Social work periodical literature on battered women, 1970-1984: a content analysis

Cameron, Carmen (1987) Social work periodical literature on battered women, 1970-1984: a content analysis. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

A review of literature on wife abuse suggests that there is no systematic study to date of the periodical literature using the methodology of content analysis. A systematic study of the social work periodical literature on wife abuse reveals the current status of knowledge, practice and concerns of the social work profession. These data serve to identify avenues of future research in this field. - A total of 68 articles on the subject of wife abuse appearing in the Social Work Research and Abstracts 1970-1984 form the sample of this analytical study. To carry out the methodology of content analysis, an instrument, the Wife Abuse Inventory (W.A.I.) was developed by the writer. The content of the articles was examined under the categories: authorship, dimension of wife abuse, theoretical perspectives, research orientation, service delivery, social intervention and social treatment modalities. - Data analysis revealed that 71% of the articles are published in nine journals. Over half of the articles are written by female authors. The profession of social work is well represented among the authors. The authors are predominantly from the United States. The majority of the articles are contributed by writers affiliated to a university. - The dimension of “psycho-social characteristics” of battered women received the most attention in the periodical literature. The socio-cultural model emerged as predominant and as the basis of social work knowledge on wife abuse. It is also apparent that the social work perspective on wife abuse has been influenced by the socio-psychological model. Non-empirical studies make up the larger portion of the articles. - This study revealed an emphasis on the use of a comprehensive service delivery system. This system is seen to have various deficiencies related to fragmentation, inaccessibility, non accountability and discontinuity. Various forms of intervention are presented as a means to improve the system of service delivery. - The analysis indicates that social workers use a direct individual client focused approach in their intervention with battered women. These interventions are primarily directed to the battered women. Finally, no single treatment modality emerged as being the optimal approach or the primary basis for social work practice with battered women.

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