Relation of Criminal Victimization to Health Perceptions Among Women Medical Patients

Mary P. Koss, W. Joy Woodruff, Paul G. Koss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

103 Scopus citations

Abstract

The relation of criminal victimization to health perceptions (self-rated current health) was determined among women health maintenance organization patients. Data were survey responses from 2,291 women (45% response rate), 57% of whom had experienced crime. Reliability was evaluated by assessing 241 respondents both by survey and by interview. Data were analyzed by hierarchical multiple regression, which indicated that criminal victimization was an important predictor of health perceptions even after accounting for the contributions of demographics and other stressful life events with known links to illness. Validity was supported because medical care was actually sought by 92% of crime victims during the 1st year following the crime and by 100% during the 2nd year. Conclusions included the following: (a) Crime victimization history is relevant to health status assessment, and (b) primary care medical populations are an important locus from which crime victims could be identified and their treatment options considered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)147-152
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of consulting and clinical psychology
Volume58
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1990

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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