Cohort, Period, and Aging Effects: A Qualitative Study of Older Women's Reasons for Remaining in Abusive Relationships. Therese Zink, Saundra Regan, C Jeffrey Jacobson Jr, Stephanie Pabst. Violence Against Women. Thousand Oaks: Dec 2003.Vol.9, Iss. 12; pg. 1429.

Abstract: To understand women's reasons for continuing long-term abusive relationships, inter-views were conducted with 36 women who were over the age of 55. These women matured during times of sweeping social changes with the feminist, battered women's, and elder abuse movements. Reasons for remaining were organized into three categories: cohort, period, and aging effects. Cohort effects included reasons similar to those of younger women such as lacking education or job skills. Period effects related to efforts to seek help early in the abusive relationship and receiving little assistance from society's social institutions. Finally, aging effects dealt with how the health challenges of physical age limited options.

Intimate Partner Violence and Health Status Among Older Women. Charles P Mouton. Violence Against Women. Thousand Oaks: Dec 2003.Vol.9, Iss. 12; pg. 1465.

Abstract: As the baby boomer generation ages, there are more than 18 million women older than 65 (13.4% of the female population in the United States). More than 41% of these women remain in intimate relationships with their partner and thus become vulnerable to intimate partner violence (IPV). This group of women represents a unique group in the violence literature. Most of this literature has focused on IPV in women of childbearing age. What happens to these women and their relationships as they age? How does IPV differ for women who are not functionally dependent and not relying on their intimate partner for care? This article discusses the epidemiology of IPV, the health effects of IPV, and strategies for identification and intervention by health providers for this group of older women.

Screening Women and Elderly Adults for Family and Intimate Partner Violence: A Review of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Heidi D Nelson, Peggy Nygren, Yasmin McInerney, Jonathan Klein. Annals of Internal Medicine. Philadelphia: Mar 2, 2004.Vol.140, Iss. 5; pg. 387, 10 pgs.

Nelson et al examine evidence on the benefits and harms of screening women and elderly adults in health care settings for family and intimate partner violence. Results indicate that although the literature on family and intimate partner violence is extensive, few studies provide data on detection and management to guide clinicians.