Domestic Violence Research Articles

Domestic and Family Violence Affecting Children and Young People from Culturally and Racially Marginalized Migrant Backgrounds in Australia: A Scoping Review of Child Experiences and Service Responses.

In Australia, children and families from culturally and racially marginalized (CARM) migrant backgrounds experience a range of compounding structural and interpersonal factors that limit help-seeking and exacerbate the impacts of domestic and family violence (DFV). This scoping review examines the current state of knowledge on how children and young people from CARM migrant backgrounds experience DFV, and the services that respond to DFV including child protection services. A systematic search was conducted across PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases and Google Scholar, alongside a complementary grey literature search. Articles were included in the review if participants were from CARM migrant backgrounds, and the article included information related to children and young people's experiences of DFV, and the DFV service system. The review found 19 articles that met selection criteria. Due to limited research on this topic in Australia, most articles focused on children and young people's experiences shared through parental, carer or service provider perspectives. To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review to examine how children and young people from CARM migrant backgrounds experience DFV. Findings demonstrate children and young people are victim-survivors of multiple forms of DFV. Children and young people's engagement with the DFV service system is often accompanied by feelings of fear and distrust. Findings suggest that to strengthen system responses to DFV, services must build their capability to implement intersectional approaches that simultaneously support the safety and well-being of both the child and the non-violent parent or carer.

Unveiling the Narratives of Portuguese Professionals Engaged with Domestic Violence Victims: Persistent Challenges and Novel COVID-19 Impacts.

Domestic violence remains a complex and challenging issue, particularly for professionals engaged in providing support to victims. The occurrence of emergency situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, further exacerbates the difficulties faced by these practitioners. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of professionals working with domestic violence victims, with a specific focus on the primary challenges encountered during interventions. It also aims to identify key guidelines that could enhance their practices. Twenty-four professionals from the domestic violence victim support in Portugal participated in this qualitative research. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, the study identified a range of challenges professionals confront in their intervention efforts. These challenges encompassed various aspects of the intervention process, vulnerabilities observed in victims, and the existing support system. Furthermore, the study uncovered specific challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside these challenges, the research highlighted a set of recommendations designed to refine intervention strategies and promote better professional adaptation. The findings underscore the array of challenges that professionals grapple with, impacting both their strategies for intervention and their overall well-being. Thus, the development of effective intervention methodologies for professionals and organizations emerges as a crucial endeavor, essential for assisting domestic violence victims in their daily lives and enhancing preparedness for potential future crises.

Justification of Intimate Partner Violence among Women in Nigeria: How Does it Differ by Socioeconomic Status?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant challenge that has a profound impact on women, and a contributing factor to its high prevalence is the justification of IPV. Various research works have shown that women's socioeconomic status (SES) is connected to IPV justification. The major objective of this study is to investigate the socioeconomic disparities in justification of IPV by women in Nigeria. The study involved an analysis of the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data using a sample comprising 116,958 women. The study utilized chi-square tests and logistic regression as the classical test, and the Bayesian Regression Model in Stan for its analysis. The results were presented using odds ratios along with the 95% confidence limits. The study found that the occurrence of IPV justification by women in Nigeria stood at 32.9%. Additionally, it shows a significant but weak relationship between women's age and the justification of IPV. Controlling for covariates, women who lacked formal education possess a higher likelihood of justifying IPV with a 54% increase in odds in comparison to women with a higher education level. The study also found that women in the poorest wealth category had a 17% increase in odds of justifying IPV compared to women in the middle-class category, indicating a concerning trend of tolerance toward domestic violence among women with lower SES. IPV has detrimental effects on women and their children. To combat this issue, programs aimed at contextualizing IPV, improving women's SES, advocating for the end of IPV, and empowering women are highly important. Ultimately, IPV is unjustifiable, regardless of the rationale behind it, and action is needed to reduce the victimization of women within our societies.

Psychological Dynamics of Domestic Violence Victims: A Qualitative Study

This study aims to understand the psychological dynamics experienced by victims of domestic violence through a qualitative approach. By focusing on the subjective experiences of victims, this study explores how domestic violence affects the mental and emotional state of victims, as well as the coping strategies they use to survive. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with a number of victims of domestic violence, which were then thematically analysed to identify common psychological patterns. The results showed that victims of domestic violence experience various forms of psychological trauma, including fear, depression, anxiety, and a sense of worthlessness. In addition, many victims also experience internal conflict between the desire to leave a harmful relationship and a sense of emotional or economic dependence on the perpetrator. The coping strategies used by victims vary, ranging from seeking social support to using defensive mechanisms such as denial and avoidance. This study highlights the complexity of the psychological experiences of victims of domestic violence and the need for intervention approaches that are more holistic and sensitive to the psychological needs of victims. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the development of more effective policies and services in supporting the recovery of victims of domestic violence.

Lifetime prevalence of psychotic-like experiences and associated factors in Chile.

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), which include hallucinations and delusional experiences, are usually present in healthy populations, and their persistence, quality, and severity are associated with the development of psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia and other poor psychosocial outcomes. Urbanicity, depression, and other psychosocial stressors have been associated with PLEs. However, evidence of PLEs in Latin American (LATAM) countries is still scarce, and there are no studies about PLEs in Chile. The main aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of PLEs in a nationally representative sample according to othersocial determinants of health. The last results of the Chilean National Health Survey (ENS 2016-2017) were analyzed. PLEs were obtained from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0 and included in this survey. Other psychosocial variables (age, sex, educational level, financial stress, depressive symptoms, and urbanicity) were also included for further analysis. Exclusion criteria were (1) > = 65 and < 18years old, and (2) previous diagnosis or treatment for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Descriptive statistics were used to describe data, and Poisson regression models were performed to weight variables and find psychosocial correlations with PLEs. 2095 subjects were considered for this study (women 62.9% and mean age = 42.5, SD = 13.5). The lifetime prevalence of the PLEs (> = 1 PLE) in Chile was 12.9%. Visual hallucinations were the most common PLE (9.6%), and ideas of reference were the least common (0.4%). The Poisson regression model showed a higher prevalence of PLEs in the Gran Concepción conurbation (OR = 2.56) and Gran Valparaíso conurbation (OR = 1.69) compared with non-big cities. On the other hand, the 18-24year group had higher PLEs prevalence compared to other age groups. No correlations were found with educational status, financial stress, or depressive symptoms. A relatively high prevalence of PLEs was found in the Chilean general population, particularly in youth living in large urban areas (Gran Valparaíso and Gran Concepción), which is compatible with previous research. Considering that there were no correlations between low educational level and financial or depressive symptoms, it is necessary to have more studies that correlate other urban relevant variables, such as natural disasters, drug consumption, and domestic or neighborhood violence.

Developing a Research Agenda with Victim-Survivors to Improve Health Sector Responses to Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence in Australia

Developing a Research Agenda with Victim-Survivors to Improve Health Sector Responses to Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence in Australia

Structural Relationship Model of Basic Psychological Needs With Intimate Partner Violence: The Mediating Role of Gender Discrimination and Self-Esteem.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) encompasses a range of abusive behaviors within intimate relationships. This study examines the structural relationships between basic psychological needs and IPV victimization among Iranian women, shedding light on the complex factors contributing to IPV and potential avenues for intervention. Data were gathered from a sample of 306 Iranian women who had experienced IPV, utilizing the Domestic Violence Questionnaire, the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale, the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The findings supported the appropriate fit of the proposed model and revealed that basic psychological needs exerted significant direct and indirect effects on IPV victimization, mediated through self-esteem and ambivalent sexism. These results provide valuable new insights into the complex dynamics of IPV victimization and hold promise for the development of targeted interventions aimed at preventing IPV and supporting the well-being of affected individuals. Furthermore, the interpretation of the findings has been revised to avoid any implication of victim-blaming, aligning with the aim of understanding and addressing the structural factors contributing to IPV victimization.

The Centrality of Humiliation in Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

ABSTRACT Victims of traumatic events that involve repeated interpersonal aggression and low or no chance of escape frequently report intense Self-Conscious Emotions (SCEs), such as Shame, Guilt, and Humiliation. Humiliation is the reaction to a forced loss of status and is hypothesized to have unique contributions to the development and maintenance of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). However, previous studies did not include humiliation or did not simultaneously probe the relative contribution of each SCE to posttraumatic symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics between specific SCEs and trauma-related symptomatology in the general population who suffered a form of complex trauma. Four hundred forty-nine people (77.11% women) exposed to domestic violence and sexual abuse answered an online survey. We investigated whether each emotion would accurately predict probable PTSD and CPTSD levels above the proposed cutoff. We estimated a network model to understand the dynamics of their interactions and whether the traumatic event type would moderate relationships between SCEs and posttraumatic stress symptoms, comparing networks of two types of complex trauma. No SCE predicted PTSD, but humiliation was a predictor of CPTSD while controlling for Shame and Guilt. Humiliation was also the most central SCE domain in the networks of both traumatic events. Our results stress the relevance of Humiliation to understanding posttraumatic stress symptoms and the necessity to consider humiliation when studying the emotional processing in complex trauma.

Sexual Spousal Abuse And Emotional Homeostatic Disequilibrium (EHD) Among Married Secondary School Teachers In Rivers State Of Nigeria

This study considered the phenomenon of emotional homeostatic disequilibrium that adversely affects individuals, with a view to unveiling factors that instigate it. It was carried out in the area of counselling psychology. The purpose is to determine whether or not sexual spousal abuse is related to EHD among married secondary school teachers in Rivers State of Nigeria. The reason for selecting this topic is because the EHD problem has caused so much damage in the society, which demands investigation. Expost facto correlation design was adopted, while two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. Results of the study indicated a significant relationship between sexual spousal abuse and EHD, and a moderating influence of cultural values/beliefs in that relationship among the subjects. Specifically, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychological and emotional toll of sexual spousal abuse and informs more effective support and intervention strategies.

Peran Keluarga dalam Pencegahan Perilaku Kriminal pada Anak Kajian Kriminologi

Criminal behavior in children is a complex phenomenon and requires serious attention from various parties, including families. Criminology as a science that studies the causes and prevention of crime provides an important foundation in understanding the role of the family in preventing criminal behavior in children. This research aims to examine the role of the family in preventing criminal behavior in children from a criminological perspective. This study uses literature analysis methods to identify factors that influence children's criminal behavior and the role of the family in preventing it. The results of the analysis show that the family has a significant role in shaping children's character and behavior. Harmonious family conditions, open communication, and the formation of strong moral values can be protective factors in preventing children from being involved in criminal behavior. However, there are also risk factors in the family environment that can increase the likelihood that children will be involved in criminal behavior, such as domestic conflict, neglect, and domestic violence. Therefore, the role of the family in preventing criminal behavior in children needs to be strengthened through intervention programs that support the formation of a healthy family environment and support positive child development. This research concludes that to reduce crime rates among children, preventive measures must involve the active role of the family as the smallest unit in society. By understanding the factors that influence children's criminal behavior and the role of families in preventing it, effective intervention strategies can be designed to create a safe environment and support the quality growth of children.

Saying more than her name: Characterizing fatal police violence against Black women & girls in the US, 2000–2019

BackgroundBlack women and girls (BWGs) face an elevated risk of being killed by police, yet few studies have focused on the proximal factors increasing their exposure to these deadly encounters. ObjectiveThis paper elucidates the determinants and features of fatal police encounters with BWGs over a 20-year period. We examined (1) the initial cause of police contact, (2) how the encounter unfolded and escalated to a fatality, and (3) trends in factors salient to how each case transpired. MethodsUsing the Fatal Encounters database, we identified 573 BWGs killed between 2000 and 2019. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, we leveraged case descriptions and triangulated with news articles, police reports, legal documents, and other texts about decedents to determine what happened in each case, why, and to what effect. ResultsWhile many fatal police encounters were precipitated by alleged criminal activity, a significant number were due to minor violations, public health crises, and domestic violence. Moreover, most BWGs were not the target of the police activity that ultimately killed them, and their deaths came as collateral damage from the aggressive policing of others. ConclusionAs the US continues to grapple with the role of policing in community safety, this work complicates the understanding of how police operate and impact communities, raising questions about how to effectively address root causes beyond carceral and punitive frameworks.

Paramedic educational interventions for out-of-hospital domestic and intimate partner violence cases: A scoping review

Paramedic educational interventions for out-of-hospital domestic and intimate partner violence cases: A scoping review

Attitudes toward incarceration, neuronormalization and psychological treatment for violent offenders

ABSTRACT Incarceration is a popular method of dealing with violent offenders. However, incarceration does not rehabilitate many violent offenders and often increases recidivism, which suggests a need for different interventions. Because public opinion has an important influence on the criminal justice system, we compared attitudes toward two alternative interventions and incarceration. These alternative interventions were brain-based treatments (i.e. neuronormalization) and psychological therapies. In two experiments, participants were randomly assigned to one of these three interventions and answered questions about their use with violent offenders in general and two severely violent cases: a domestic violence homicide offender and a child sex offender. For violent offenders in general, participants were more positive toward neuronormalization and psychological therapies than incarceration. However, when evaluating the two severely violent cases, participants were most positive toward incarceration. These findings highlight that people were generally amenable to alternative treatments for violent offenders, but these attitudes flipped in favor of incarceration when confronted with serious individual cases of violence. Our findings suggest that disseminating evidence for the effectiveness of alternative treatments may eventually lead to positive attitudes and policy change. Doing so could simultaneously lead to lower rates of incarceration and recidivism and create safer communities.

The influence of patriarchal cultural factors on pregnancy complications (antepartum hemorrhage) at Mitra Medika General Hospital, Bandar Klippa, Indonesia

HIGHLIGHTS 1. Antepartum hemorrhage stands as one of the major contributors to maternal mortality globally. 2. Patriarchal culture is among the societal factors impacting maternal mortality rates.3. Patriarchal cultural factors associated with antepartum hemorrhage are examined to establish effective preventive measures. ABSTRACT Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the influence of patriarchal culture on the occurrence of antepartum hemorrhage at Mitra Medika General Hospital. Materials and Methods: This study employed an analytical observational design with a case-control approach. The sample for this study included pregnant women in their third trimester and mothers who had given birth within a maximum of 4 months from the time of the study at Mitra Medika General Hospital, Bandar Klippa, Indonesia. There were 90 respondents, comprising 30 case groups and 60 control groups. The sampling method for the case group used quota sampling, while the control group utilized accidental sampling. The research instrument utilized questionnaires and secondary data (antepartum hemorrhage diagnoses). Data analysis employed the chi-square test for bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression for multivariate analysis, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: There was a significant relationship between decision-making (p=0.030), family support (p=0.003), psychological domestic violence (p=0.024), and sexual domestic violence (p=0.039), no relationship with physical domestic violence (p=0.257) with the occurrence of antepartum hemorrhage. Multivariate analysis revealed that the family support variable was the most dominant risk factor with an Exp (B) value of 8.230 in causing antepartum hemorrhage. Conclusion: The patriarchal cultural factors that significantly affect antepartum hemorrhage at Mitra Medika General Hospital, Bandar Klippa, Indonesia, are decision-making, family support, psychological domestic violence, and sexual domestic violence.

Specialist Financial Counseling for Women Affected by Domestic and Family Violence: Staff and Client Perspectives on an Australian Initiative.

This article examines staff and client perspectives on an initiative providing co-located specialist Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) financial counseling in women's legal services. An exploratory mixed-method study in five service locations captured perspectives via a client survey (n = 42), online interviews with staff (n = 15), and a review of services' progress reports. For staff and clients, integrating financial counseling into women's legal services contributed to a more comprehensive model of support which helped address the economic harms associated with violence. Findings highlight the benefits of service integration and co-location, which enabled staff to share knowledge and build capacity, and helped improve outcomes for women following violence.

Developing and validating the Nepalese Abuse Assessment Screen (N-AAS) for identifying domestic violence among pregnant women in Nepal.

This study culturally adapted and validated a Nepalese version of the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) tool for identifying domestic violence among pregnant women in Nepal, creating the Nepalese Abuse Assessment Screen (N-AAS). International and national topic experts reviewed the initial N-AAS version using the Delphi method, and pregnant women participated in cognitive interviews, providing feedback on the N-AAS as user experts. Subsequent pre-testing of a comprehensive questionnaire, which included the translated version of the N-AAS, occurred in two tertiary care hospitals using an electronic format known as Color-Coded Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (C-ACASI). The study assessed the content validity index, compared the concurrent validity of the N-AAS with the gold standard interview, estimated the prevalence of domestic violence from two hospitals, and calculated the Kappa coefficient. The reliability of the entire questionnaire was also evaluated through a test-retest analysis, with content validity rated as "good to excellent" by topic and user experts and high test-retest reliability (91.2-98.9%), indicating consistency across questionnaires completed at two different time points, with 12% of participants reporting any form of violence. The N-AAS demonstrated ≥91.7% specificity for all forms of abuse, accurately identifying non-abuse cases. In addition, moderate to excellent sensitivity was observed for emotional abuse (52.5%) and physical abuse since marriage (50%), while sensitivity for physical abuse in the past 12 months was 100%. Thus, the N-AAS demonstrated reliable test-retest results with a good Kappa coefficient and specificity, as well as showing excellent sensitivity for detecting recent physical abuse and moderate sensitivity for detecting emotional abuse and physical abuse since marriage. Because cultural context often leads women to normalize and tolerate abuse from spouses and family members and women are thus reluctant to report abuse, the results imply that the N-AAS can serve as a valuable screening tool for domestic abuse in antenatal care settings in Nepal.

Analysis of the Factors Causing Early Marriage in Neniari Village, West Seram Subdistrict, SBB Regency

Early marriage, especially below the age of 20, is often triggered by a lack of understanding of negative impacts such as reproductive health issues and limited education. Religion, religious views, and lack of education as well as social pressure, mass media, and local customs play a role in early marriage decisions. The impacts include health problems, interrupted education, and economic issues, as well as an increase in domestic violence and divorce. This study aims to understand the driving factors of early marriage and its impacts, particularly in Desa Neniari, and formulate concrete countermeasures. This descriptive study aims to provide an overview of the impact of early marriage on child rearing patterns within families in Desa Neniari using purposive, internal, and snowball sampling techniques as well as data collection techniques through observation, interviews, questionnaires, and documentation, with data analysis conducted using qualitative descriptive methods. The perspectives of children who marry early in Desa Neniari are influenced by social pressure and financial concerns, while parents view early marriage as a guarantee of a better future for their children, and religion emphasizes physical and mental readiness before marriage, with education playing a crucial role in providing an understanding of the risks of early marriage and developing healthy communication skills for the younger generation.

Latinos’ intimate partner violence, abuse, and interventions: Developing a LatCrit analysis and critique.

Latinos’ intimate partner violence, abuse, and interventions: Developing a LatCrit analysis and critique.

Exploration of Black/African American College Survivors of IPV During COVID-19 Utilizing Descriptive Analysis.

The last few decades have ushered in an increase in scholarship focused on campus-based violence, specifically sexual violence, sexual assault, and unwanted sexual experiences. This rise in sexual violence scholarship has promoted the examination of current campus-based interventions, resources, and response systems. However, there exists a dearth of research exploring the experience of intimate partner violence for college students within college/university settings. In this descriptive analysis, we capture the prevalence of intimate partner violence for a nationwide sample of 1,035 college students across diverse college and university campuses within the United States. Researchers utilized a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Intimate Partner Violence Screening Questionnaire to capture and measure college students' experiences of intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. To analyze the data, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 28) was used. Univariate analyses and cross-tabulation analyses were conducted to examine the data. Specifically, due to the majority of research focusing on cisgender, White heterosexual women respondents, we focus our analysis on the experiences of Black and/or African American survivors of intimate partner violence on college campuses, in hopes of capturing the prevalence of intimate and relationship violence for Black/African American college students across colleges and universities. Results of this study revealed the prevalence of all types of intimate partner violence and abuse such as emotional/psychological, physical, and sexual violence within Black/African American college students. Findings from this database study produce implications for college/university campuses to consider capacity to address enduring psychological concerns and outcomes tied to intimate partner violence within college/university campuses, while also considering culturally responsive prevention and intervention efforts.

Judging the algorithm

AbstractThis paper discusses an algorithmic tool introduced in the Basque Country (Spain) to assess the risk of intimate partner violence. The algorithm was introduced to address the lack of human experts by automatically calculating the level of violence based on psychometric features such as controlling or violent behaviour. Given that critical literature on risk assessment tools for domestic violence mainly focuses on English-speaking countries, this paper offers an algorithmic accountability analysis in a non-English speaking region. It investigates the algorithmic risks, harms, and limitations associated with the Basque tool. We propose a transdisciplinary approach from a critical statistical and legal perspective. This approach unveils issues and limitations that could lead to unexpected consequences for individuals suffering from partner violence. Moreover, our analysis suggests that the algorithmic tool has a high error rate on severe cases, i.e., cases where the aggressor could murder his partner—5 out of 10 high-risk cases are misclassified as low risk—and that there is a lack of appropriate legal guidelines for judges, the end users of this tool. The paper concludes that this risk assessment tool needs to be urgently evaluated by independent and transdisciplinary experts to better mitigate algorithmic harms in the context of intimate partner violence.