Disclosure Of Intimate Partner Violence Research Articles

Prospective evaluation of intimate partner violence in fracture clinics (PRAISE-2): protocol for a multicentre pilot prospective cohort study

BackgroundOne third of women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime. Orthopaedic health care professionals are in a good position to identify women experiencing escalating physical violence and act to promote their immediate safety, connect them to IPV resources, and reduce the risk of further harm. However, there have been no studies that explore whether experiencing a musculoskeletal injury can trigger or worsen IPV, and there have been no studies on how experiences of IPV affect orthopaedic outcomes. The primary objective of the PRAISE-2 pilot study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a large cohort study to determine the association between IPV and injury-related complications. The secondary clinical objectives are to preliminarily explore how a history of IPV affects orthopaedic outcomes and how patterns of IPV change over time following an orthopaedic injury.MethodsWe will complete a pilot multicentre prospective cohort study of 250 women with musculoskeletal injuries to determine the feasibility of a multinational prospective cohort study that will determine if prior or ongoing IPV affects orthopaedic outcomes following an injury, and how patterns of IPV change over time. Our primary outcome is feasibility measured using recruitment rate (success criterion 50 patients/site in 12 months), adherence to visit windows (success criterion 75%), participant retention (success criterion 85%), and data completeness (success criterion 80%). Our secondary exploratory clinical outcomes are injury-related complications, return to function, new IPV disclosures, utilization and cost of support services, changes in abuse patterns, quality of life, and readiness to make relationship changes. We will assess feasibility based on pre-defined criteria for feasibility success and we will analyze secondary outcomes in an exploratory fashion.DiscussionThe PRAISE-2 pilot study is the first step toward determining how experiences of IPV affect orthopaedic outcomes such as injury-related complications. This study will determine feasibility and assist in the development of large-scale multinational prospective IPV studies for our future IPV research program. This study will engage health care professionals from around the world to increase awareness of how IPV affects patients’ musculoskeletal and injury outcomes.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov NCT02529267. Registered 20 Aug 2015.

Screening and Counseling for Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy [23F

INTRODUCTION: An estimated 1.5 million experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner each year in the United States, however little data exists on how obstetric providers assess intimate partner violence (IPV), or on how IPV-affected women experience the discussions. METHODS: Patients who disclosed IPV on a computerized pre-visit survey or during an audio-recorded first obstetric visit were asked to return for qualitative semi-structured interviews during which they reviewed their recorded visit and provided their reflections regarding the IPV screening and counseling. Transcripts from these interviews were qualitatively coded for common themes. RESULTS: Of the 250 participants, 91 disclosed IPV either by computer survey or in-person during the recorded visit. Thirty-two women returned for semi-structured interviews. Interviews revealed women’s reasons not to disclose, positive and negative aspects about current approaches, and recommendations for providers. Reasons not to disclose included fears regarding confidentiality, stigma, and concern for involvement of child protective services. Positive attributes of current interviewing included expressions of care, direct questioning, telling patients they are not alone, and open body language. Negative attributes included asking about IPV in an insensitive manner. Recommendations for addressing IPV included being direct, nonjudgmental, and caring, and providing follow-up counseling after IPV disclosure. Women advised that post-disclosure discussions should include emotional support, strategies for emergency situations, housing resources, and self-defense resources. CONCLUSION: Understanding the experiences of pregnant IPV-affected women provides insight into specific approaches to use or avoid when addressing IPV. IPV training for obstetric care providers should include these strategies to improve IPV screening and counseling.

A cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the impact on intimate partner violence of a 10-session participatory gender training curriculum delivered to women taking part in a group-based microfinance loan scheme in Tanzania (MAISHA CRT01): study protocol

BackgroundWorldwide, almost one third (30%) of women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner. Given the considerable negative impacts of intimate partner violence (IPV) on women’s physical health and well-being, there is an urgent need for rigorous evidence on violence prevention interventions.MethodsThe study, comprising a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) and in-depth qualitative study, will assess the impact on women’s past year experience of physical and/or sexual IPV of a participatory gender training curriculum (MAISHA curriculum) delivered to women participating in group-based microfinance in Tanzania. More broadly, the study aims to learn more about the factors that contribute to women’s vulnerability to violence and understand how the intervention impacts on the lives of women and their families. Sixty-six eligible microfinance loan groups are enrolled and randomly allocated to: the 10-session MAISHA curriculum, delivered over 20 weeks (n = 33); or, to no intervention (n = 33). Study participants are interviewed at baseline and at 24 months post-intervention about their: household; partner; income; health; attitudes and social norms; relationship (including experiences of different forms of violence); childhood; and community. For the qualitative study and process evaluation, focus group discussions are being conducted with study participants and MAISHA curriculum facilitators. In-depth interviews are being conducted with a purposive sample of 18 participants. The primary outcome, assessed at 24 months post-intervention, is a composite of women’s reported experience of physical and/or sexual IPV during the past 12 months. Secondary outcomes include: reported experience of physical, sexual and emotional/psychological IPV during the past 12 months, attitudes towards IPV and reported disclosure of IPV to others.DiscussionThe study forms part of a wider programme of research (MAISHA) that includes: a complementary cluster RCT evaluating the impact of delivering the MAISHA curriculum to women not receiving formal group-based microfinance; an economic evaluation; and a cross-sectional survey of men to explore male risk factors associated with IPV. MAISHA will generate rigorous evidence on violence prevention interventions, as well as further insights into the different forms and consequences of violence and drivers of violence perpetration.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02592252, registered retrospectively on 13 August 2015.

Responding to intimate partner violence: Healthcare providers' current practices and views on integrating a safety decision aid into primary care settings.

Supportive care for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) remains limited in primary care settings. Low-income and Spanish-speaking survivors of IPV are even more disadvantaged, given the dearth of linguistically and culturally appropriate interventions for IPV. We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 17 healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, and social workers, to describe how healthcare workers serving primarily low-income, Latina populations are currently screening and responding to IPV disclosure, and to explore the acceptability of integrating an interactive, personalized safety decision aid application-myPlan app-into the clinic setting. Despite recognition of IPV as a problem, none of the clinical sites had a protocol to guide screening and response to IPV disclosure. Screening practices varied across the sites, sometimes conducted by medical assistants prior to the provider visit and other times by the physician or nurse provider. When IPV was disclosed, it was often during assessment for a presenting problem such as poor sleep or anxiety. Most healthcare workers felt that clinical and community resources were limited for their patients experiencing IPV. The "warm hand-off" to a social worker was the most common response strategy when possible; otherwise, women were given information about available resources such as hotlines and safe houses. We discuss structural, family, and individual barriers to accessing safety resources for underserved women and review how an easily accessible safety decision app, such as myPlan, could be a resource for women to safely tailor an action plan for her situation.

Assessment and Response to Intimate Partner Violence in Home Visitation: A Qualitative Needs Assessment With Home Visitors in a Statewide Program.

There is growing recognition that home visitation programs serving at-risk families may be an appropriate mechanism for detecting and reducing intimate partner violence (IPV). More research is needed about how home visitors assess and respond to IPV, especially in rural and underserved areas with unique social and geographic challenges. This study describes the qualitative, needs assessment phase of a larger mixed-methods evaluation of IPV assessment, referral processes, and safety planning with clients within a statewide home visitation program. Three focus groups were conducted with home visitors (n = 16) in West Virginia's Home Visitation Program in May 2015. Home visitors represented four separate home visitation models and provided services across 12 of West Virginia's 55 counties. Guiding questions focused on home visitors' current protocol, experiences, barriers, and facilitators to (a) screening and assessment for IPV, (b) making referrals after disclosures of IPV, and (c) developing safety plans with IPV-exposed clients. Barriers identified by home visitors included the nature of assessment tools, issues with service availability and access in rural areas, and lack of education and training surrounding safety planning. Facilitators included building relationships and trust with clients, providing anticipatory guidance when making referrals, and tailoring safety plans to clients' unique situations. Participants also expressed a critical need to develop procedures for assuring home visitor safety when supporting IPV-exposed clients. These qualitative data highlight issues surrounding the management of IPV in home visitation and have the potential to inform future enhancements to programs that are specifically tailored to the needs of rural, disadvantaged communities.

Preliminary Data on an Intervention to Reduce Negative Social Reactions to Victims’ Disclosures

We examined the preliminary effectiveness of a novel intervention to reduce disclosure recipients’ negative social reactions (SR) and increase positive SR to a sexual assault (SA) and/or intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure. Surveys were completed by 43 college students before and immediately after participating in a 2-hour intervention. There were significant decreases from pretest to posttest on the following anticipated responses: negative SR to a SA or IPV disclosure, demanding IPV victims to leave their abusive relationship, and encouraging SA victims to use alcohol to cope. There were significant increases from pretest to posttest in anticipated positive SR to an IPV disclosure.

Social Reactions to IPV Disclosure and PTSD Symptom Severity: Assessing Avoidant Coping as a Mediator.

Women's experiences of negative social reactions to disclosure of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization have been linked to greater posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. However, research has not identified factors that may explain this association. The goal of the current study was to extend research in this area by elucidating the potential mediating role of avoidant coping in the relations among negative and positive social reactions to IPV disclosure and PTSD symptom severity. Participants were 173 community women currently experiencing IPV who disclosed their victimization to another individual (M age = 36.31, 65.9% African American). Findings revealed that IPV-victimized women who experienced greater negative social reactions to IPV endorsed higher levels of avoidant coping and greater PTSD symptom severity. Moreover, avoidant coping was found to mediate the negative social reactions-PTSD symptom severity association. Results highlight the relevance of avoidant coping to the link between negative social reactions to IPV disclosure and PTSD symptom severity, and suggest that prevention and intervention efforts targeting avoidant coping may be useful in reducing PTSD symptom severity among IPV-exposed women who experience negative social reactions to IPV disclosure.

Clergy training for effective response to intimate partner violence disclosure: Immediate and long-term benefits

ABSTRACTThis study reports findings from an intimate partner violence-training project in which 104 Seventh-Day Adventist pastors received a 4-hr training in responding effectively to intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure. The educational endeavor targeted three areas for improvement in clergy response: (a) increasing pastors’ understanding of the unique dynamics in abusive relationships, (b) providing information on IPV resources and services, and (c) developing pastors’ abilities and motivations to be proactive in addressing IPV. Pretest, posttest and 1-year follow up data indicate that pastors who engaged in IPV training demonstrated immediate and long-term positive changes. Specifically, participants showed improvements in each of the targeted areas. Beyond the gains in knowledge and attitudes about IPV, the study results also indicate that pastors receiving training expanded their activities to positively address IPV in their congregations. Social workers can play a significant role in addressing clergy training needs by strengthening pastors’ abilities to respond appropriately to parishioners’ IPV disclosures.

Pattern of intimate partner violence disclosure among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in Oyo East Local Government, Nigeria

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem. Despite being a phenomenon that occurs globally, few studies have reviewed the issue of intimate partner violence among pregnant women as it relates to disclosure of abuse. This study sets out to determine the prevalence and pattern of disclosure of intimate partner violence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Oyo East Local Government of Oyo State.
 
 Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among pregnant women aged 18–49 years. A total of 350 pregnant women in the sole secondary health care facility and 3 out of the 18 primary health care facilities randomly selected by balloting were consecutively recruited. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence was used to collect data. Data were analysed with SPSS® version 16.
 
 Results: Of 252 (72.0%) women who had been exposed to violence by their partner in pregnancy, 72 (28.6%) disclosed their IPV experience. The experience was disclosed to relatives, friends and religious leaders. Of the 72 that disclosed their IPV experience, 31 (43.1%) reported for the purpose of seeking redress through religious or local leaders, healthcare professionals and law enforcement agencies.
 
 Conclusion: Intimate partner violence is common among pregnant women, but a culture of silence still persists, making identification of the exposed difficult. These data may encourage healthcare providers to include screening for IPV in the curriculum of the antenatal care.
 
 (Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp)
 
 S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2016.1272245

Implementing Trauma-Informed Partner Violence Assessment in Family Planning Clinics.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and reproductive coercion (RC) are associated with poor reproductive health. Little is known about how family planning clinics implement brief IPV/RC assessment interventions in practice. We describe the uptake and impact of a brief, trauma-informed, universal IPV/RC assessment and education intervention. Intervention implementation was evaluated via a mixed methods study among women ages 18 and up receiving care at one of two family planning clinics in greater Baltimore, MD. This mixed methods study entailed a quasi-experimental, single group pretest-posttest study with family planning clinic patients (baseline and exit survey n = 132; 3-month retention n = 68; retention rate = 52%), coupled with qualitative interviews with providers and patients (total n = 35). Two thirds (65%) of women reported receiving at least one element of the intervention on their exit survey immediately following the clinic-visit. Patients reported that clinic-based IPV assessment is helpful, irrespective of IPV history. Relative to those who reported neither, participants who received either intervention element reported greater perceived caring from providers, confidence in provider response to abusive relationships, and knowledge of IPV-related resources at follow-up. Providers and patients alike described the educational card as a valuable tool. Participants described trade-offs of paper versus in-person, electronic medical record-facilitated screening, and patient reluctance to disclose current situations of abuse. In real-world family planning clinic settings, a brief assessment and support intervention was successful in communicating provider caring and increasing knowledge of violence-related resources, endpoints previously deemed valuable by IPV survivors. Results emphasize the merit of universal education in IPV/RC clinical interventions over seeking IPV disclosure.

Intimate partner violence screening in emergency department: a rapid review of the literature.

The aim of the review was to identify intimate partner violence screening interventions used in emergency departments and to explore factors affecting intimate partner violence screening in emergency departments. Intimate partner violence against women is now clearly recognised as a global health and societal issue. Nurses working in emergency and urgent care settings can play a crucial role in identification, prevention and management of intimate partner violence. Research exploring optimal methods of intimate partner violence screening and factors affecting intimate partner violence screening in emergency departments are relatively limited. Literature review: Rapid Evidence Synthesis. Literature published between 2000-2015 was reviewed using the principles of rapid evidence assessment. Six electronic databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Psych Info, the Cochrane Library and Joanna Briggs Library. Twenty-nine empirical studies meeting the eligibility criteria were independently assessed by two authors using appropriate Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklists. Intimate partner violence screening in emergency departments is usually performed using electronic, face to face or pen- and paper-based instruments. Routine or universal screening results in higher identification rates of intimate partner violence. Women who screen positive for intimate partner violence in emergency departments are more likely to experience abuse in subsequent months. Factors that facilitate partner violence screening can be classified as healthcare professionals related factors, organisational factors and patient-related factors. Emergency departments provide a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals to screen patients for intimate partner violence. Competence in assessing the needs of the patients appears to be a very significant factor that may affect rates of intimate partner violence disclosure. Knowledge of appropriate domestic violence screening methods and factors affecting intimate partner violence screening in emergency can help nurses, and other healthcare professionals provide patient-centred and effective care to victims of abuse attending emergency department.

Pattern of intimate partner violence disclosure among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in Oyo East Local Government, Nigeria

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem. Despite being a phenomenon that occurs globally, few studies have reviewed the issue of intimate partner violence...

Disclosure Recipients' Social Reactions to Victims' Disclosures of Intimate Partner Violence.

Prior research indicates that victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) are most likely to disclose their victimization experiences to an informal support (e.g., friend, family), and that IPV disclosures are often met with both positive (e.g., empathic support) and negative (e.g., victim blame) reactions. However, research on social reactions to disclosure largely has neglected the perspectives of disclosure recipients. Guided by the attribution framework, the current study extends prior research by assessing factors (i.e., situation-specific, individual, relational, attributional, and emotional response) related to positive and negative reactions from the perspective of disclosure recipients (N = 743 college students). Linear regression analyses indicated that positive social reactions were related to the victim being a woman, greater frequency of IPV victimization by the victim, greater frequency of IPV victimization by the disclosure recipient, less accepting attitudes toward IPV, a closer relationship with the victim, a less close relationship with the perpetrator, lower perceptions of victim responsibility, more empathy for the victim, and more emotional distress experienced by the disclosure recipient during the disclosure. Negative social reactions were associated with more accepting attitudes toward IPV, greater frequency of IPV victimization by the disclosure recipient, a less close relationship with the victim, higher perceptions of victim responsibility, and more emotional distress experienced by the disclosure recipient. Results suggest that programs to improve responses to victim disclosure should focus on decreasing IPV-supportive attitudes, increasing empathy, and assisting disclosure recipients in managing difficult emotional responses effectively.

Intimate partner violence screening and the comparative effects of screening mode on disclosure of sensitive health behaviours and exposures in clinical settings

ObjectiveDetecting sensitive health information in clinical settings is of scientific and practical importance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mode of screening influenced disclosure of intimate partner violence (IPV) in patterns similar to other forms of sensitive information. Study designThis cross sectional study was designed to compare effects of face-to-face vs computer self-assessment for sensitive health information on disclosure rates. Multivariate logistic regression was used for the analysis. MethodsData were collected in 2012 from 639 eligible African American consenting women receiving services in women, infants and children (WIC) clinics. Women were randomized to complete assessments of sensitive exposures via computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) or face-to-face interview (FTFI). Those with complete information were included in the analysis (n = 616). ResultsOf 39 sensitive health exposures, reporting was higher for FTFI than CASI for exposure to IPV (7 of 7 outcomes), tobacco use (2 of 3 outcomes) and reproductive health care (2 of 3 outcomes). For example, face-to-face improved disclosure of IPV in the last year (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.60–3.21) and any drug, tobacco or alcohol in the last week (aOR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.00–1.93). ConclusionTrained personnel may enhance disclosure above computer-based assessments for IPV for African American women receiving public assistance through The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Propensities to disclose sexual health behaviour and drug use by CASI may not apply to IPV in this population. The context and personal motivations influence women's decision to disclose IPV.

Rurality's Influence on Women's Intimate Partner Violence Experiences and Support Needed for Escape and Healing in Australia

ABSTRACTA key factor for increasing help-seeking behavior among women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) lies in better understanding how social environment affects decisions about when and why individuals take action to end IPV. This article presents original data from 36 in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with women IPV survivors living in rural Australia to address urban-centric and quantitative biases in much IPV research. Derived from first-hand experiences, results reveal rurality's systemic challenges (economic disadvantage, unemployment, lack of informal support, limited availability/access to sociolegal and formal support services due to transportation and parenting responsibilities, quality alternative housing, and timely/relevant crisis counseling) exacerbated personal capacity to end IPV and sociopsychological factors (stigma, isolation, lack of anonymity, abusive partners’ controlling behavior, and normative violence) thwarted IPV disclosure, help seeking, and healing in rural communities. Collectively, women's experiences evidence IPV's complexity as a social problem, misperceived definition, and breadth of influence. In-depth insights highlight location and culture's relevance to IPV knowledge, experience, service provision, and uptake, suggesting benefits may arise if practitioners and policy makers tailor IPV information and services, specifically crisis housing and counseling, in light of how rurality systemically stymies and psychologically affects women's best efforts to escape and heal.

The role of gender, sexuality and context upon help-seeking for intimate partner violence: A synthesis of data across five studies

Programmes of research which combine related studies are commonplace, including in the field of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Whereas the systematic synthesis of published qualitative data is now well established, the synthesis of qualitative data that make up a programme of work is rare. A Programme of Research on Violence in Diverse.Domestic Environments (PROVIDE) is a UK NIHR funded programme. The five studies associated with PROVIDE are sited in general practice, sexual health clinics, mental health services and 3rd sector IPV agencies. Synthesising the data from across-the studies offered an opportunity to highlight variations in help-seeking strategies according to gender and sexual orientation and identify variations in help-seeking across different contexts. The approach to the synthesis was meta-ethnography. The synthesis identified 23 2nd order constructs in relation to helpseeking. Findings show gender and sexuality influences how help-seeking in different contexts is viewed. Disclosure of IPV to mental health services was rare. Women favour help-seeking from primary care which is familiar and where they are known, whilst gay men favour help-seeking from GUM clinics where there is a taken for granted acknowledgement of sexual identity. These differences suggest an intersectional approach to providing support services for IPV is needed. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Exploring employee intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosures in the workplace

ABSTRACTMore than 500 employees of a large corporation participated in a web-based survey on workplace health and relationships. Mixed method data were analyzed to better understand intimate partner violence (IPV) workplace disclosures, including disclosure recipients and perceived helpfulness of responses. Statistical comparisons were made to assess the relationship between IPV experiences and disclosures and perceptions of workplace supportiveness. About one in five employees reported experiencing IPV during their work tenure. Survivors were more than twice as likely to disclose to coworkers compared to supervisors, employee assistance, or human resources. Although survivors tended to report helpful workplace responses, nearly 20% of survivors experienced an unhelpful workplace response. Survivors of IPV most frequently cited interpersonal support when asked to describe a helpful workplace response but also valued instrumental support, such as receiving workplace accommodations and resource information. Survivors of IPV perceived the workplace as less supportive and less accommodating than employees who did not report IPV. To successfully address IPV across the organization, all employees need information, training and support, as well as clear, specific IPV policies and protocols. Organizations should promote an organizational culture that supports survivors of IPV to facilitate access to critical resources and enhance employee wellness, safety, and productivity.

Factors influencing disclosure among women experiencing intimate partner violence during pregnancy in Moshi Municipality, Tanzania.

BackgroundIntimate Partner Violence (IPV) has serious negative health effects to millions of women around the globe. While disclosing IPV could open doors for support and eventually prevent partner abuse, the factors associated with IPV disclosure during pregnancy are not well known. The aim of this study was to examine factors influencing IPV disclosure to any person of interest or organization supporting women during pregnancy in Moshi Municipality, Tanzania.MethodsData were from a prospective cohort study of 1123 pregnant women followed-up by the project aiming to assess the impact of violence in the reproductive health conducted in Moshi Municipality, Tanzania from March 2014 to May 2015. Inclusion criteria to the current analysis were all 339 pregnant women who reported to have experienced physical, sexual and/or emotional violence during the index pregnancy. Data analysis used SPSS Version 20. Odds ratio with 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) for factors associated with IPV disclosure was estimated using multivariate logistic regression models while controlling for age, education and parity. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered for a statistically significant difference.ResultsIPV disclosure was found to be 23.3 % (n = 79). Disclosure of IPV was less likely among unemployed (OR = 0.5, 95 % CI 0.30–0.90) and women whose index pregnancy was unplanned (OR = 0.53, 95 % CI 0.29–0.98). Women who regularly participated in women’s or community groups, religious groups or political associations at least once a month had 2 times higher odds of IPV disclosure compared to those who did not attend regularly (OR = 2.12, 95 % CI 1.13–3.95). Most of the abused women during pregnancy who disclosed their experience of IPV (69 %) disclosed to a member of the family of birth followed by friends (14 %) and a member of family of the partner (11 %).ConclusionsMost of the women who experienced IPV during pregnancy kept suffering in silence while less than a quarter of all the abused (23.3 %) disclosed their experience to someone. Identification of the women experiencing IPV during pregnancy should be done as a starting point for supporting victim of IPV. Women empowerment in economical and reproductive health will reduce their vulnerability and facilitate disclosure of IPV for support. Key individuals who informally support victims of IPV should be targeted in interventions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3345-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Children and Violence Interactions: Exploring Intimate Partner Violence and Children's Experiences of Responses

While there is a growing research interest in the experiences of children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV), the role of children's social networks, other than the role of mothers, has been little discussed. The aim of this article is to study older children's stories of how they, and the adults in their social networks, respond to IPV. More specifically, we are interested in how older children describe both their own responses when exposed to IPV and responses from adults. This article focuses on the narratives of older children since they are often in a liminal position between adulthood and childhood, which may be consequential for their and others' responses to violence. The article shows that responses are interactional and that children's responses affect how adults respond. Our analysis suggests that adults are positioning children as either adult‐like and competent or vulnerable, and this impacts significantly on the support that they receive. In our data, there are, however, also examples of middle ways where children are positioned as vulnerable yet capable. This seems linked to children's abilities to communicate their own needs. Although the study sample is limited, our results point to the significance of gender for how children respond. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.‘Focuses on the narratives of older children since they are often in a liminal position between adulthood and childhood’Key Practitioner Messages Social network responses can be crucial to the disclosure, ending and continuation of IPV. Awareness of exposure to IPV does not automatically result in responses that are beneficial to children's wellbeing. Professionals need to be better at communicating with the social network. Children's responses are contextual and protection and support should be designed according to children's individually varying needs. ‘Awareness of exposure to IPV does not automatically result in responses that are beneficial to children's wellbeing’

The Impact of Disclosure of Intimate Partner Violence on Friends

These findings suggest that even though the same dimensions have been found in both a U.S. and an Indian sample, how disclosure of IPV on friends relates to psychological symptoms may differ. This study suggest that there is at least some overlap in the experiences of friends of IPV and SA survivors, but that certain dimensions of the measure may have different relationships to other phenomena in different cultures.