Victims Of Abuse Research Articles

ONE CRISIS WITHIN ANOTHER: COPING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Although Covid-19 has aggravated and initiated mental health concerns to domestic violence (DV) victims, there is a worrying lack of measures meant to DV victims in the context of a pandemic. This study aims to (a) identify and understand the types of domestic violence experienced by women during the pandemic, as well as the consequences in social and work contexts, (b) assess the coping strategies of abuse victims, and (c) identify the gap in government and organizational support for DV victims. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to conduct in-depth interviews with 19 Malaysian women. NVIVO 8 was utilised for thematic analysis. The qualitative findings suggest that there was an increase in gender-based violence in Malaysia during the lockdown, with psychological abuse appearing to be the most prevalent. Despite the difficulties, the majority of victims who were exploited during the lockdown did not report the abuse and instead employed avoidance-based coping mechanisms. Negative passive-avoidance and negative active-avoidance were the most prevalent coping mechanisms. The findings also indicate that eradicating domestic violence would necessitate a broader, more coordinated, and integrated system of government and organizational support. This is the first study to evaluate the serious impact of domestic violence on working Malaysian women in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. As a result, it provides a wealth of information and could serve as a firm basis for designing effective psychological interventions for women in countries with similar cultural and societal norms to Malaysia.

Examining Failings in Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Offenses: Focus on Male Victims and Impact of Operation Bluestone

This article highlights the failings of the criminal justice system in offering support to the victims of sexual violence, and keeping the focus particularly on male victims of sexual abuse. The article also investigates the overall experiences of all victims and the current procedures and policies in place. Men are treated as non-deserving victims, because the definition of rape under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 defines rape as “penetration with penis” and does not take male victims into account. Male victims are also not treated the same way as female victims, however both experience rape myths such as males not being ‘man enough’ and females with vulnerabilities, such as alcohol consumption, not being believed. Furthermore, it is increasingly difficult to bring forward rape charges by the crown prosecution service and the victims withdrawal rate in 2019-20 remains at 57%, indicating failings within CJS. Moreover, the negative attitudes of officers dealing with rape cases, and officers abusing their powers to sexually assault victims, raised serious questions around the systematic failure within the CJS. There is a lack of support for rape victims, and the impact of Operation Bluestone, which was created to improve rape case procedures, shows that the number of cases making it to court has increased with the project, but conviction rates remain very low. This was impacted by rape myth culture, which was a consistent theme throughout the research.

Did the First COVID-19 National Lockdown Lead to an Increase in Domestic Abuse in the U.K.'s Capital City of London?

On March 23, 2020, the United Kingdom went into national lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19. In this paper, we examine whether a policy aimed at minimizing the health consequences of the pandemic had unintended negative consequences for domestic abuse. Using data from the Metropolitan Police in England we estimate the impact of lockdown on domestic abuse in the 32 boroughs that make up the London metropolitan area. Using a before and after approach, and controlling for other factors, we show an increase in the probability of being a victim of domestic abuse during lockdown similar in magnitude to the increase experienced over the Christmas holidays. However, the overall picture masks inequalities across groups: with women, younger and older people, and people of Asian, Arab, and Middle Eastern ethnicity subject to the highest increases, reflecting vulnerabilities and existing inequalities. Of the domestic abuse-related crimes, it is the most violent crimes that saw the greatest increases during lockdown. Once lockdown restrictions are eased, rates decline but remain slightly higher than prior to lockdown up to 3 months later. The results present a clear message for policy makers: a policy adopted to alleviate one problem, even in times of crisis, must factor in the impact this may have in other areas. Failure to do so in this situation, despite existing evidence linking domestic abuse to stress, confinement, and crisis situations prior to lockdown, has resulted in an increase in domestic violence in the U.K.'s capital city, during lockdown and beyond.

Change in Depression Severity Among Depressed Older Crime Victims.

The crime rates in urban centers are rising. The psychological impact of crime can range from distress to longstanding mental health impairment. Despite the rising crime rates and psychological impact on victims, little research has been conducted on older adult crime victims' mental health. In this manuscript we describe the profile of older adult crime victims in New York City referred for mental health services, their rates of depression, and the preliminary outcome data from a brief therapy intervention (PROTECT) targeting depression among victims. Building on prior research demonstrating the efficacy of PROTECT for depressive symptom reduction in elder abuse victims, the present study hypothesized elder crime victims who completed PROTECT therapy would demonstrate clinically meaningful depression symptom reduction as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Additionally, it was hypothesized that these clinically significant depression symptom reductions would be demonstrated regardless of sex, gender, victimization type, victimization frequency, or living status. The results demonstrate that 67.7% (21/31) of participants had a clinically significant reduction in PHQ-9 scores (≥5 points) upon completion of PROTECT. There were no significant group differences in clinically significant depression symptom reduction, suggesting that PROTECT is an effective intervention for a diverse sample of elder crime victims. Future research should focus on the mental health impact of crime against older adults and explore reductions in anxiety and PTSD symptoms among crime victims. Through our partnerships we aim to bridge the divide between victim service providers, and mental health service providers to assist victims to recover, heal, and thrive.

The gaslighting relationship exposure inventory: Reliability and validity in two cultures

Gaslighting, a form of psychological abuse, has received increasing attention in recent years. The current research provides reliability and validity evidence for a new 11-item measure of exposure to gaslighting by a romantic partner: The Gaslighting Relationship Exposure Inventory (GREI). Two studies were conducted with Israeli ( N = 509) and American ( N = 395) community samples. Participants were involved in a romantic relationship and completed an online questionnaire that included measures of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, depression, and relationship satisfaction. In both studies, the GREI items loaded onto a single factor of relationship gaslighting exposure. The scale demonstrated metric gender invariance and was reliable in both men and women. Relationship gaslighting exposure was strongly linked with psychological abuse victimization and weakly linked with other forms of IPV victimization, thus showing strong convergent and discriminant validity. Moreover, relationship gaslighting exposure was associated with greater depression and lower relationship quality, above and beyond other forms of IPV victimization. The results support the reliability and validity of the GREI in both men and women, as well as its utility for the study of gaslighting exposure within relationships. The current research highlights that gaslighting is a distinct form of psychological abuse with unique implications for personal and relational well-being.

Analyzing actual crime victimizations of people with dementia in criminal court judgment databases in Japan

ABSTRACT People with dementia suffer not only from symptoms but also from social vulnerability including an increased risk of abuse and criminal victimization. In existing quantitative studies, the data are based on reports by people with dementia themselves, their family members, or concerned persons, which may be insufficient to accurately identify the actual mechanisms and circumstances of abuse or victimization. To speculate on the exact realities of people with dementia victimization, we extracted criminal sentences of perpetrators collected from the Japanese judgment database. A total of 152 cases in approximately 23 years included various victimization situations; these cases were classified into six categories of harm (physical, psychological, neglect, sexual, financial, and miscellaneous) and five categories of perpetrator (spouse, child, other family, supporter, and stranger or other). There were 93 cases of physical victimization by the spouse or child, which were statistically analyzed. Through case inspections, we provide an accurate victimization process of people with dementia and propose a four-class typology of physical victimization by the family: care exhaustion, antipathy to people with dementia, self-righteous or self-contained family, and continuous abuse type. These case scrutinies and their classifications may contribute to interventions regarding the support of people with dementia and their families.

A mixed-methods cross-sectional study to evaluate the public acceptability of a novel pharmacy-based response service for domestic abuse and/or suicidal ideation

BackgroundDomestic abuse (DA) and suicidal ideation (SI) are prevalent and often co-occur. Numerous practical and psychosocial barriers inhibit help-seeking, including accessibility and confidentiality concerns. Early intervention and referral are essential for both DA and SI. Pharmacies are accessible and may be perceived as a discreet venue for a DA and SI response service. There is a growing body of literature about the role of community pharmacy teams in suicide prevention and assisting domestic abuse victims globally. Whilst there have been some interventions in UK pharmacies to support domestic abuse victims and encouragement of staff training in suicide prevention, there is currently no commissioned service for DA and/or SI in pharmacies in the UK. ObjectiveTo assess public acceptability of a novel response service in community pharmacy for people in danger from domestic abuse and/or suicidal ideation. MethodsData collection consisted of an online public survey running for 6 weeks and qualitative interviews with pharmacy customers. Descriptive statistics were used to present the survey results and interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using the Framework Analysis method and NVivo 11. ResultsThe majority of 501 survey respondents and all 12 customer interview participants were supportive of offering a response service for DA and/or SI in community pharmacy. Participants emphasised the need for appropriate staff training and support. They considered it an ethical and accessible approach and the majority said that they would recommend such a service to family or friends, and use it themselves if needed. However, awareness of the service was low and marketing materials were considered insufficiently clear. ConclusionsThere is strong public support and acceptability for a response service covering both suicidal ideation and domestic abuse in community pharmacies. Further research is required to develop appropriate marketing materials.

The Side-Effects of Imprisonment: Harm to the Family

AbstractImprisonment affects prisoners’ families. Empirical research tells us that some families benefit from this separation, particularly when they are victims of crime or abuse. But for many, imprisonment has a negative impact on family life, which can be intensified by other pre-existing factors. The main literature on the harm that imprisonment causes family members is empirical, but these empirical findings raise difficult moral questions. How might we approach these side-effects? One view, The Simple View, suggests these side-effects are proportionate so long as the overall harm produced does not outweigh the good punishment aims to achieve. This paper defends The Complex View. Here, proportionality requires us to think about factors beyond the magnitude of harm. Drawing upon existing moral and political philosophy, I aim to show three other factors that may alter how certain harms and benefits figure in proportionality calculations.

“We’re going to tie you to the chair”: the perception of perpetrators and the risk of violence in old age

This article analyses the experiences and perceptions of a sample of people over 60 about the most frequent type of violence in old age, the risk factors, the offenders and the reactions to abuse. A mixed study was carried out with the sequential application of 677 questionnaires and 45 interviews. The results show that older people are mainly victims of psychological abuse and financial exploitation; the type of abuse varies according to the type of aggressor; and that machismo, ageism, mental health problems, addictive behaviours and social isolation are risk factors for violence. Health and justice professionals are perceived as those to whom victims should turn and confide.

Analysis of Public and Private Treatment Services for Substance Use Disorders in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Inappropriate use of substances, also known as substance abuse, especially among youths constitutes a problem globally. The trajectory of substance abuse exposes individuals to various health problems and disorders. To this end, the provision of treatment services is considered an important measure towards addressing the side effects of the inappropriate use of substances. Focusing on Kaduna State, Nigeria, this study analyzes public and private facilities available for individuals facing substance use disorders. The study employed quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, with the administration of questionnaires and in-depth interview guides to respondents and research participants in selected treatment facilities. Copies of questionnaires were administered to eighty-six staff while in-depth interviews were conducted on eight (8) staff of the selected treatment facilities. The study leverages Talcott Parson’s social system theory to explain the subject matter. Findings from the study revealed that the selected facilities provided evidence-based psychosocial treatment services to the victims of substance abuse. In addition to other medical services provided by public and private treatment facilities, findings revealed that public facilities provided HIV/AIDs services than private facilities. Unlike private treatment facilities, the study discovered that wraparound services (such as vocational training) are minimally provided by public facilities. Despite the importance of supportive services towards optimal rehabilitation of victims of substance abuse, the study revealed that both public and private facilities neglect such services. The study therefore recommends strong collaboration among the existing treatment facilities towards the provision of optimal skills and rehabilitation of victims of substance abuse and its associated disorders.

Acute social defeat during adolescence promotes long-lasting aggression through activation of the medial amygdala.

Traumatic stress, particularly during critical developmental periods such as adolescence, has been strongly linked to an increased propensity and severity of aggression. Existing literature underscores that being a victim of abuse can exacerbate aggressive behaviors, with the amygdala playing a pivotal role in mediating these effects. Historically, animal models have demonstrated that traumatic stressors can increase attack behavior, implicating various amygdala nuclei. Building on this foundation, our previous work has highlighted how traumatic stress invokes long-lasting aggression via an excitatory pathway within the posterior ventral medial amygdala (MeApv). In the current study, we sought to further delineate this mechanism by examining the effects of acute social defeat during adolescence on aggressive behaviors and neural activation in mice. Using a common social defeat paradigm, we first established that acute social defeat during late adolescence indeed promotes long-lasting aggression, measured as attack behavior 7 days after the defeat session. Immunolabeling with c-Fos demonstrated that acute social defeat activates the MeApv and ventrolateral aspect of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VmHvl), consistent with our previous studies that used foot shock as an acute stressor. Finally, chemogenetically inhibiting excitatory MeApv neurons during social defeat significantly mitigated the aggression increase without affecting non-aggressive social behavior. These results strongly suggest that the MeApv plays a critical role in the onset of aggression following traumatic social experience, and offer the MeA as a potential target for therapeutic interventions.

The global psychological and physical effects of domestic abuse and violence on South Asian women: a qualitative systematic review.

The purpose of this review is to systematically extract and analyse global academic literature to determine the physical and psychological effects of domestic abuse and violence on South Asian women. This review employs a qualitative systematic approach and thematic analysis to synthesize the narratives of affected women found in the literature. Given that domestic violence is often concealed and downplayed by various social factors, statistical reports and prevalence data offer only a limited view of the issue due to underreporting. Therefore, qualitative literature is deemed more dependable in this subjective domain as it captures and interprets the experiences and meanings within this under-studied group. Embase, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, Web Of Science, MEDLINE, and ASSIA were searched. All included studies were critically appraised using the CASP tool for qualitative research. Thematic analysis was conducted to develop six themes. Studies excluded did not address the research question, although intersecting population issues could be valuable topics for further research. The literature indicates severe mental and physical health consequences of domestic violence and abuse, with some traits persisting long-term. The analysis underscores the significant role of resilience, suggesting that individuals can overcome traumatic social experiences without enduring lifelong labels or a deficit model. The findings provide support for future interventions aimed at recognizing signs of abuse and preventing severe psychological and physical consequences, particularly among South Asian women. Further research is needed to understand the impact on children and other family members affected by the victim's abuse, which falls beyond the scope of this review.

Walk the walk, slowly and carefully when centering women and survivors in the Perpetrator Work of Coercive Control: In conversation with Jo Todd

With decades of knowledge within the domestic abuse sector, Jo Todd is the leader of one of the UK’s most respected organisations in the Work With Perpetrators sector: Respect. Established as a membership organisation, Respect sums more than 23 years of promoting “safe, effective work with perpetrators, male victims and young people who use violence” with the aim of tackling domestic abuse and centering the victim-survivor experience.Recently, Jo Todd was awarded with the “Commander of the British Empire” (CBE) medal for her highly-distinguished, innovative contribution around services to victims of domestic abuse. The award though, has not removed any humility from Jo. In early September, I happily engaged in a rich conversation with a strong, grounded woman that I am sure more than one can find inspiration from. For this special issue, our discussion delved into the role and actuality of work with perpetrators and coercive control, highlighting the significance for the victims-survivors, the meanings of justice regarding coercive control and the implications of its criminalisation. Finally, we ended our conversation imagining the dreamt, but also the real, future of the issue.Mónica Sánchez Hernández:Thank you very much Jo for joining me today to talk about your experience and your thoughts about coercive control. You must be really proud of your recent award. Regardless of any colonial/imperial connotations that the CBE medal might have, it must be good to have your work acknowledged — especially in the current times.Well, I’d like to begin the interview by asking you what triggered your interest to move from supporting survivors to the “dark side” of working with perpetrators. Is there any particular moment, any experience that you remember?

Is the fact of having been victims of childhood emotional abuse and/or neglect found in the aggressors’ history?

Background: Early exposure to trauma and stressors can hinder development and accumulate stress over one's lifetime, leading to adverse long-term outcomes. Objective: This study aims to investigate whether individuals exhibiting aggressive behavior may have been victims of emotional abuse and/or neglect during childhood. These experiences profoundly impact development, persisting into adulthood. Four hypotheses were formulated to guide the investigation. Methods: The sample comprised 615 Portuguese adults aged 18 and above. Data collection utilized various instruments including a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Impulsive and Premeditated Aggression Scale, the Life History of Aggression Scale, the Childhood Adversity History Questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale, the Personality Inventory, and the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure. Results and Conclusions: The hypotheses were confirmed, indicating a positive correlation between childhood emotional abuse/neglect and adult aggressive behavior, emotional regulation challenges, elevated neuroticism, openness to experience, boldness, disinhibition, and meanness. Also, emotional regulation difficulties, personality traits, and psychopathy fully mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and impulsive/ premeditated aggression, as well as between a history of aggression and impulsive/ premeditated aggression.

Alexithymia as a mediator between adverse childhood events and the development of psychopathology: a meta-analysis.

Victims of child abuse have an elevated risk of developing mental health issues later in life. Several variables have been suggested as mediators of this correlation, but little is known about the possible influence of alexithymia. Alexithymia is a sub-clinical personality trait that manifests as difficulties recognizing and verbalizing emotions. In this study, two separate meta-analyses were conducted using questionnaire data, and Pearson correlations for overall effects were estimated. The correlation between child abuse and alexithymia showed to be significant (r = .26), as did the correlation between alexithymia and general psychopathology (r = .44). Further analyses revealed no indication for possible publication bias. When investigating differences between various subtypes of child maltreatment, each subtype significantly correlated with alexithymia. Emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect had stronger correlations than physical and sexual abuse. These results suggest that alexithymia plays a mediating role, at least in part, in the relationship between experiences of child abuse and general psychopathology in adulthood. Therefore, alexithymia may be relevant to further research and deserves attention in the prevention of and therapy for mental health issues in victims of child abuse.

Effects of changing criteria on improving interRAI assessment for elder abuse: analysis of a national dataset from Aotearoa New Zealand

ObjectivesGlobally, one in six older adults in the community will be a victim of abuse (elder abuse; EA). Despite these horrific statistics, EA remains largely undetected and under-reported. Available screening...

Behind the ‘bruised male ego’ – negotiating women ‘pressures’ in the homes during COVID-19 lockdowns: Congolese and Zimbabwean men in focus

The COVID-19 pandemic and the experiences of lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus led to a range of negative impacts on the mental health of human societies globally. Our societies were characterized by deteriorating mental health, high levels of stress as well as a sharp rise in abusive cases. In most cases of abuse, men have been fingered as culprits behind it all given the eroding of their male ego. Faced with the reality of their inability to provide, most males were stressed up and vented out their frustration on those near them, who in most cases were the vulnerable women and children. While it is indubitably true that women and children have been the most affected groups due to the lockdowns, this has resulted in the neglect of men themselves. In as much as studies have confirmed the violent attitude developed by most men towards women and children in homes during COVID-19 lockdowns, this paper argues that men were also victims in a number of cases due to the pressures coming from women and children to keep providing something on the table despite being barred from attending to their informal/formal jobs due to the imposed COVID-19 restrictions. This paper takes cognizance of the neglect of voices sympathizing with males in the narratives, thus, we argue that behind the ‘bruised male ego’ there is found a woman, hence the woman needs to be talked to as well instead of just seeing her as a victim of abuse in all the cases. The discussion in this paper is largely based on desktop research. This paper sympathizes with the neglected male voices during COVID-19 lockdowns, invites men to voice out their struggles for the wellbeing of their mental health, and invites African society to rethink some of the attributes given to men that condemn them to suffering in the name of masculinity.

Simptom-Simptom Trauma pada Anak Korban Kekerasan Seksual di Aceh

This study aims to identify and analyze trauma symptoms in child victims of sexual abuse in Aceh. Sexual violence against children is a serious issue that can cause long-term psychological impacts, significantly affecting their emotional and social development. Using a descriptive method, this research seeks to uncover the trauma symptoms in children who have experienced sexual abuse.The findings of this study indicate that child victims of sexual abuse in Aceh experience significant trauma symptoms, encompassing three main aspects: reexperience, avoidance, and hyperarousal. These symptoms not only impact the emotional condition of the children but also affect their behavior, social interactions, and future prospects. This study emphasizes the importance of appropriate and immediate intervention for child victims of sexual abuse, given the significant psychological impact. A comprehensive and sustainable approach is essential to ensure the emotional and social well-being of children who have been victims of sexual abuse, helping them build a better future

A feminist stylistic analysis of the selected poems from My Heart in Your Hands: Poems from Namibia

This study provides a feminist stylistic analysis of fifteen (15) selected poems from My Heart in Your Hands: Poems from Namibia from a feminist stylistic perspective, thus the study examines language and gender in anthropology. The research aimed to examine how lexis is used to represent women in the selected poems; to analyse how syntax is used to show the roles of women in society and to evaluate how gender issues are communicated at the discourse level. In recent years, many Namibian women have turned to language to recast themselves and give a voice to the voiceless and marginalised through literature. The female poets disclosed the subjugation of women by the patriarchal system. Women characters were represented as second to men, wicked, weak and victims of sexual, verbal and physical abuse at the hands of their loved ones. In the poems, women are represented as emotional, and worthless. As the study was a desk study, it adopted the qualitative approach to analyse the sampled poems that were purposively sampled as they are primarily thematic concerns of gender and that are written by women. Moreover, content analysis was used to analyse and interpret the meaning from the selected poems. Finally, the poets used discourse level to communicate the gender issues faced by women such as oppression, discrimination, and exploitation and they are voiceless as men shut them through abuse when they speak up. Therefore, women are portrayed as domestic workers, caretakers, and child bearers. They are given household duties as their roles throughout the selected poems.

RESTITUTION RIGHT FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

The legal protection for victims of sexual violence has been addressed in statutory regulations, but its implementation remains inadequate. This is evident in the lack of competence and training among law enforcers in handling victims of sexual violence, as well as the absence of psychologists/psychiatrists who can provide assistance in explaining mental conditions. The objective of this study is to examine the legal safeguards available to victims of sexual assault crimes and evaluate the compensation options provided to these victims. This study was conducted utilizing a normative juridical research methodology, which specifically involves analyzing the implementation of legal laws or norms. This research employs both a statutory approach and a conceptual approach. The government has not adequately fulfilled its responsibilities in providing the necessary facilities and equipment to handle, protect, and support victims of sexual abuse. Statutory regulations have established compensation in the form of restitution, but the victim must still take initiative by submitting a request to secure the right to reparation. Restitution should be mandatory for the perpetrator/defendant to compensate the victim, irrespective of whether the victim initiates a request or not.