Domestic Violence Prevention Research Articles

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Programming During the Pandemic: How Prevention Educators Navigated COVID-19

Abstract Purpose Domestic violence and sexual assault (DVSA) primary prevention programming is often implemented during the school year, but the delivery of such programming was radically altered during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic when traditional in-person classrooms were often replaced by virtual learning. The immediate issue facing schools was getting academic content to students in this new environment, but there has been little research into what those priorities meant for supplementary programming like DVSA prevention education. How DVSA prevention education was affected by the switch to virtual learning remains largely unknown, but prevention educators’ experiences navigating virtual learning environments can offer insight into the implementation and delivery of virtual programming by community agencies. Method We conducted 20 interviews with DVSA prevention educators across the midwestern region of the United States. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to understand how DVSA prevention programming was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results We identified four themes through our analysis: Disconnection, New Expectations, Reduced Access, and Safety Concerns. Interviews with prevention educators highlighted the many challenges of delivering DVSA prevention programming online, as well as ways that they adapted and even made improvements in this new environment. Conclusion Many students lost access to DVSA prevention education during the COVID-19 pandemic or received a version strongly impacted by social distancing protocols. Findings indicate that students who would have received DVSA prevention programming during the 2020–2021 school year likely did not receive the full dose of intended programming. Curriculum researchers should develop programming suitable for remote delivery for future incidental and fully online learning environments.

Successful strategies for preventing and controlling violence against people with intellectual disabilities: a scoping review

BackgroundViolence against people with intellectual disabilities is unfortunately a reality all over the world, as they are one of the populations most vulnerable to various forms of aggression. Assertive prevention and control measures are crucial to tackle and reduce this problem. The aim of this study was to map and summarize the main measures for preventing and controlling domestic violence against people with intellectual disabilities. MethodsThis was a scoping review conducted in accordance with the JBI guidelines. The databases consulted were: National Library of Medicine (PubMed); Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science; Excerpta Medica DataBASE (EMBASE); Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) and SCOPUS. Studies included in this review reported on strategies to address domestic violence against people with intellectual disabilities, published in the last ten years, in Portuguese, Spanish or English.ResultsA total of 11 studies were included in this review. Six studies had high methodological quality and five had moderate. Cognitive-behavioral intervention programs, educational technologies and/or auxiliary tools, along with the full participation of people with intellectual disabilities in domestic violence prevention measures are appropriate strategies for dealing with this issue.ConclusionDomestic violence against people with intellectual disabilities is relatively unexplored in the health-field scientific literature. Prevention and control measures should be developed with the active involvement of people with intellectual disabilities, generating engagement and knowledge. Preventive measures should be adapted to the personal context and conditions of individuals with special needs, such as those with persistent or chronic mental disorders.

Filling the gaps: grassroots prevention of domestic and family violence within the Korean-Australian community

This study focuses on the bridging roles of grassroots community groups from migrant communities in Australia, specifically in the context of domestic and family violence (DFV). Through in-depth interviews with 15 victim-survivors and 16 practitioners and community volunteers of Korean heritage, the study examines how members of the Korean community are attempting to fill the gaps in social support for victim-survivors of DFV and what issues, barriers and limitations they face. The results indicate that community members face multiple barriers in their efforts to fill gaps in service, which in turn affects the quality of their response to victim-survivors. This study argues that the emergence of a peer-support network is a response and even a partial solution to those barriers and limitations, challenging the traditional community groups (for example, ethnic churches) that used to serve as a main platform for the Korean diasporic community in Australia. A deeper understanding and engagement with these emerging networks are needed to fill the gap in the work investigating DFV response and prevention within Australian-Asian communities.

Медико-социальные аспекты развития технологий регулирования репродуктивного поведения населения.

Technologies for correcting reproductive behavior of the population are based on an integrated approach, taking into account medical, economic, psychological and social aspects. Today, of particular interest are the ethnocultural features of reproductive behavior in interaction with issues of reproductive health, legal support for the health care system, taking into account migration processes, the implementation of treatment and prevention of reproductive health disorders of women and men, the formation of reproductive well-being among the younger generation, which will be successfully implemented in the future. For the successful implementation of technologies for the protection of reproductive health, regular state and institutional collection and monitoring of data on pregnancy, fertility, perinatal health trends, risk factors, including screening, early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders is necessary, expanding the scope of prevention to childhood and adolescence. Today, such medical and social technologies as patronage of pregnant women in difficult life situations are defined as socially in demand; identification of risk factors for successful conception and pregnancy outcome; medical and psychological assistance to women and families based on a personalized approach; consultations on legal and social protection of women wishing to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, support during pregnancy or after an abortion; socio-psychological assistance to vulnerable groups of the population, disabled women, adolescents and young people, especially from low social strata; prevention of domestic violence and assistance to women victims of violence, including sexual violence. In order to correct the reproductive attitudes of the population, technologies are effective that reflect the significant role of society’s value priorities, including strengthening civic responsibility, understanding the national importance of the successful birth of children, and the formation of the social prestige of a large family.

Features of the functioning of the sectors against domestic violence of the national police of Ukraine under the conditions of marital state (on the example of the work of the Kharkiv region police)

Problem setting. The leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine, exercising managerial influence and organizational support for the functioning of bodies and units under martial law, is aware of the need to maintain an appropriate level of police efficiency in all areas of its service activities without exception. Such an approach requires the introduction of the most effective and modern methods of police work, and this fully applies to such a component of its service as the prevention and counteraction to domestic violence. There is every reason to consider the intensification of the functioning of the Domestic Violence Sectors of the NPU as one of the important measures aimed at preventing and combating domestic violence. Purpose of research is to investigate and analyze the place and importance of the Domestic Violence Countermeasure Sectors in ensuring the process of improving the activities of the system of bodies and units of the NPU in the field of preventing and combating domestic violence, increasing the effectiveness of preventive and preventive measures and response measures as the main task of combating domestic violence. Analysis of recent researches and publications. Problematic issues of preventing and combating domestic violence, defining the role and place of the NPU as one of the role and place of the NPU as one of the key actors in this area of social activity have been the subject of research by such scholars as: O. Bandurka, O. Bezpalova, G. Moshak, M. Panov, H. Yarmaki, etc. The main provisions of the publications of these scholars emphasize the importance of the formation of a legal framework for the NPU to prevent and combat domestic violence, analyzing the impact of conflict situations related to domestic violence on the state of law and order in the state, identifying ways to solve problematic issues in this area in the life of society. Articles main body. The article examines issues related to the need for the proper organization of the official activities of units of the National Police of Ukraine, such as Domestic Violence Countermeasure Sectors (DVCS), the correspondence of the tasks and functions of these units, the importance of ensuring the proper level of their preparedness for modern challenges that exist before the NPU in the conditions of martial law . The importance of the presented research material lies in the effort to emphasize the fact that the organization of the work of the DVCS should be considered not as a certain increase in the functions of the NPU, primarily in the field of preventing and countering domestic violence and which will provide an opportunity to improve some statistical indicators, but as an opportunity to increase the efficiency of work the police as a whole in the matter of protection of human rights and freedoms, maintenance of public order and security, combating crime. Conclusions and prospects for the development. The above-mentioned situation requires a responsible attitude towards oneself due to the fact that at the current stage we do not observe a tendency to decrease the number of offenses related to manifestations of domestic violence. The article also considers the factors that determine the need for the cooperation of NPU units, in which the prevention and counteraction of domestic violence is one of the main areas of official activity (district police officers and community police officers, domestic violence counteraction sectors, juvenile prevention units). Attention was drawn to the expediency of expanding the range of subjects engaged in activities in the field of prevention and counteraction of domestic violence and gender-based violence, the need to involve in this work not only preventive activity units of the National Police, but other units that are part of the NPU.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of South Africa’s Prevention of Domestic Violence Act in Reducing Gender-Based Violence in Cape Town

This study evaluates the effectiveness of South Africa’s Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA) in reducing gender-based violence in Cape Town. The research examines the key provisions and objectives of the PDVA, its impact on reported cases of domestic violence, and the roles of law enforcement and community organizations in its implementation. Despite increased reporting and awareness following the Act’s introduction, significant challenges remain, including resource limitations, training gaps, and societal attitudes that hinder effective enforcement. The study identifies gaps in public awareness and societal support as critical barriers to the PDVA’s success, suggesting that legal reform alone is insufficient without broader social and institutional changes. Recommendations are made to enhance law enforcement capacity, improve community support mechanisms, and strengthen public education initiatives to achieve a more comprehensive and effective response to domestic violence.

Association Between Domestic Violence and Mental Health Among Nepalese Women: Results from a Nationally Representative Sample.

This study aims to examine the association between exposure to domestic violence and mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety among married women in Nepal. The 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey was used. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed. A complex sampling frame was used to ensure the accuracy of the sample. A total of 4,211 women aged 14 to 49 years were analyzed. Among women between the ages of 15 and 49, 22.8% experience anxiety, and 22.5% experience depressive symptoms. Nearly 50% of women who had experienced domestic violence had symptoms of anxiety and depression. At the multivariate level, in Model 1, the study found that wealthy women were less likely to have anxiety (OR = 0.75; 95% CI [0.58, 0.96] and depression (OR = 0.70; 95% CI [0.54, 0.91]) than poor women. Similarly, women of the former untouchable caste were more likely to have anxiety (OR = 1.51; 95% CI [1.14, 2.00]) and depression (OR = 1.20; 95% CI [0.91, 1.58]) than high-caste women. In Model 2, the odds of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 1.70 (95% CI [1.29, 2.24]) and 1.99 (95% CI [1.48, 2.67]), respectively, for those women who had experienced severe physical violence. The odds of experiencing anxiety and depression were 2.88 (95% CI [2.28, 3.64]) and 3.04 (95% CI [2.32, 3.98]) times, respectively, for those women who had experienced emotional abuse. Similarly, women who had been sexually assaulted had 2.34 (95% CI [1.72, 3.20]) and 1.67 times (95% CI [1.23, 2.26]) more likely to experience anxiety and depression than women who had never been sexually assaulted. We found a strong association between mental health problems and women's experience of domestic violence. To address the mental health of Nepalese women, it is critical to strengthen domestic violence prevention programs, especially those targeting the lowest social strata of the population.

Educational Strategy of The Primary Prevention of Domestic Violence: Contributions of Curricular Practices to the Strengthening of Citizenship

At a global level, quality education is fundamental to achieve social and gender justice, stability, and sustainable development worldwide. Therefore, the current school is faced with the need to find answers to these challenges, which can manifest themselves in multiple social violences. The investment in Portugal in an education for citizenship is based on the implementation of an educational policy that introduces, in an intentional and strategical manner, into the curriculum, fracturing themes in societies with the aim of its transformation. In this regard, the construction of the curriculum, as proposed by the Critical Theory, as a social practice, can constitute an educational strategy for the study and action on the problematic issue of primary prevention of domestic violence. The aim of this research is to understand to what extent the inclusion of the issue of domestic violence in curricular practices, in the context of citizenship education, contributes to the primary prevention of this social scourge. The methodological course of the research is based on a qualitative approach of exploratory nature, using a questionnaire with four open-ended questions. The study took place in two public schools, Primary and Secondary: one in the Oporto area and the other in the Lisbon area. The former has a Prevention Project against Domestic Violence in place; the second has no similar project. The data was obtained through the Google Forms tool. Eight participants were selected, four from each school, all teachers at the end of a schooling cycle, specifically: 4th year, 6th year, 9th year and 12th year. The study revealed that, in the school in the Oporto area, because it had a Violence Prevention Plan, there were curricular practices focused on this issue. The school in the Lisbon area, on the other hand, that does not have a Plan for the Prevention of Violence, has an absence of this issue in curricular practices, there being only awareness-raising on the subject.

Extant Literature Review on Understanding of Domestic Violence against Women in Rural Sindh, Pakistan

This paper presents detailed critiques of existing literature and debate on crucial issues of domestic violence against women in Rural Sindh, Pakistan. Primarily, definitions, causes, consequences, and prevention of domestic violence, as well as sociological and feminist theoretical framework perspectives, are discussed profoundly. Discussions and analyses of past materials, meanings, nature, and scope of studies on domestic violence worldwide and in Sindh, Pakistan, backgrounds are discussed. Patriarchy, masculinity, and their relation to domestic violence are briefly elaborated. The international perspective on domestic violence, ideology and concept of patriarchy, men and masculinity connecting to the situations of marriage, gender relations, roles, legal and religious perspective in Pakistan about domestic violence in Sindh, and previously reported incidence is also reviewed. Likewise, relevant literature and its review on the topic of past studies, connecting with the present study, have also been established with relevant theories, which have overlapping effects on domestic violence. Literature review sections of papers define that there is not any single theory or reason; rather, there are multiple socio-economic, psychological, and feminist viewpoints which allow perpetrators to commit domestic violence against women in rural Sindh, Pakistan.

IMPROVING THE LEGISLATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE FIELD OF COMBATING CRIMES ARISING FROM MARRIAGE AND FAMILY RELATIONS

The article examines the features of crimes arising from marriage and family relations, and examines modern forms and methods of combating them. Based on the analysis of these forms and methods, problems of preventing and combating crimes arising from marriage and family relations are identified; it is concluded that the main problem is the presence of gaps in the current legislation regulating the area of ​​legal relations under consideration. The authors propose ways to solve the problems of combating crimes arising from marriage and family relations, one of which is the introduction of amendments to the current legislation of the Russian Federation. In conclusion, the authors conclude that crime in the sphere of marriage and family relations cannot be completely eliminated, however, the measures proposed by the authors to combat it can help reduce the rate of its spread in Russian society. Purpose and methods. The purpose of the study is to identify problems of preventing and combating crimes arising from marriage and family relations, and to propose ways to solve them. To achieve this goal, the dialectical method of cognition was used within the framework of the study, providing a scientific approach to the study of phenomena. Results. The main problems of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of combating crimes arising from marriage and family relations have been identified. To increase the effectiveness of the fight against crimes arising from marriage and family relations, ways to improve criminal and family legislation have been proposed. Conclusions. 1) The need to consolidate at the legislative level the concept of “domestic violence” within the framework of the adoption of the federal law on the prevention of domestic violence; 2) consolidating at the legislative level the concept of actual marital relations with a view to possibly classifying their participants as subjects of crimes arising from marital relations; 3) expanding the content of the term “persons close to the victim”, found in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, by including in it all persons living in the same premises with the person who committed the crime and leading a joint household.

DIRECTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE LEGISLATIVE REGULATION OF BEATINGS IN THE LIGHT OF COUNTERING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The analysis of changes in the Russian criminal legislation establishing responsibility for the commission of beatings is carried out in terms of their impact on the prevention and counteraction of domestic violence. The inconsistency of the legislator in adopting these changes has been revealed, which is a consequence of the lack of consistency in the legislative regulation of countering domestic violence, insufficient use of the potential of criminological science in the legislative process. The analysis of statistical data for 2016-2022 allowed us to conclude that the latency of family and domestic crime has increased due to the decriminalization of single beatings against loved ones, as well as the artificial latency of torture (Part 1 of Article 117 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Based on the results of the analysis of the empirical base, the authors concluded that the commission of serious domestic violence is preceded by the infliction of beatings and minor harm to the victims and convicts. The suppression and prevention of beatings as a crime with double prevention is a prerequisite for an effective fight against the grave consequences of domestic violence. It is proposed to return the criminalization of single beatings against close people, expanding this concept by including other close people in addition to relatives and relatives.

Foreign national legislation on combating domestic violence

This article examines the foreign experience of bringing to justice for domestic violence. Domestic violence definitely falls under the violation of a large number of internationally recognized human rights that the State is obliged to defend and protect: the right to life and physical integrity, the right not to be the object of bullying or cruel treatment, inhuman or degrading treatment, the right to equal protection from the law and freedom from discrimination based on gender and others. As we can see, the origins of gender inequality were determined primarily by cultural and religious factors, as well as the peculiarities of the legal system in different countries. As a result, domestic violence has been recognized for granted almost all over the world for a long time and for a long time, and in some sources of social norms it was even recorded in legislative forms.Violence against women and domestic violence can no longer be considered a private matter, and that States must take a firm stand and take measures to prevent violence, protect victims and punish perpetrators. This issue has become extremely relevant at the present time, when the Republic of Kazakhstan is becoming an almost full-fledged participant in global integration processes, supporting the idea of prioritizing the rights and freedoms of man and citizen. The paper provides a comparative analysis of the legislation of the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Austria and France. It is concluded that the positive foreign experience in the field of prevention of domestic violence, which can be applied in Kazakhstan, should be: the construction and creation of social institutions whose activities are aimed at preventing domestic violence (USA) - the need to introduce a system of support for social initiatives in the field of prevention of domestic violence (USA) - the creation on the basis of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic Kazakhstan Institute for Research on Domestic Violence (Canada); grouping of measures aimed at preventing domestic violence by group affiliation (France); the need to assess the effectiveness of measures applied in the field of prevention of domestic violence (Germany).

Autocratic Genderwashing: Gender‐Equality Reforms in Serbia

While gender equality is usually linked with democracy, autocratic regimes frequently take the lead in such reforms. Focusing on the case of Serbia, this article demonstrates how gender equality reforms can be used as instruments of autocratic regimes. As electoral autocracies nowadays depend on international legitimation and support, they need to present a democratic image to the international audience. Very often they achieve this by introducing gender-sensitive policies and increasing the public visibility of women. This study shows that the democratic backsliding evidenced in Serbia since 2016 has been followed by increased attention to gender equality. In recent years, the Serbian parliament has increased the gender quota for national and local parliaments to 40% and passed several important pieces of legislation, including the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence (2016) and the Gender Equality Law (2021). Additionally, the regime has appointed a record number of women to executive government positions. Since 2017, Serbia has had a lesbian woman serving as a prime minister and the government formed in 2020 was labelled a “women’s government,” with 40% of ministerial positions held by women. This article argues that the regime tends to adopt these democratic reforms while, at the same time, manipulating their meaning to advance a conservative agenda and bolster anti-gender mobilizations. These different—often contradictory—strategies help the regime address a variety of audiences—both international and domestic—and gain their recognition.

South Asians and the Role of Bystanders in Domestic Violence Prevention: Results from a Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Purpose Domestic violence manifests in unique ways in South Asian immigrant communities. Given the need to uphold family honor, formal help-seeking remains minimal within this community. Individuals experiencing victimization rely on friends and family members as informal sources of support. These friends and family members may also be bystanders who witness victimization. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine differences in participant responses to an online interactive bystander intervention developed for South Asians. Methods To get community response to the intervention, B.R.A.K.E. The Cycle, a Qualtrics link with all the intervention scenarios was posted on 21 sub-Reddit pages. Screeners to ensure that participants were of South Asian origin, 18 or older and currently residing in the United States (US) were added. True to the study purpose, to examine differences across gender and generational position, we conducted descriptive analysis and chi-square tests. Results There were differences in scenarios by gender and immigration position. Some of the main findings point to the need to report domestic violence, seek help (formal or informal) as well as surprisingly some responses justified the use of force by a male partner. We discuss these in-depth by scenarios. Discussion This is the first study to examine differences in bystander preference and response to using an intervention that was developed specifically for the South Asian community. Social workers can utilize this intervention to create dialogue around domestic violence prevention and the role of bystander within the South Asian and potentially other immigrant communities.

Sources of Criminal Law on Domestic Violence Prevention

The civilised society, which is constantly developing on the principles of democracy and equality, has no place for domestic violence, but this problem is present and quite common. The work aims to determine criminal law sources and their core provisions on the regulatory framework for preventing and countering offences related to domestic violence, as well as to detect ways to optimise their regulatory framework. The study used the legalistic method, comparative law method, logical and legal method. The study results characterised the sources of criminal law on the prevention of domestic violence in Ukraine, which certifies the presence of a wide mechanism of its prevention. Inconsistency of probation supervision, particularly within the context of its perception by society, was noted. International regulatory acts on domestic violence prevention were analysed. The advantages of using different types of restraining orders in the world practice were revealed. The study results may be useful for state actors for further legislation improvement in domestic violence prevention.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Position Statement: Gun violence and pregnancy

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) acknowledges gun violence as a public health crisis in the United States, with a significant impact on pregnant and postpartum people. We recognize the urgent need for a robust, equitable, data-driven approach to mitigate the impact of access to firearms and accompanying violence on pregnant and postpartum individuals and communities. As such, SMFM endorses the following policy principles:- SMFM calls on relevant government agencies and public funders to support and finance anti-violence and firearm safety research, public health surveillance activities, education, and other initiatives. These initiatives should acknowledge and address the connection between access to firearms and the health and safety of pregnant and postpartum people, as well as their families and communities.- SMFM strongly opposes legislation or regulations that impede or limit clinician-patient discussions about firearms.- SMFM calls for enhanced access to mental health care services for pregnant and postpartum people.- SMFM calls for additional support for individuals experiencing intimate partner violence and their families.- SMFM supports the creation of and funding for training programs for maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) subspecialists and all clinicians about firearms and domestic violence prevention.- SMFM supports laws and regulations that restrict individuals with protective or restraining orders and those with intimate partner violence or stalking convictions from purchasing and owning firearms.

Men as victims of domestic violence: aspects of legal regulation

The representative article is devoted to the legal regulation of prevention and counteraction of domestic violence against men in Ukraine. It is pointed out the lack of due attention of the scientific legal doctrine to the problems of domestic violence, especially regarding the connotation of men as victims of this de-axiological phenomenon.
 It is motivated that the peculiarity of the socio-legal position of men as victims of domestic violence is that they often face social stereotypes and complicated challenges associated with insufficient recognition of their vulnerability due to socio-cultural ideas about traditional gender roles. Society often deliberately or indirectly places men in the role of the «strong half», which can lead to stigma and internal conflicts that make it difficult to identify the facts of domestic violence.
 The spread of the gender «stereotype of domestic violence» was dropped.
 It has been proven that socio-cultural stereotypes that assign men the role of strong, steadfast and self-sufficient make it difficult to recognize and accept their vulnerability.
 The article indicates that the latency of such a negative phenomenon among men is also due to the fact that the social reaction can be reinforced by the lack of appropriate resources and services that specialize in supporting men, and the lack of widespread awareness of their problem among the public. Men who become victims of domestic violence often feel a deep fear that they will not be believed or understood, it is caused by difficulties in society’s perception of the image of a male victim, which contradicts traditional ideas about male strength and independence.
 The legal need for special legal regulation regarding male victims of domestic violence is motivated by the recognition that men can also become the object of violence and need the protection and support of social and legal mechanisms. The proposed set of such measures includes preventive, psychological, legal, socio-cultural and organizational and managerial spheres.

Domestic violence: prevention past due.

In May 2023, the White House released the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which includes intimate partner or domestic violence (DV). Based on 20 years of experience in California, this commentary provides detailed examples of 2 DV prevention strategies: interrupting intergenerational transmission and addressing macrolevel drivers. Family-strengthening approaches to prevention and justice and increasing economic security are key. Insight into regional policies and programs can inform implementation of the national plan and DV prevention in other states and localities.

Perceptions and educational needs of social and healthcare professionals in the prevention of domestic violence – A focus group study

ObjectiveTo explore and describe social and healthcare professionals’ perceptions and educational needs in relation to domestic violence and its prevention. MethodsA qualitative research was conducted in three European countries. Two multidisciplinary focus group interviews were conducted (in each country) among professionals and higher education teachers in the field of social and health care. Total number of participants were 32 (Finland n=12, Greece n=12, Portugal n=8). The transcribed data were analyzed by thematic analysis. ResultsParticipants’ perceptions of domestic violence and its prevention included: multidimensional phenomenon, consequences, and addressing concern. Domestic violence was seen as a multidimensional phenomenon, which has various consequences for several aspects of life. Professionals have difficulties addressing their concern due to lack of knowledge and tools. Solutions to prevent domestic violence that the participants shared were: education, intervention, and strategies. Education was seen as the key aspect for the prevention of domestic violence. Also, professionals’ communication and situation management skills, as well as national and international strategies, were seen as valuable solutions. Educational needs for prevention of domestic violence were expressed based on content, methods, and practices, such as services system and legislation. ConclusionThe findings of the current study highlight the social- and healthcare professionals’ need for education about domestic violence. It is essential that these professionals receive appropriate training to effectively identify and address domestic violence. The current study provides useful information for the development of relevant training/education for this group of professionals.

A Study of Factors Influencing Happiness in Korea: Topic Modelling and Neural Network Analysis

The aim of this study is to derive the important factors that influence levels of happiness in Korea, and to identify which factors are particularly important among these influencing factors. To achieve this goal, topic modelling analysis, machine learning analysis and neural network analysis methods were utilized. The Netminer 4.5 program was used for topic modelling analysis and machine learning analysis, and SPSS MODELER 18 was used to perform neural network analysis. Two types of analysis data were used in this study. The first consisted of 1 000 papers relating to happiness published in academic journals managed by the Springer publishing company, which were used to derive happiness-influencing factors. The second consisted of a survey conducted in 2020 by the Community Well-being Center of the Graduate School of Public Administration at Seoul National University in Korea. A total of 16 655 people responded to this survey. The analysis results of the study are as follows. Important variables that affect the level of happiness of Korean residents are: family life, social status, income, health, and perceptions of inequality. Analysis using neural network analysis of the most important factors influencing happiness showed that satisfaction with family life had the most important influence. This suggests that policies that can improve the quality of family life, such as family-friendly work environments, childcare support, and domestic violence prevention and response programmes, will become important in the future