The Relationship Between Mothers' Social Networks and Severe Domestic Violence: A Test of the Social Isolation Hypothesis

Author: Coohey, Carol

Source: Violence and Victims, Volume 22, Number 4, 2007 , pp. 503-512(10)

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

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Abstract:

To understand the relationship between characteristics of mothers' social networks and domestic violence, battered mothers who were severely assaulted were compared to battered mothers who were not severely assaulted and mothers who were not assaulted. The results showed that all three groups of mothers had several family members in their social networks with whom they had frequent contact during the past month. No differences were found between the groups on the number of family members who gave emotional support. However, the mothers who were severely assaulted had fewer friends, fewer contacts with their friends, fewer long-term friendships, and fewer friends who really listened to them than did the nonbattered mothers and the battered mothers who were not severely assaulted. Batterers may be more successful in disrupting friendship ties than family ties.

Keywords: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; WOMAN BATTERING; SOCIAL NETWORKS; RECEIVED SUPPORT; SOCIAL ISOLATION

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/088667007781554008

Publication date: 2007-08-01

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Violence and Victims discusses theory, research, policy, and clinical practice in the area of interpersonal violence and victimization across such disciplines as psychology, sociology, criminology, law, medicine, nursing, psychiatry, and social work.
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