Women living with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse, substance use, and mental health problems.

Most researchers have studied physical and/or sexual abuse, substance use, and mental health problems separately or as a dual diagnosis, and from a theory-driven, empirical perspective. In this study, the authors examined these three phenomena together and from a phenomenological perspective. Thirty women each participated in an individual interview about living with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse, substance use, and mental health problems. Using a hermeneutic approach, a team of researchers analyzed the transcribed interview texts. They identified three themes: (a) being thrown: the cycle of abuse; (b) living life fearfully: a restricted world; and (c) helping: hearing my story. The results are significant, in that they challenge current assumptions underlying health care for women with histories of physical and/or sexual abuse, substance use, and mental health problems.