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Measurement of self-esteem in repeat assault victims
C T Conti1, M Moncure, J Hines
1Maryland Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Journal of the National Medical Association
|April 29, 1998
Summary
Recurrent assault patients surprisingly exhibit higher self-esteem than first-time victims. Lower education and employment levels were noted in repeat assault cases, suggesting these factors are crucial for intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Trauma Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Previous research indicates lifestyle, substance abuse, education, employment, mental illness, and high-risk behaviors are linked to low self-esteem in repeat assault victims.
- However, self-esteem in recurrent-assault patients has not been previously studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate self-esteem in male patients with assault-related injuries, comparing first-time assault victims, recurrent-assault victims, and controls.
- To determine the relationship between self-esteem and assault-related injury in these groups.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 28 male assault patients (11 first-assault, 17 recurrent-assault) and 19 controls with no prior assault history.
- The Walmyr Assessment Scales Index of Self-Esteem (WASISE) was used to measure self-esteem.
Main Results:
- No demographic differences were found between the groups.
- Recurrent-assault patients had significantly higher mean WASISE scores (34.9 +/- 3.4) compared to no-assault (14.7 +/- 1.4) and first-time assault patients (15.0 +/- 2.3).
- Recurrent-assault patients had lower mean education levels and employment rates than the other groups.
Conclusions:
- Self-esteem, education, and employment history are important considerations for evaluating and intervening with repeat-assault patients.
- These findings challenge previous assumptions about self-esteem in assault victims and highlight the need for tailored interventions.