Co-occurring Intimate Partner Violence Research Articles

Co-occurring Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Parenting Among Women: A Scoping Review.

Little research exists on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-intimate partner violence (IPV)-mental health (MH) syndemic impact on parenting. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and summarize the available evidence regarding the syndemic relationship between HIV or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), IPV, and poor MH among mothers and caregivers who identify as women. We conducted the review according to the Joanna Briggs Institute and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted from 2001 to September 2023. The inclusion criteria targeted studies examining at least two of the HIV, IPV, or MH epidemics among participants and their syndemic impact on parenting. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included. Covidence software was used to screen and extract data. Twenty-three studies were included in the analysis. Most of the studies were conducted in the United States. Furthermore, all the studies used quantitative research designs, with most being longitudinal. Most of the research was concentrated on the IPV-MH syndemic with no research found on the HIV-IPV syndemic impact on parenting. Research on the HIV-IPV-MH syndemic found that an HIV diagnosis exacerbated the negative impacts of IPV-MH on parenting. Research on IPV-MH showed that this syndemic significantly influences parenting, leading to less nurturing and more punitive behaviors. Studies did not find a direct association between IPV and harsh parenting practices, the relationship was mediated by poor MH. Studies examining the HIV-MH syndemic found that anxiety and maternal depression were the most frequent MH disorders. The review revealed that living with the different syndemics, (IPV-MH-HIV, HIV-MH, and IPV-MH) adversely affects parenting practices, resulting in harsher parenting.

Co-Occurring Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: The Influence of Early Life Experiences of Abuse.

Little is known about co-occurring intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and child abuse within families in humanitarian settings. Baseline data from 203 couples in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were analyzed to assess associations between childhood experiences of abuse with present co-occurring violence. Over half of women (56.1%) and men (50.5%) reported co-occurring violence. Adjusted models demonstrate experiencing physical abuse as a child was associated with greatest odds of recent co-occurring violence while witnessing parental IPV had mixed influence. Programmatic approaches focused on reducing early childhood violence may be promising to prevent both IPV and child abuse.

Understanding the interconnected relationships between intimate partner violence and child maltreatment: The role of maternal material hardship

BackgroundEvidence indicates an association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment (CM). Although research shows mothers' IPV victimization is a risk factor for CM, the specific elements within IPV and CM are not well understood. Some studies suggest material hardship plays a role in the relationships between IPV and CM. However, the relationship between different typologies of IPV and CM considering material hardship has rarely been examined. ObjectiveThis study fills this gap by assessing the direct effects of IPV victimization on material hardship and CM, direct effects of material hardship on CM, and indirect effects of IPV victimization on CM via material hardship with attention to typologies of IPV and CM. MethodsData included responses by 3086 mothers in the Fragile Families Child Wellbeing Study. ResultsStructural equation modeling showed that material hardship predicted higher risk of CM regardless of the presence of IPV or what type (child physical assault: β = 0.11, p < 0.001; child psychological aggression: β = 0.12, p < 0.001; child neglect: β = 0.06, p < 0.01). However, mothers who experienced controlling and emotional IPV had a higher risk of material hardship, and this increased their children's risk of CM (child physical assault: β = 0.02, p < 0.01; child psychological aggression: β = 0.02, p < 0.01; child neglect: β = 0.01, p < 0.05). This was the only type of IPV associated with CM through its association with material hardship. ConclusionsThe varied findings suggest that intervention efforts in families with co-occurring IPV and CM should mobilize economic support to IPV survivors with consideration of the varied effects of different types of IPV.

Design and Pilot Evaluation of a Cross-Training Curriculum for Intimate Partner Violence Advocates and Peer Recovery Coaches

ABSTRACT Substance use and intimate partner violence (IPV) co-occur, and experts have called for cross-training of IPV and substance use disorder (SUD) professionals. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate a cross-training curriculum for IPV advocates and peer recovery coaches. We used a one group pre-posttest study design to evaluate the efficacy and participant experience of the cross-training. Among IPV advocates, the training was associated with improving skills related to working with individuals with SUD, and improving self-efficacy related to working with survivors of IPV. Among recovery coaches, the training was associated with positive changes in self-efficacy regarding working with survivors of IPV and individuals with SUD. Overall, participants reported high satisfaction with the training. Participants indicated that they most appreciated the opportunity to connect with professionals in the other sector, suggesting that such collaborations may help to increase community capacity to respond to individuals experiencing co-occurring IPV and SUD.

“It’s Tricky …”: Intimate Partner Violence Service Providers’ Perspectives of Assessments and Referrals by Child Welfare Workers

The present study explored the perceptions of workers who provide intimate partner violence (IPV) services regarding child welfare workers’ IPV assessment and referral processes. Data from four focus groups was interrogated to find common themes. A total of 27 individuals participated in the focus groups, working in the community, shelters, and prisons/jails. Participants primarily expressed concerns regarding child welfare workers’ practices. IPV providers perceived child welfare workers as incompetent in performing IPV assessments and making referrals. IPV workers also perceived that some child welfare workers engaged in dismissive, manipulative, or coercive behaviors when working with IPV victims. While the present findings are not generalizable, they speak to the tension frequently noted between victim services and child welfare. Child welfare agencies should consider ongoing, trauma-informed training for IPV assessment to help increase worker self-efficacy in performing these tasks. Local, interdisciplinary trainings including both IPV and child welfare providers may be particularly useful to promote better understanding of each provider’s role in cases with co-occurring IPV and child maltreatment concerns, which may help to reduce tensions between the intersecting service systems.

No Effect of Brief Motivational Interview on Co-Occurring IPV and Heavy Drinking

Prior trials of brief motivational interviewing in the emergency department (ED) suggest a small benefit for reducing heavy drinking, but this benefit has been highly gender-specific, occurring mostly among men. In the current study, researchers tested whether an intervention designed to reduce both intimate partner violence (IPV) and heavy drinking could provide a benefit to women. Of 600 eligible women identified from two urban Pennsylvania EDs (mean …

Fathers for Change for Substance Use and Intimate Partner Violence: Initial Community Pilot.

The lack of focus on the role of men as fathers within intervention programs for men with histories of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or substance abuse is of significant concern given the large numbers of these men who are actively parenting and coparenting children. Fathers for Change is a new intervention designed to fill this gap. Eighteen fathers with co-occurring IPV and substance abuse were randomly assigned to Fathers for Change or Individual Drug Counseling (IDC). They were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3 months following the 16-week intervention period. Men in the Fathers for Change group: (1) were more likely to complete treatment; (2) reported significantly greater satisfaction with the program; (3) reported a trend toward less IPV; and (4) exhibited significantly less intrusiveness in coded play interactions with their children following treatment than fathers in the IDC group. Results indicate further evaluation of this intervention in a larger sample is warranted. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Co-occurring intimate partner violence, mental health, and substance use problems: a scoping review

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive, serious problem detrimental to the health of untold numbers of women. In addition to physical injuries that may be sustained, IPV has been significantly associated with mental health challenges including substance use problems. The problems are complex, highly correlated with each other, and bidirectional in nature. Although as many as 50% of women in mental health and between 25% and 50% of women in substance abuse treatment programs report IPV, frontline workers in all three sectors state they lack the training to address these co-occurring problems.ObjectiveTo determine what frontline IPV, mental health, and substance use workers need to know in order to provide appropriate care to women experiencing co-occurring IPV, mental health and/or substance use problems.DesignUsing Scholars Portal OVID, Medline and OVID PsycINFO and combinations of significant terms, we conducted a scoping review of articles published between 2005 and 2014.ResultsAn initial 4017 records were retrieved (3484 from Scholars Portal, 272 from Medline, 261 from PsycINFO). After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 35 articles were reviewed. Of these, 14 examined the relationships among IPV, mental health, and substance use; 7 focused on IPV and mental health; 14 looked at IPV and substance use.ConclusionsAlthough education and training frequently figured among the recommendations in the reviewed articles, specific content for proposed education or training was lacking. The most frequently occurring recommendations focused on the need to develop better collaboration, coordination, and integration across IPV, mental health and addiction treatment services.

Subtypes of exposure to intimate partner violence within a Canadian child welfare sample: Associated risks and child maladjustment

Children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) are at increased risk of experiencing behavioral difficulties including externalizing and internalizing problems. While there is mounting evidence about mental health problems in children exposed to IPV, most of the research to date focuses on IPV exposure as a unitary, homogeneous construct. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between subtypes of IPV exposure on child functioning and presence of harm within a child welfare sample. Given the evidence of the “double whammy” effect, co-occurring IPV exposure was also examined. Using data from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect – 2008 (n=2,184) we examined whether specific IPV exposure subtypes or their co-occurrence resulted in a greater risk of child maladjustment. Information was obtained from child welfare workers’ reports. Caregiver and household risk factors were also examined. Co-occurring IPV exposure resulted in the greatest risk for reported child maladjustment. Exposure to emotional IPV and direct physical IPV were significantly associated with increased risk of internalizing problems and presence of harm. Caregiver mental health and lack of social support emerged as significant risk factors for behavior problems. This study adds to the evidence that exposure to subtypes of IPV may be differentially related to child functioning. Given that risk factors and child functioning is part of the decision-making framework for case worker referrals, this study provides important preliminary evidence about how the child welfare system operates in practice with respect to sub-types of exposure to IPV. These findings suggest that intervening with children exposed to different types of IPV may require a tailored approach.

Co-occurring intimate partner violence and mental health diagnoses in perinatal women.

To describe the co-occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health burden among perinatal mothers attending well-baby visits with their infants in the first year of life. We compare rates of depression, anxiety disorder, and substance abuse diagnoses between mothers who reported IPV within the past year to those who did not. This cross-sectional study of 188 mothers of infants (under 14 months) was conducted in an urban hospital pediatric clinic. Participants reported demographics and IPV and completed a semistructured psychiatric diagnostic interview. Mothers reporting IPV were more likely to be diagnosed with mood and/or anxiety diagnoses (p<0.05, Fisher's exact test), specifically current depressive diagnoses (p<0.01, Fisher's exact test) and panic disorder (p<0.05, Fisher's exact test). There was a trend for more posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (p<0.06) among abused mothers. Substance abuse and dependence, age, race, insurance status, employment, education, and family arrangements did not differ between groups. Prior major or minor depression increases the odds for perinatal depression threefold (OD 3.18). These findings have implications for practitioners who encounter perinatal women. Findings suggest providers should explore signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders among women reporting IPV. Similarly, when perinatal mothers report symptoms of depression, PTSD, or panic disorder, practitioners should be alert to the possible contributory role of IPV.

Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate Partner Violence