eligibility (5 years in Ohio), and benefit amounts not increased upon the birth of an additional child. Changes in the welfare laws were designed to encourage recipients to get off welfare. Welfare reform is designed to change the usage of benefits back to their original intention-as temporary assistance during hard times vs. a subculture of benefit users that pass on to the next generation the idea that benefits are an entitlement. Further definitions will be provided as they occur in this paper. The reader must also understand that although most partner abuse is man on woman many cases of woman on man abuse takes place as well. Sadly, as children from violent or abusive homes grow up they are prone to duplicate the abuse in their homes. This could take place as older child on younger or older child on parent. The theoretical or practical issues that this subject addresses are the relationships between being a welfare recipient and being abused by your partner. The best case scenario would mean that by addressing these issues the problems examined would find solutions. The idea of ending abuse as we know it is so far away from reality that the most we can do at this point is address issues and gradually apply solutions. The problem did not appear overnight and its resolution will not be any faster. 2. Literature Review. Welfare reform brought much worry to the social services community. Reforming requirements for benefits was an added stressor to families that had more than their share of stress. But, society was tired of providing continued benefits to generations of recipients within the same family. Welfare reform was meant to help reduce poverty and domestic violence1 while moving more people into the workforce. "Advocates for battered women feared that abusive men would escalate violence in response to independence brought to women by employment.2" No real research supported this worry. The study performed by Stephanie Riger suggests that "with the inclusion of generous work supports in welfare legislation may help reduce poverty and domestic violence.3" Many welfare to work mothers retained many of the benefits they feared they would lose such as medical care, affordable housing, and food stamps. These families also gained childcare benefits. The fears of those in social services were unfounded because these families retained the benefits that were most important to the families thus not raising the stress levels in those homes as feared. The wellbeing of many welfare mothers continues to be a great concern. Richard Tolman of Michigan conducted a study using a random sample of women who were receiving welfare. The results were very telling about what these women had to endure. "Nearly a quarter of the women experienced physical partner violence in the past twelve months and almost two thirds in their lifetimes4" This group of women reported higher incidents of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and drug and alcohol problems. Most telling of this study was the correlation between partner violence and material hardships.5 Many of the same issues appeared in the study conducted in California by Dr's Anne Lown, Laura Schmidt, and James Wiley. Their study found a definite correlation between welfare recipients and domestic violence. Exposure to partner violence ranged from 20-30% of those receiving federal aid6. "That's about 2 to 3 times higher than in the general population7". Domestic violence and partner abuse is linked to other social ills such as homelessness, poor mental health and poor physical health. The California study found that battered partners found it harder to find and keep jobs. The overall health and welfare of these families that had battered partners was poor. Social workers were encouraged to look for signs of violence in families that were experiencing unemployment or divorce as there were higher levels of partner violence in these families than in the general population. Key risk factors identified for potential for abuse were alcohol and drug use, homelessness, mental health problems, and physical disabilities. It is also worthy of mention that the subjects of this study were rewarded for their participation with $30 for their time and a $10 grocery card8. Whether or not that had any impact on the study results is unknown. Free babysitting was provided and all study participants gave informed consent. The California study reported that most welfare recipients were single women with children. The largest ethnic group surveyed was African American. The ethnic group that reported the most partner domestic assaults was white women with children. One group of women inadvertently left out of other studies were single women on public assistance without children. This group was surveyed in this study and the results were disturbing. Partner initiated violence against single women was 2.5 times higher than the single women with children9. The assumption is that the partners felt safer from prosecution because of no witnesses. The conclusion of the study found that those at greatest risk of partner to partner violence were poor women without children. Having children actually reduced their vulnerability but did not eliminate it. Another study conducted in California was reported in the Journal of Sociology & Social Reform. Rachel Kimerling and Nikki Baumrind conducted the study using the survey method. The information was gathered using the 2001 California Women's Health Survey which was a population based random digital dial conducted by the California Department of Health Services10. Their study was focused on partner to partner violence among welfare/public assistance recipients and the rates of mental illness in this group. They found a correlation between rates of domestic violence and rate of depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Their results "suggest that the prevention and detection of violence is an important welfare issue, and highlights the need for more research in this area.11" The results of the Kimerling/Baumrind study suggest that partner on partner violence may be a "major barrier to education and employment12". This conclusion was based upon the theory that violence against women may be a factor that predisposes women to poverty and unemployment. This puts the woman at risk for poor physical and mental health. This further predisposes the need for thewomen to apply for and use welfare benefits. Women in this group have higher incidents of psychological problems such as depression and PTSD than the general population. 3. Further Study. As with any study further study would benefit this population. Welfare reforms begun in 1996 need reexamination. Data from 1996 to 2006 needs to be evaluated to determine effectiveness of the reforms and what changes need to be made. Welfare reforms were introduced and mandated by politicians and community members that never had to use welfare benefits themselves and probably never will. Reforms like these need to be further studied to develop and understanding of the effects of the reforms on the populations most affected by these reforms. Rates of partner on partner abuse need to be examined before reform and after reform to look for increases/decreases in harmful behaviors. The few years of mixed findings needs to be evaluated in depth. Have the incidents of violence, depression, and other related social ills increased or decreased since welfare reform Has welfare to work been successful or do we have a population falling thru the cracks There is a relationship between partner abuse and being a welfare recipient. Welfare beneficiaries have more stressors in their lives that promote violence in the home. Partner on partner abuse is higher in the welfare population than in the general population. There is no identified cure for this problem. Social Welfare workers need to screen for these problems and have interventions available that they can offer to the women involved. References American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. HELPGUIDE.org. Domestic Violence and Abuse:Types, Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Effects. Retrieved 02/12/07 http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm#effect Kimerling, Rachel and Nikki Baumrind. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare. Intimate Partner Violence and the Use of Welfare Services among California Women. December 2004, Vol XXXI. No. 4 Lown, Anne. Laura Schmidt. James Wiley. American Journal Of Public Health. Interpersonal Violence Among Women Seeking Welfare: Unraveling Lives. August 2006. Vol 96, No 8. Riger Stephanie. Journal: Violence Against Women. Welfare Reform, Domestic Violence, and Employment. Sept 2004 Vol. 10 Issue 9 Pages 961(30). Tolman, Richard M. Journal: Violence Against Women. Domestic Violence in the lives of Women Receiving Welfare. FEB 2001 Vol. 7 Issue 2. Pages 141(18). Read More