A prospective study of the Mental Health of Women taking Residence at Women Shelters

Project title

A prospective study of the Mental Health of Women taking Residence at Women Shelters

Project manager

Sarah Bøgelund Dokkedahl

Project description

Goal:
The project aim to explore the extent of partner- and family-related violence experienced by women taking residence at Danish Women Shelters. The project aim to answer the following questions:

• What are the mental health consequences following partner- and family-related violence among women taking residence at Danish Shelters?
• What are the consequences of psychological violence?
• How does the mental health consequences develop over time and at follow-up after leaving the shelter?

Background:
Women exposed to partner and family-related violence are at increased risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems. Psychological interventions have been found to improve mental health in this population, however, little attention has addressed the overall efforts of Women Shelters and their association with the development of mental health problems in women taking residence at a shelter.

Methods:
A prospective study using quantitative data and a systematic review with meta-analyses.

Focus:
Psychological violence and mental health symptoms in general.

Start date and expected end date

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2020

Main supervisor

Professor Ask Elklit, Department of Psychology, SDU

Co-supervisors

Chief Physician Trine Rønde Kristensen, Frederiksberg Hospital

The project is carried out under

National Centre of Psychotraumatology Research Group

Collaborators

Kvindecenterfonden Dannerhuset;
Kvindehjemmet;
Odense Krisecenter;
Røntofte Krisecenter

Funding

Offerfonden (The Victims Foundation)

Keywords

Psychological violence, intimate partner violence, family related violence, PTSD and C-PTSD