A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACTS AMONG WOMEN IN A COMMUNITY

Abstract

The present study aimed at analyzing situations of domestic violence and psychological impacts among women in a community.  The study sample consisted of 184 women living in a community under the responsibility of Pathum Thani Hospital. The instruments used in data collection included a demographic characteristics questionnaire, the domestic violence questionnaire, and the psychological impacts of domestic violence questionnaire.  Frequency, percentage, and mean were employed in statistical analysis.

The study findings could be summarized into two main issues: 1) experience with domestic violence (physical, psychological, and socioeconomic aspects), and 2) women’s psychological impacts. It was found that the three most commonly found physical experiences with domestic violence were being punched and hit when the husband was dissatisfied, being thrown with nearby objects when the husband was furious, and being locked up by the husband. The most frequently found psychological experiences with domestic violence were husbanding having irrational rage, husband not giving care when sick, and husband being verbally abusive.  Finally, the most frequently found socioeconomic experiences with domestic violence were husband always asking where they had been and what they were doing, having to be responsible for the debts of husband, and being controlled financially by husband. In terms of psychological impacts, the three leading psychological impacts were feeling scared as not knowing what made husband dissatisfied, not loving husband as used to, and not daring to share what had been going on in the family with others.

The study findings could be used as baseline data to devise a plan with the community to screen, protect, and assist women suffering from domestic violence more comprehensively and effectively.