Domestic Violence Research Articles

Formal support is essential for promoting recovery and healing of victim-survivors of domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV). Trauma-and-violence-informed care (TVIC) aims to improve outcomes and minimize harm for trauma survivors accessing support. Despite its existence, services are not adequately meeting the needs of victim-survivors of DFSV and continue to cause harm. Guiding frameworks that can be consistently applied across services are thus needed. This qualitative meta-synthesis systematically integrates service providers' perspectives on what constitutes effective TVIC for victim-survivors of DFSV to determine practices and principles to better support victim-survivor recovery when providing care. Seven databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles and gray literature in June 2023, with an updated search in September 2024. Twenty-nine articles were included in the study, representing 694 service providers across a range of settings. A thematic synthesis approach resulted in eight key themes outlining principles of TVIC for DFSV service provision, including six individual-level themes: (a) safety, (b) survivor-centered care, (c) respectful emotional support, (d) non-judgmental, reciprocal client-practitioner relationship, (e) supporting victim-survivors to thrive, and (f) cultural safety and inclusivity; and two system-level themes: (g) provision of effective and accessible services, and (h) providing holistic services. The findings identified a holistic, trauma-and-violence-informed, survivor-centered, and inclusive approach to supporting victim-survivors, describing principles, values, and specific practices which can be applied by practitioners and services to improve service outcomes and facilitate recovery and healing.

Conceptualizing commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) in linear stages of pre-, peri- and postexploitation misses the complex transformation of relationships required to engage in recovery. Through an ongoing partnership with a local residential recovery program, we conducted interviews with six survivors of CSE. Results suggest pivotal transition moments, first marking transition from childhood or domestic violence, when abuse becomes exchange, and then, upon efforts to exit from CSE, repeated cycles of efforts like those exiting intimate partner violence. These complex transitions suggest a more complex alteration of relationships across a trajectory of exploitation. Postexploitation services may support sustained exit by helping individuals create new healthy relationships.

Background: The American Heart Association recognizes the pre-pregnancy period as a window to optimize cardiovascular health and mitigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly in those with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (RF). However, disparities in access to and utilization of preventive care are well-established outside of pregnancy. Understanding the social factors associated with lower pre-pregnancy care can inform interventions to improve equity in maternal health. Methods: We used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a nationally representative survey of women with a recent live birth. We included women age ≥18 years with self-reported data on pre-pregnancy CVD RF (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, or tobacco use) and visit attendance. The primary outcome was attendance at a clinic visit (i.e., “regular checkup”) with an OB/GYN or primary care doctor in the year prior to pregnancy. We calculated age-adjusted odds of attendance in those with 0, 1 or > 2 of the following adverse social factors: poor transportation access, food insecurity, unstable housing, lack of health insurance, difficulty paying bills, history of domestic abuse, and lack of a high school education. Next, we conducted subgroup analyses by presence of 0, 1 or > 2 CVD RF. Analyses were weighted accounting for survey design. Results: Of 233,815 women (weighted N=11,424,885), the mean age was 29.5 years, 32.6% had 1 CVD RF, and 10.2% had > 2 CVD RF. Adverse social factors were more often reported by those with CVD RF: 17.8% of those with no CVD RF, 25.7% with 1 CVD RF, and 28.3% with > 2 CVD RF (p=<0.01). Overall frequency of a pre-pregnancy clinic visit was 55.9% with a lower frequency in those with higher burden of adverse social factors ( TABLE ). For example, odds of a pre-pregnancy clinic visit was lower in those with > 2 compared with no adverse social factors in those with 0 CVD RF (63.8% VS 19.2%; aOR 0.15; 95% CI: 0.13-0.17), 1 CVD RF (60.3% VS 27.9%; aOR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.23-0.30), and > 2 CVD RF (60.9% VS 33.4%; aOR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.29-0.42). Conclusion: Adverse social factors are associated with a lower frequency of pre-pregnancy care utilization even among those with CVD RF. Among those with ≥2 adverse social factors, less than one-third of women attended a pre-pregnancy visit. Public health efforts should address upstream drivers of health to improve pre-pregnancy preventive care and optimize cardiovascular health.

Introduction: Honour-based abuse (HBA) is a form of domestic abuse motivated by perceived ‘dishonour’ to family or community. Often involving multiple perpetrators from family networks, HBA centres around controlling behaviours and beliefs. Healthcare professionals frequently miss identifying victims. Simulation-based education offers an effective training method for sensitive topics but requires careful design to avoid stereotyping cultural contexts [1]. This project aimed to develop authentic simulation scenarios through co-production with survivors. Methods: Five HBA survivors participated in interviews focusing on their disclosure experiences with healthcare professionals. These interviews informed two simulation scenarios for final-year medical students. The initial scenario addressed HBA within a South Asian Muslim context. When role-play providers lacked staff from appropriate cultural backgrounds, a second version was created focusing on universal aspects of abuse disclosure, with honour dynamics addressed in debriefing. Both scenarios incorporated survivor quotations and emotional insights. Survivor narratives provided authentic language that enriched scenario scripts with direct quotes about disclosure barriers, shame, and familial pressure. The second scenario was delivered to 39 UK medical students, emphasising recognition of disclosure cues, sensitive communication, safety planning, and referral pathways. All students received an email notification of the content a week prior to the simulation, in addition to usual prebriefing and debriefing. Results: Feedback from 16 participants using a 5-point Likert scale showed high ratings for usefulness (4.94/5), understanding (4.94/5), confidence (4.81/5), relevance (4.94/5), and potential to change practice (4.88/5). Qualitative feedback highlighted increased awareness of disclosure opportunities and improved confidence. One student noted: “I learned about patients giving ‘crumbs’ of details as an opportunity to open up or gauge if they can trust the healthcare professional”. Students valued the survivor-informed approach, with feedback highlighting how authentic scenarios prepared them to “ask the difficult questions.” Discussion: Co-production created authentic scenarios but revealed issues regarding diverse representation among simulated participants (SPs). The lack of SPs from South Asian Muslim backgrounds necessitated adapting the simulation, raising questions about authenticity in cultural representation. Despite these challenges, survivor-informed content remained powerful, with verbatim quotes providing authenticity that resonated with students. The adaptation process demonstrated the value of teaching universal disclosure principles when facing representational constraints. This experience underscores the need for greater diversity within SP pools while highlighting how co-production with survivors can promote cultural humility [2] and meaningfully represent lived experiences. Ethics Statement: As the submitting author, I can confirm that all relevant ethical standards of research and dissemination have been met. Additionally, I can confirm that the necessary ethical approval has been obtained, where applicable.

Menopause awareness in the UK has increased demand for GP appointments and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). However, inequalities persist in accessing menopause care, particularly among ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and those experiencing domestic abuse (DA). DA can exacerbate menopause symptoms and create additional barriers to care. To explore the experiences and healthcare needs of women navigating both DA and perimenopause, identifying key barriers and opportunities for primary care support. A qualitative study involving women from a national DA survivors' group in the UK with experience of peri-menopause. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted online with 15 women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms and a history of DA. Data were analysed thematically using the One Sheet of Paper (OSOP) technique and discursive analysis. Three key themes emerged: (1) Confusion over symptoms, with participants struggling to differentiate menopause symptoms from mental health issues, pre-existing conditions, or DA-related trauma; (1) Confusion over symptoms, (2) Medical avoidance and barriers in accessing support and (3) Mixed experiences in primary care, with some receiving beneficial treatments while others felt dismissed or misdiagnosed, particularly with antidepressants instead of HRT. Participants highlighted missed opportunities for DA disclosure during GP consultations. The study underscores the need for trauma-informed menopause care in primary care settings. Primary care practitioners should integrate DA screening into menopause consultations and adopt a holistic, patient-centred approach. Further research and training are needed to support tailored interventions for DA survivors experiencing perimenopause.

BackgroundSuicide remains a critical public health issue worldwide. In Iran, particularly in the western province of Kermanshah, forced marriage and domestic violence are prevalent social problems that may contribute to suicidal ideation among married individuals. This study aimed to examine the association between forced marriage, physical intimate partner violence (IPV), and suicidal ideation, while exploring the protective roles of social support and resilience.MethodsA cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in 2024 with 369 married adults aged 18–59 years from Kermanshah city. Participants were selected through multi-stage sampling from diverse socioeconomic areas. Data were collected using validated questionnaires including Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and a demographic checklist. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of suicidal ideation.ResultsIn this study, 24.1% of people reported suicidal ideation, 33.9% experienced forced marriage, and 22.2% experienced physical IPV. Suicidal ideation was significantly higher among those exposed to forced marriage (OR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.32–4.61, P < 0.01), physical IPV (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.24–4.74, P < 0.01), history of attempted suicide (OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.01–6.22, P < 0.05), suicide attempts in the family (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.07–4.60, P < 0.05), history of mental disorders (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.04–4.38, P < 0.05), female gender (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.01–4.11, P < 0.05), and suicide attempt in friends (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.06–3.84, P < 0.05). Conversely, higher social support (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88–0.98, P < 0.05) and resilience (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.99, P < 0.01) were significantly protective against suicidal ideation. The model explained up to 41% of the variance in suicidal ideation.ConclusionForced marriage and domestic violence are significant risk factors for suicidal ideation among married individuals in Kermanshah, while social support and resilience serve as protective factors. These findings highlight the urgent need for culturally sensitive interventions targeting harmful social practices and strengthening psychosocial resources to reduce suicide risk in this population.

The current paper presents findings from qualitative research on domestic violence and abuse (DVA) with Christians and Muslims from Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Bangladeshi communities in the United Kingdom (UK). The study explored understandings of and attitudes toward DVA and responses that integrated cultural and religious institutions and resources. Qualitative research was conducted with the help of community-based researchers with existing links and relationships of trust in the respective communities. Three researchers conducted 16 interviews and one focus group discussion with eight participants (total n = 24). The study added to the existing evidence on barriers that DVA victims from ethnic minority faith communities face in migration contexts, adding insight into the complex interactions between norms and pressures at country of origin and conditions in the host society, and the role of religious beliefs as culturally contextualized in this relationship. The study also reinforced the significant role that religious establishments and mediators can play in domestic violence responses, but also their general unpreparedness to do so. Participants proposed that integrating religious institutions and resources in DVA responses would be an effective way forward.

Employee mental well-being, supported by a positive work environment is crucial to enhancing firm productivity and sustaining long-term growth. However, research on the mental well-being of working populations in developing countries remains limited. This study examines the mental health status and key predictors of depression and anxiety in working men and women in India, one of the world’s most populous countries. For this, we collected quantitative data from 2,698 individuals using self-administered online surveys. We used bivariate and multivariate regressions to analyze the predictors of depression and anxiety in working men and women. We also used Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method to assess the association between gender and depression and anxiety. Finally, we assessed the role of personal stressors, work stressors, use of social media and siblings to understand the gender differences in anxiety and depression using OLS regression methods. Around 23% of female and 17% of male workers in our sample reported symptoms of either depression or anxiety, or both. Key predictors of mental health issues of the working population in the call centers included younger age, financial difficulties and, conflicts with supervisors, with additional mental health predictors of experience of domestic violence, unmarried status, and lack of siblings for women. Our regression results suggest that women in our sample exhibited 0.13 standard deviations higher depression and 0.26 standard deviations higher anxiety than men. Furthermore, women experiencing high personal and work-related stress, along with frequent social media use, reported the highest levels of depression and anxiety. Lastly, we find that relative to men without siblings, men with siblings report lower depression levels, and women without siblings report higher anxiety. These insights underscore the need for targeted interventions to support the mental health of working populations, particularly among women in developing contexts.

Abstract Why did village women who were victims of cadre sexual abuse refrain from making public denunciations of their abusers, while their husbands, fathers, and unrelated men did so? This article examines previously overlooked materials from the Socialist Education Movement (1962–66) to deepen our understanding of the gendered form of political participation that contributed to holding cadres more accountable. Although the extant scholarship has used the term “patriarchal socialism” to explain the lack of women's participation in politics in the Mao era, this article argues that certain gendered practices shaped villager participation. It proposes three characteristics involved in “gendered denunciation”: First, gendered mobilization, the potential for domestic violence, and previous failures to bring down the accused cadres all kept the abused women from making public denunciations. Second, these women's husbands and fathers made public denunciations to regain their mianzi (“face”) that they felt had been lost in the sexual abuse of their female family members. Third, unrelated men who themselves had suffered from the cadre violence and the lack of privileged access to scarce goods exposed the cadres’ sexual misconduct at public meetings.

Exposing the Hidden Torment: The Unseen Struggles of Enduring Hatred and Marital Rape in Domestic Violence

Depression affects women of all ages in India. The stress of balancing many roles can lead to depression in Indian women, which goes ‎untreated due to social stigma. Among the most prevalent mental health conditions that affect women in their reproductive years are ‎premenstrual dysphoric syndrome, postpartum depression, and PMS. Primary care physicians should emphasize early diagnosis of intimate ‎relationships and domestic abuse and mandate routine tests for these issues. Since antidepressants constitute the cornerstone of treatment, ‎they ought to be freely available at all primary care levels. When individuals take their medication as directed for a sufficient period ‎and keep in regular contact with mental health professionals, the best possible results are obtained. The best results are obtained when ‎cognitive therapy is used in conjunction with other non-pharmacological methods. In this work, deep learning architectures using Linear ‎Discriminant Analysis (LDA) were utilized. Possible contributions to the studies include convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and ‎transformer-based pre-trained language models for classification. When the six functional status groups are utilized rather than just one set ‎of depressed symptoms, the results will be more dependable and consistent‎.

Prevalence of childhood exposure to domestic violence in 10 low- and middle-income countries: Analysis of Violence Against Children and Youth Survey data.

Simulation-Based Education for Domestic Violence Detection and Response in Nursing and Midwifery: A Scoping Review

Australian health and social service providers' perspectives on interpersonal and structural forms of reproductive coercion.

Experience of intimate partner violence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of healthcare facilities in Nigeria.

BackgroundChild violence is a global concern affecting the well-being and development of children and adolescents worldwide. Despite the obvious need, few studies on child violence have been conducted in clinical samples, especially in low- and middle-income countries.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of different types of violence in past-year among adolescent psychiatric patients in Nepal.Participants and settingThe participants were 810 adolescents aged 11–15, 392 boys and 418 girls, who visited a child- and adolescent psychiatric outpatient unit in Kathmandu during a 12-month period.MethodsWe used a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional design. Data was collected with screening instruments completed by the adolescents themselves. Prevalence rates and range of occurrence of various forms of child violence were computed for both genders. Gender comparisons were conducted using Pearson chi-square tests. Adolescents rated the occurrence in the “rarely”, “sometimes”, “often” or “frequently” categories. Associations between the different forms were examined by Spearman’s correlation test.ResultsIn this study 88% of adolescents had experienced some forms of violence, girls reporting higher prevalence than boys last year. Emotional abuse was the most common. Neglect was reported by 25% of the adolescents, and domestic violence by 40%. Sixty percent of the adolescents had experienced peer aggression. Nearly 75% of the adolescents had experienced polyvictimization and it was higher in girls than boys. Significant correlations were found between several forms of violence, indicating compounded risks.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates high prevalence of multiple forms of violence among adolescent psychiatric patients, calling for increased awareness of child violence in young patients admitted to mental health institutions in Nepal.

Conflict, separation, domestic violence, and economic stress, are some marital crises that pose serious risks to children’s development. This study examined how these challenges affect the wellbeing and social adjustment of school-aged children in Sunyani Municipality, Ghana. A mixed-method design was used in this research. A composite Marital Crisis Index was developed, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression models. The findings revealed that children from highly unstable homes showed sharp declines in school attendance, with a correlation of minus 0.82, and weaker academic performance, with a correlation of minus 0.42. Their self-esteem dropped significantly, correlating at minus 0.62, as depression and anxiety increased with positive correlations of 0.63 and 0.54 respectively, all at high levels of statistical significance. Social risks were also evident: children in high-crisis families were more than twice as likely to experience bullying, with an odds ratio of 2.41, and delinquent behaviors increased by 25% as shown by an incidence rate ratio of 1.25. However, protective factors reduced these risks. Extended family support improved academic outcomes and lowered both bullying and delinquency, while access to school counseling enhanced academic performance and reduced victimization. These results highlight the urgent need for schools, communities, and policymakers to strengthen family stability and provide targeted psychosocial support to safeguard children’s emotional health, academic success, and social resilience.

This article uses Nancy Fraser's theory of social justice to analyze outsourced domestic violence (DV) services in Taiwan. The article is based on interviews with 15 social workers employed in a large NGO across the island. The study reveals how bureaucratic control and quantified work performance metrics compromise service quality and marginalize survivors' needs. Administrative imperatives undermine social workers' efforts to provide customized, in-depth services based on survivors' needs. This article highlights the tensions between bureaucratic rationalities and social justice commitments in outsourced DV services.

This quasi-experimental controlled trial investigates the role of attachment patterns and the quality of mentalization in women exposed to domestic violence, with the aim of identifying protective and risk factors related to coercive control in intimate relationships. The Relationship Scale Questionnaire, the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, and the Rorschach Inkblot Test were administered to 80 women divided into three groups: women victims of chronic domestic violence, women victims of a single episode of domestic violence (WVSEDV), and a control group of women who never experienced domestic violence. Sample comparisons and univariate descriptive analyses were conducted. Women victims of chronic domestic violence predominantly showed disorganized attachment styles (p < .001) and hypomentalization (80%; p < .001). WVSEDV presented a higher proportion of secure attachment styles (48%; p < .001) alongside a notable proportion of avoidant attachment styles (36%) and hypermentalization profiles (52%). No significant differences were found between the WVSEDV and women who never experienced domestic violence groups regarding attachment and mentalization dimensions. These findings indicate that it could be valuable to explore, through targeted research, whether promoting attachment security and mentalization abilities within psychotherapy might enhance the effectiveness of support for victims. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

While children with suicidal ideation or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are at high risk of suicide, most do not attempt suicide. This study aims to identify predictors of first suicide attempts among children with suicidal thoughts or NSSI. We utilized longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study to examine a broad range of risk factors in children reporting suicidal ideation (N = 344, mean age = 9.93) or NSSI (N = 261, mean age = 9.88) at baseline, predicting first attempt of suicide during a 4-year follow-up. Predictive models were developed through bivariate feature selection followed by Discrete-Time Random Survival Forest machine learning, identifying predictors of subsequent suicide attempts. During the follow-up, 40 of 344 children (11.6%) with suicidal ideation, and 32 of 261 children (12.3%) with NSSI at baseline initiated suicide attempts. For suicidal ideation, risk for attempting suicide increased with caregiver-reported NSSI, witnessing domestic violence, severity of suicidal thoughts, being female, online social screen use, and less parental supervision. For NSSI, risk of suicide attempt increased with witnessing domestic violence, anxiety disorders, caregiver-reported NSSI, being female, and disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. Our findings shed light on the development of population-based suicide prevention strategies for children.