CHDR FUNDED PILOT STUDIES

Measuring Harassment While Leaving Violent Partner Relationships

Daniel Sheridan, PhD, RN (JHUSON)

LaToya Marsh, MSN, RN(NCA&TSON)

Intimate partner abuse remains a significant problem in the United States with 500,000 physical, emotional, sexual and/or financial abuses reported in 2002 (Rennison & Rand, 2003). There are many barriers for women to leave abusive relationships.

The purpose of this study is to examine these barriers by further pilot testing the screening tool Harassment in Abusive Relationships: A self-report scale (HARASS) (Sheridan, 1998: 2001). Women from domestic violence support groups in emergency shelters will be asked to participate in this study in both the greater Baltimore, Maryland and North Carolina Piedmont Triad areas.