Partner abuse in physically disabled women: A proposed model for understanding intimate partner violence

PROBLEM. Physically disabled women are a population at significant risk for intimate partner violence. METHOD. This study used a qualitative research design to address the abuse experience of physically disabled women. FINDINGS. The participants identified multiple incidences of abuse, focusing on how the abuse began, proceeded, and terminated. A model was constructed to depict the abuse experience. The progression of abuse triggers, responses of the women, the abuse episode, the after-effects, and the slow return to usual routines were identified. CONCLUSIONS. A model, which is different from Walker's Cycle of Violence (Walker, 1979; 2000), was constructed to demonstrate the journey of women with disabilities through the abuse.