Violence against women: Physical and mental health effects. Part I: Research findings

Interpersonal violence is a ubiquitous source of fear, distress, and injury in the lives of women in the United States, crossing lines of age, race, ethnicity, and economic status (Coley & Beckett, 1988; Frieze & Browne, 1989; Koss, 1988; Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz, 1980). In recent years, the public health community has become increasingly aware that "this violence is a serious public health problem ... [and that] nonfatal interpersonal violence has far-reaching consequences in terms of morbidity and quality of life" (Center for Disease Control, 1985, p. 739). This article reviews the physical and mental health effects on adult women of physical abuse and sexual assault, and describes their implications for mental health research and practice.