Physical and Sexual Trauma, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Sense of Community Among Women in Recovery: Toward a new Model of Shelter Aftercare

To determine patterns of past trauma & psychiatric symptoms among a population of women in Oxford House (a potential model for extending the time of care for women & children in domestic violence shelters) & to examine whether female residents found Oxford House to be a therapeutic environment, adult trauma, psychiatric symptoms, & sense of community were examined. Findings indicated that adult physical trauma but not adult sexual trauma predicted lifetime depression, suicide attempts, & anxiety. The results were interpreted in relation to the learned helplessness hypothesis of why some individuals remain in abusive relationships. (37 refs)