Economic abuse is a form of intimate partner violence in adult relationships and includes financial exploitation, financial control, and employment sabotage of an intimate partner. Semistructured interviews with youth-serving practitioners and focus groups with adolescents explored how economic abuse might appear within adolescent relationships. The study team reviewed recordings and notes from these listening sessions with practitioners and youth. Three themes of economic adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) emerged: academic and career interference, conflict and stress around financial decision-making, and gift-giving and reciprocity. Youth and youth-serving practitioners identified several aspects of economic abuse specific to adolescents that should be measured in future survey development. Future work should examine the impact that economic ARA can have on adolescent financial, employment, and educational outcomes.

African American women are disproportionately exposed to childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV). We examined two dimensions of self-esteem as potential mediators of the childhood maltreatment-IPV association in 232 African American women living below the federal poverty threshold. Three childhood maltreatment subtypes correlated with exposure to physical IPV. Four childhood maltreatment subtypes correlated with exposure to nonphysical IPV and lower self-esteem according to women's self-perceptions (Self) but not their beliefs about how others view them (Other). Lower self-esteem on each dimension was associated with greater exposure to physical and nonphysical IPV. Mediation analyses with bootstrapping revealed that both dimensions of self-esteem were significant mediators. Findings suggest that culturally responsive interventions that bolster self-esteem may mitigate the effects of childhood maltreatment on African American women's relationships.

Despite prevalent use, surprisingly little research has examined how intimate partner violence (IPV) shelter stays relate to violence experiences, including risk for homicide. To address this gap, we surveyed shelter residents to investigate (a) IPV types reported before and during a shelter stay and the differences by sociodemographic factors known to influence shelter stays; (b) extent of IPV homicide risk and significant associations; and (c) empowerment related to safety and risk for IPV homicide. We administered an online survey to IPV shelter residents (N = 241) in 19 programs in Texas. We assessed multiple forms of IPV, IPV homicide risk, and safety. Over 51% of IPV shelter residents had previously been denied shelter. Since arriving at the shelter, 22% of the residents experienced IPV. Over half of the sample (57%) were at high risk for IPV homicide. Chi square tests associate with IPV homicide risks based on disability status and lifetime shelter stays. Logistic regression identified previous shelter denials were associated with high risk for IPV homicide. Shelter stays are protective against IPV; however, the high rate of shelter denials, especially among those at high risk for homicide, indicates that we are not meeting the need of this precarious population. Innovative economic strategies and enhanced prevention are needed.

Teen dating violence (TDV) is associated with poor school outcomes such as lower grades, difficulty concentrating, reduced attendance, and decreased overall school engagement. Gender, ethnicity, age, and sexual risk behaviors are risk factors often associated with TDV as well as school outcomes, yet little is known about the effect of their interactions on school outcomes. This study fills this knowledge gap by analyzing data from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (N = 6,818) to explore the moderating effects of gender, ethnicity, age, and sexual risk behaviors on the relationship between TDV and school outcomes (grades and difficulty concentrating). χ2 and t tests conducted revealed that individuals who experienced TDV had poorer school outcomes than those who did not. Moderation analyses found that age and ethnicity moderated the effect of TDV on difficulty concentrating in school. Findings signal the need for tailored multicomponent violence prevention interventions in schools.

Imbalance in the development of impulse control and sensation-seeking is relevant for understanding the impact of cognition on antisocial behavior during adolescence and emerging adulthood. The role that hostility plays in the impact of impulse control and sensation-seeking on aggressive behavior remains understudied. The present study sought to address this gap in the literature by examining hostility as a moderator of the relationship between dual systems imbalance and aggressive behavior. All 11 waves of the Pathways to Desistance data were analyzed. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine direct and moderated effects of interest. Results indicated that a greater imbalance, characterized by elevated sensation-seeking and diminished impulse control, predicted increased aggressive behavior variety. Hostility exerted a significant and negative moderation effect on this relationship. Additional analyses indicated that there were significant differences in aggressive behavior variety between individuals with high levels versus low levels of hostility at the negative values of dual systems imbalance (high impulse control and low sensation-seeking), but these differences disappeared at the positive values of dual systems imbalance (high sensation-seeking and low impulse control).

This study analyzed the Demographic and Health Survey data from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to explore diversity in intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences using latent class analysis. A five-class model was identified, including a No Violence class and four IPV classes, such as Predominantly Control, Sexual IPV, Less Severe Physical IPV, and Severe Physical IPV. Women in the sample reside in predominantly rural areas, have primary education, and are 31 years old on average. Findings reveal patterns of IPV that differ from those commonly reported in the North American literature, notably the pervasiveness of control across classes, the distinct forms of physical IPV, and the distinct separation of sexual IPV from physical IPV. These results emphasize the importance of tailored interventions to address the unique needs of women in these contexts.

Although social support is a robust predictor of posttraumatic growth (PTG), little is known about internal mechanisms that might play a role in this relationship. Experiential avoidance (EA) may be particularly relevant given that avoidance can interfere with trauma recovery and inhibit meaning-making and growth. The current study examined EA as a moderator of the relationship between social support and PTG among 398 trauma-exposed adults. EA moderated the relationship between social support and PTG. Average and high levels of EA evinced strong positive associations between social support and PTG, while the significant relationship between social support and PTG disappeared at low levels of EA. Reducing EA and/or bolstering social support may enhance levels of PTG among trauma survivors with high levels of EA.

The purpose of this study was to examine paths stemming from early childhood victimization, including maltreatment exposure, community violence exposure, and home violence exposure, exploring how these experiences affected middle childhood behaviors and negative outcomes into adolescence, including delinquency, arrest, dropout, and early sexual intercourse. Variation in paths by sex and type of victimization was also explored. Using data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) consortium and multigroup path models, findings suggested differences in paths by sex and victimization type. According to results, composite victimization was broadly associated with a wide range of negative outcomes in adolescence for both boys and girls. By type, maltreatment was more predictive of negative outcomes for girls (including delinquency and early sexual intercourse), while maltreatment and community violence exposure increased the risk of dropout and delinquency for boys. Findings highlight the importance of exploring variations in patterns following early victimization over time and across environments in order to better meet children's needs and prevent long-term negative outcomes.

Gun ownership is often motivated by a desire to protect oneself and one's family from perceived threats. These perceived dangers may include hypothetical or future scenarios and can be based on personal experiences of victimization. In this article, we extend the extant body of literature assessing the linkages between criminal victimization and firearm ownership and related behaviors, leveraging data from the Guns in American Life Survey. In particular, we examine whether ever being a victim of sexual assault-by itself or also experiencing other forms of violence is associated with gun ownership and practices and whether these patterns vary by gender. Our dependent variables include firearm ownership and related behaviors (i.e., firearm storage methods, loaded status, and carrying). Our findings present a mix of both expected and surprising outcomes. The type of victimization plays a significant role in understanding patterns of gun ownership and behaviors. Interestingly, experiencing rape alone was positively associated with only one outcome-access to a loaded gun for males-and negatively associated with one outcome-male victims' gun ownership. Experiencing sexual assault and another form of violent victimization was positively associated with most outcomes. Additionally, gender differences emerge in these relationships, suggesting that men and women may respond differently to victimization when it comes to firearm ownership and usage. We address these findings and conclude with a discussion of policy implications.

Human trafficking (HT) is often misunderstood due to public myths and media distortion, which hinder effective identification of and support for victims. This study employed thematic analysis of interviews with 10 participants who had several years of experience providing voluntary professional support (social, psychological, or legal) in nongovernmental organizations assisting victims of HT in southern Spain. The interviews explored participants' perceptions of trafficking myths, their professional experiences with victims, and their views on how trafficking is represented and understood by the public and institutions. Seven key themes were identified: dehumanization and exploitation, victim profiles, recruitment methods, social normalization and concealment, institutional blind spots, structural inequality, and trafficking myths. The findings highlight the need for improved public education, more nuanced media portrayals, and policy reforms that reflect the complex realities of HT. These insights can inform more inclusive and effective interventions.