We believe that listening to survivors closely will reveal those experiences and concepts that are important to them. We then use mixed methods, cognitive interviewing and international instrument validation techniques to translate survivors voices into survey instruments that can be used for theory testing in larger samples.
Barriers to help seeking for GBV survivors
The Barriers to help seeking-GBV (BHS-GBV) includes perceptions about the availability of relevant help. The BHS-GBV scale was developed using an original 21 item from an epidemiological study of mental health help seeking in Ontario (1). The scale was adapted using focus groups with 24 GBV survivors in Ireland, reviewing the literature on barriers to help seeking for GBV survivors, and used 24 interviews with American GBV survivors to develop ten additional GBV specific barriers. Our psychometric validity study with 326 GBV survivors found nine factors solution that has 34 items and explains 63% of the variance. The nine factors can be grouped conceptually as the Interpersonal dimension barriers (shame, belief that it is normal and paralysis); the Interpersonal dimension barriers (mistrust, needed help was not available); and the Structural dimension barriers (perceived discrimination, financial constraints, and external constraints). Alpha reliability is .91, KMO is .88, and Bartlett’s test is significant (p=.00). We are carrying out validation studies in other countries.
1. Lin E, Goering P, Offord DR, Campbell D, Boyle MH. Use of mental health services in Ontario: Epidemiological Findings. Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie. 1996;41:572-577
Healing after GBV instrument
The Healing after GBV instrument was constructed using Exploratory sequential mixed methods, beginning with items based on healing themes gathered from four studies with survivors of GBV. We then used expert review, cognitive interviewing, and factor analysis with 225 GBV survivors. Factor analysis revealed a four-factor solution has 21 items that explain 58% of the variability and alpha reliability of .93. KMO is .95, and Bartlett’s test is significant (p=.00). The four factors are Self-connection, Regaining Hope and Power, Relatedness, and Self-advocacy.
Normalization of GBV
The Normalization of GBV instrument was constructed using three triangulated datasets: Voices of GBV survivors, a MiStory intensive cross-cultural comparison of normalization for survivors in 12 countries, and a literature review of existing normalization instruments. The resulting instrument was then translated into 4 other non-English languages (Turkish, Greek, Icelandic and Italian) and cognitive interviewing was carried out. The resulting instrument is currently undergoing a cross-cultural psychometric studies.
Recovery Actions Checklist
Most research on help seeking focuses on service utilization. In general, services are defined as legal, social, medical and psychological, but some studies also include informal social support. However, our interviews have found that survivors are engaged in a vast array of recovery actions. Using interview data, we developed 45 item checklist for survivors to capture the recovery actions they use at the time of the survey. The Recovery Actions Checklist (RAC) asks participants to check those things they are doing for their recovery, and incliudes the dimensions of Doing things good for my health; Caring for my emotional and personal needs; Relating with others; Finding community, safety, and justice; Finding Peace, joy and contentment; and Building a new future.