annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

social isolation and elder dependency risk factors, and physical abuse with the intraindividualdynamics risk factor. Implications from these findings and future directions forresearch are given. Because this study analysed the physical abuse and neglect groupsseparately, the small number of participants in each maltreatment group meant that thisresearch was mainly indicative rather than conclusive. Nevertheless, demographicalcharacteristics of the elders and caregivers seemed to be comparable to profiles generatedoverseas, allowing comparisons to be made with greater confidence.Source: Author’s abstractOverall, S. C. (2001). Minimising the hostage effect: The implementation of the Dangerous SituationsStrategy in the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services. Unpublished master’s thesis,Massey University, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12081.pubTopic Areas: Care and protection, Social services, Prevention/intervention/treatment,Cultural practiceAbstract: This research report analyses a sample of 52 case records, and interviews 12 socialworkers in the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, New Zealand whoexperienced violent incidents that were officially reported to the Dangerous SituationsStrategy (DSS) from 1996 to 2000. Social workers did experience a number of emotionalresponses that, if not dealt with constructively, had the potential for deleterious consequencesfor the social worker and quality of service delivery. The efficacy of the DSS as anorganisational response to workplace violence is discussed and further refinements suggested.It is concluded that the DSS was the beginning of an appropriate organisational response tothe pressing problem of workplace violence in the statutory social work services.Source: Author’s abstractPack, M. (2001). Sexual abuse counsellors’ responses to trauma and stress: A social workperspective. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Victoria University of Wellington, NewZealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/12152.pubTopic Areas: Sexual abuse, Victims/survivors, Health, Mental health, Social services,Prevention/intervention/treatment, Cultural practiceAbstract: Using a qualitative research methodology, this study explores the range of social,organisational and theoretical factors that impact on sexual abuse counsellors. The relevanceof vicarious traumatisation and constructivist self-development theory are investigated using asocial work perspective. Secondly, the relationship between sexual abuse counsellors’responses to trauma and the theoretical frameworks identified as fruitful in their work withsexual abuse survivors are explored. Thirdly, the significant others of the primary participantswere interviewed to elicit their perspectives of the impact of the work on their relationshipswith the counsellor-participants. This thesis adds to the body of knowledge about stress andtrauma among sexual abuse therapists by introducing a multi-layered understanding of thechallenges faced. It suggests that there are ways in which social workers and therapists candevelop awareness and understanding of trauma and stress on multiple levels. It underlies theimportance of workers sampling and integrating into their practice a wide range of theoreticalapproaches. Maintaining relationship is the primary theme which protects the counsellor fromthe fragmenting sense of disjuncture that is a key experience of sexual abuse work.Source: Author’s abstract142