Partner abuse in physically disabled women: a proposed model for understanding intimate partner violence.

Problem: Physically disabled women are a population at significant risk for intimate partner violence.

Method: This study used a qualitative research design to address the abuse experience of physically disabled women.

Findings: The participants identified multiple incidences of abuse, focusing on how the abuse began, proceeded, and terminated. A model was constructed to depict the abuse experience. The progression of abuse triggers, responses of the women, the abuse episode, the after-effects, and the slow return to usual routines were identified.

Conclusions: A model, which is different from Walker's Cycle of Violence (Walker, 1979; 2000), was constructed to demonstrate the journey of women with disabilities through the abuse.