annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

primary adults; and have disrupted, conflicted, and abusive family relationships, and covertfamily systems. This thesis draws a number of conclusions, including that sexually enactingchildren display patterns of withdrawal and internalisation when reacting to emotionalarousal.Source: Authors abstractLothian, J., & Read, J. (2002). Asking about abuse during mental health assessment: Clients’ viewsand experiences. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 31(2), 98-103.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12955.pubTopic Areas: Physical abuse, Psychological/emotional abuse, Sexual abuse, Mental health,Social services, Prevention/intervention/treatment, Demographics/statisticsAbstract: The data reported in this study was gathered from the Lothian’s master’s thesisentitled From Paternalism to Participation: Consumers’ Views and Experiences of the InitialAssessment Process in Mental Health (1998). The paucity of literature on consumers’ viewsand experiences concerning how mental health professionals deal with abuse issues was amotivating factor which drove the present study. The study reported on the perceptions of 74members of mental health consumer groups in New Zealand about their first assessment.Questionnaires were completed that asked about sexual, physical or emotional abuse at somepoint in the participants’ lives. Seventeen of the 74 questionnaire respondents alsovolunteered to be interviewed. Two-thirds of the participants reported sexual, physical oremotional abuse at some point in their lives, but only 20% had been asked about abuse onassessment. However, the more recent the assessment, the more likely the question of beingabused was raised by the professional. The majority (69%) of those who reported abusebelieved that there was a relationship between having been abused and their mental healthproblems. Interestingly, few (17%) thought the clinician saw such a connection. Participantsreporting abuse were more likely to believe that their diagnosis was not an accuratedescription of their difficulties. They also reported dissatisfaction with treatment compared tothose participants who did not report abuse. The discussion makes recommendations for stafftraining and routine abuse inquiry.Macfie, B., & Lensen, A. (2003). Plunket faces up to family violence. Kai Tiaki: Nursing NewZealand, 9(7), 18-19.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13055.pubTopic Areas: Families, Children, Health, Policy, Prevention/intervention/treatmentAbstract: This article examines the development of the Plunket Society’s family violencepolicy, which involves screening for family violence. The author describes some of theeffects on children growing up with violence in the home, and the consequent cost to societyof this significant social issue. The article describes a pilot study conducted in four areas ofNew Zealand over a 6-month period. The process of implementation and the evaluation of thefamily violence policy are discussed.Macredie, E. (2000). Battered women, justice and the legal system. Unpublished manuscript,University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13134.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Women, Perpetrators/offenders, Victims/survivors,Maori, Justice, Legislation, Cultural factors, Gender, Prevention/intervention/treatment,107