Domestic violence is so common these days that it's absolutely scary. 1 in 3 women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime! Now a study shows that young women who battle depression may be at risk of being a victim of domestic violence later on in their lives.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11713094/
"NEW YORK - Young women with a history of depression in adolescence are more likely than their peers to become victims of abuse from a boyfriend or husband, new research suggests.
In a study that followed students at 132 U.S. high schools and middle schools, researchers found that girls who had depression symptoms as teens were nearly twice as likely to suffer moderate to severe partner violence by early adulthood.
Moderate to severe abuse was defined as being hit, slapped, kicked or injured by a husband or boyfriend."
"Young women who had significant depression symptoms as teenagers were 86 percent more likely than their non-depressed peers to report serious partner violence 5 years later. This association still held after a number of potential risk factors, such as race, parents’ education and history of childhood abuse from a caregiver, were taken into account."
"And among men, depression has been linked to a greater risk of abusive behavior."
Now, I don't know a solution to this problem, but I know that there are many depressed teens these days. Domestic violence is already a huge problem here in the United States, but now it seems like teen depression rates are rising, which will probably also increase domestic violence rates. So I guess we need to try to stop depression.
Depressed girls feel like they don't deserve a non-abusive man. They get it stuck in their heads that their boyfriend is beating them because that's what they deserve, but this is NOT the case. My mom was beaten by my father and I always hear how girls tend to marry men who are like their fathers, so I really hope that this is not the case for me.
Girls: respect yourselves and realize that you are worth something. If you know that one of your friends is being abused, you NEED to get them help and help them to realize that they deserve better.
Guys: Respect women. If you know that one of your friends is an abuser, help them to realize that is not the appropriate way to deal with your anger/ control issues. Tell them that this is wrong.
It's just so sad how many women (and men) are being abused by their partners these days. It is not right and NOBDY deserves that kind of treatment.
It is very, very hard to take yourself out of that kind of relationship. Not to mention that it does not have to be only with punching and hitting and slapping to where it could be considered abuse. If anything, verbal abuse is even worse (or emotional abuse). Not to mention that when you are in that kind of relationship, you keep thinking that it is just a phase, and then you end up thinking that YOU are the one at fault, not them (like...you deserve the beatdown). It is a lot harder than you think...even if you tell your friend that it is happening to that it's not right.
"Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity--and I'm not so sure about the universe"
-Albert Einstein
Believe me, I understand how hard it is to get out of that type of relationship, considering my own father is one of these abusers and I witnessed the horrible things he did to my mom. But any step at trying to stop this from happening or stop it from continuing to happen is beneficial. i know that many of these people can't get out of the relationship, which is why their friends should try extra hard to get them to realize that they deserve better.
Thankfully I was never exposed to physical abuse, whether it was between my parents, between my father and myself, or otherwise. But, I do agree that abuse is a lot more than physical, and emotional abuse can be just as bad or even worse, but unfortunately if our society can't see it on an X-ray then it takes a back seat to symptoms that are more obvious. This is how depression is in teens, as well. If you have cancer everyone rushes to your aide and a billion doctors are throwing suggestions and advice--you feel like you have support and options. With depression, no one can tell. And if you tell someone then many times it is brushed off as "just a phase." I'm not surprised at all that research shows a link between the two.
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"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." [V for Vendetta]
I strongly agree that it could be very hard for any man or woman to leave a relationship where their partner is abusive. Only from experience, not from myself, but others around me, if your in love with this person and they're abusive to you either physical or verbal, it is hard for you to leave. If your husband, wife, girlfriend,(yes women can be abusers too!)boyfriend,fiance, or significant other was an abuser and all your past relationships or your past experiences in life has brought you a life-time of heartache and emotional pain, as you get older, that's all you seem to attract. The type of person who won't do right by you. Because that is what your partner is going to feed on. They're going to look for the person with low self-esteem and is desperate and doesn't know a good partner from a bad one. Although this may be all bad and negative, the good thing that you could learn form this is self-value. If your significant other is promising you that they will get counseling over and over again and over and over again they go back to their abusive ways, chances are that they won't change, and the only way you will get out of this relationship is to physically and emotionally cut yourself off from this person. Do whatever you have to do.....weather it be to change your number, or move to a new location, do what you have to do. It may be hard at first because you feel that this person "loves" you and you love them back........but to be real, love does not come with self-devalue!
I have been in a few abusive relationships, it is very hard to break away. Its been almost a year since I broke away from mine and I'm still depressed. Now I feel as though I'm waking up little bit by little bit, almost as though I'm awaking from being knocked out and everythings fuzzy. I don't remember much from last year, only flashbacks, and night terrors.
Nothing we didn't already know.
Something that people don't commonly note, though - women do the same thing, and it's MUCH worse - because when that happens to man, there's no where to really go. Your friends can't help (society's masculinity is still there), and it's not like there's a shelter around - and, I hate to say it, but woman can fake-cry a lot better than men. To the point that NO jury is going to convict a woamn abuser, and scold them an for putting her in such bad condition (fakely, of course).
I think that needs to be made aware of, too.
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If a society is willing to give freedom for temporary security, they deserve neither.
I know, I'm doing a project on domestic violence and there are so many husband beaters and nobody ever realizes that. Domestic violence is such a huge problem in today's society for people of both sexes.
You are right, women are being abused at very high numbers these days, and depression is never a good factor!