Factors Related to the Decision to Leave an Abusive Relationship

Abstract

This study examined the role of severalfactors that past theory and research suggest should influence a battered woman's decision to leave her partner. Both objective and subjective measures were collected from 251 abused women. Results indicated that eight variables contributed independently to relationship decisions. Women who had left the relationship at follow-up were more likely than were those who remained to be employed, to have been in their relationships for a shorter period of time, to be nonwhite, and to have tried a greater number of other coping strategies to alleviate the abuse. In addition, women who indicated at intake that they were living with theirpartners because of love, economic hardship, the belief that the abuser would change, or because they had nowhere else to go were likely to be still with their assailants at follow-up. These results qualify past research and underscore the utility of using both objective and subjective assessment.