Victims Of Intimate Partner Abuse Research Articles

Rates and Correlates of Intimate Partner Abuse Among Indigenous Women Caregivers.

Intimate partner abuse (IPA) is a public health crisis that disproportionately impacts indigenous women. We know little about rates and correlates of IPA victimization (IPAV) and abuse directed at one's partner (ADP) among indigenous women caregivers (people who take care of children). The purpose of the current study was to address this critical gap in the literature. Participants were 44 indigenous women caregivers in the United States in a current relationship who completed a survey. Most women reported IPAV and ADP experiences in the past 6 months, and IPAV and ADP abuse directed at partner were positively associated. Further, IPAV was positively associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), participants' engagement in harsh parenting, and depressive symptoms. IPAV was negatively associated with age, income, indigenous cultural identity, and social support. ADP was positively associated with ACEs, harsh parenting, and depressive symptoms. ADP was negatively associated with age and income. ADP was not associated with indigenous cultural identity and social support. These data suggest the urgency with which efforts are needed to prevent and respond to IPA among indigenous women caregivers, especially those who are younger and of lower income, and that culturally grounded initiatives that seek to build social support may be especially impactful.

Even a Scorpion Sting Hurts Just as Much: A Sobering Look at Men as Victims of Intimate Partner Abuse and Violence

The subject of intimate violence and abuse has piqued the interest of different groups of people, including psychologists, scholars, and human rights activists over the past 45 years. Even though the epidemiological literature has consistently shown that at least one out of every three people who experience intimate partner violence is a male partner, current initiatives have chosen to ignore this fact. Instead, the phenomenon has been described by most of its advocates as a gender-cockeyed social issue, with a man penned in an “offender”position and a woman in that of a “helpless victim”. Consequently, the exploited man and the abusing woman have been overly overlooked in the therapeutic processes, academic research, and legislative domain. This analytical paper, therefore, is an attempt to counter this position by showing how abuse and violence to intimate male partners happen and the milieu that gave rise to the misconceptions which have led to this unfortunate standpoint. Findings demonstrate that intimate male partners from all walks of life and backgrounds experience abuse and violence of some sort, particularly those relating to non-physical, unlike most women. The paper recommends abnegating the current unilateral narrative and rhetoric of domestic abuse and violence.

Critical Discourse Analysis of Trauma Bonding in Female Victims of Intimate Partner Abuse: A Phenomenological Constructivist Approach

Purpose: Intimate partner abuse is a socially prevalent issue across cultures. Despite establishing survivor institutes and anti-domestic violence NGOs, the voices of battered women have not yet reached the legal governmental policies. Recent research on IPA indicates that women remain chained to the dangerously controlled and maintained relationship despite its social and psychological repercussions. Exitance of Intimate Partner Abuse has been seen through the lens of criminal activity. Therefore, the perpetuation of IPA is linked to the psychotic and criminal intentions of the perpetrator (Gibbs et al., 2018). Empirical evidence suggests that there is a dearth of data to highlight the female voice on the domestic violence issue.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: The research design focuses of critically deconstructing the labels, reinforces identities and professed believes mentioned in the article to identify the meaning and motive behind them. This study is built on the socio-cognitive approach to understand the cognitive link between the societal ideals and the way they shape the thought process of the victim in choosing their reaction towards abuse.
 Findings: The findings suggest that the co-existence of these contributing factors create trauma bonding in victims that forces them to stay in abusive relationships.
 Implications/Originality/Value: This study explores recently published newspaper articles on Domestic Violence portraying Intimate partner abuse to analyses discursive elements used to discuss the issue in the light of varying psychological, emotional and socioeconomical backgrounds.

Decolonizing Approach to Understanding Intimate Partner Violence in Belize

Countries like Belize, located in the Global South, often have limited financial resources to address problems such as intimate partner violence, and financial support from the Global North is often accompanied by the inherent problems caused by the effects of colonization. As violence is one of the leading causes of death for women in Belize, the need to understand the reasons is pronounced. A decolonized approached is utilized to center the voices of women who had been victims of intimate partner violence. In conducting this research I address, the W questions: who, why, where, and how, in order to recognize my role in the research process and to center the voices of the collaborators. All of the collaborators, through sharing their stories, revealed the impact of colonization on how they see themselves and the world around them. These findings indicate the need for further research on the effects of colonization, as well as the decolonization methods needed in order to restructure how victims of intimate partner abuse are treated and provided support

Male Victims' Experiences With and Perceptions of the Criminal Justice Response to Intimate Partner Abuse.

Intimate partner abuse (IPA) carries severe physical and psychological consequences for victims, and the police and courts are some of the essential formal structures that help victims address their victimization. Studies suggest that male victims of IPA are reluctant to speak about or report their victimization to the police. This qualitative study examines the experiences male victims of IPA had with the criminal justice system (i.e., the courts and police). We conducted interviews with 16 men who had experienced IPA in their previous relationship in Canada. Two major themes about the police response were identified: the barriers to contacting the police for help and negative experiences with the police response. We found that men who chose not to contact the police did it due to the negative expectations of being ridiculed by the police, not being believed, and fear of being arrested. Those men who called the police for help reported unfriendly and antagonistic police treatment and the police’s reluctance to charge abusive female partners. The themes that reflected the male victims’ interactions with the court pointed to: (1) legal and administrative abuse by female partners, including false accusations and manipulations of child custody, and (2) a general bias against men in the courtroom. This study brings attention to the need for law enforcement officers to be aware of the experiences and perceptions male victims have of the criminal justice system and the need for the criminal justice system to create more inclusive strategies to help male victims of IPA.

Gender Differentials in Intimate Partner Abuse and Therapeutic Effectiveness of Self-Talk Therapy in reducing Anxiety Induced Among Undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT 
 This study investigated the prevalence and determined forms of intimate partner abuse (IPA) common to undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. It also investigated the gender differentials (Gender Symmetry and Asymmetry) in the perpetration of IPA among undergraduates and assessed the therapeutic effectiveness of self-talk therapy in reducing anxiety associated with IPA. The study adopted a mixed-method research design incorporating both descriptive survey and pretest-posttest control group experimental research designs. The sample for the descriptive survey was 1,448 undergraduates using the Sample Determination Table (Bartlett, II, Kotrlik & Haggins, 2001), which represents 6.5% of the total of undergraduates in OAU. The sample for the experimental stage of the study consisted of 32 undergraduates victims of IPA induced anxiety. Questionnaire on Prevalence and Types of Intimate Partner Abuse (QPTIPA) was used to collect data for the first stage of the study while the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was used to determine the levels of anxiety experienced by undergraduate victims of intimate partner abuse. Self-talk therapy was administered on the victims of IPA induced anxiety. The results showed that more females experienced intimate partner abuse of 74.76%, than male victims at 25.24%. The results also showed that “Stalking”, “Exploring partner's vulnerability/disability/status”, “Presenting false information with intent to exploit partner” were the first three in rank of the forms of IPA common among the undergraduates with RSI scores of 0.547, 0.529, and 0.527 respectively. The three least common forms were “beating”, “physically restraining Partner’s movement” and “forcing partner to have sex with someone else” with RSI scores of 0.475, 0.465, and 0.406 respectively. The study further revealed that Self-talk therapy has a significant effect (F (1, 64) = 63.360, p < 0.05) in reducing anxiety induced by IPA.Dr

Positionality statement on studying male victims of intimate partner abuse in Zimbabwe: a research note

ABSTRACT Reflecting on one’s positionality as a researcher is a critical element in qualitative studies. While there are various qualitative studies on the meaning of and the way positionality affects qualitative research practice, this research note examines the phenomenon as it applies to the author’s doctoral study. Drawing from a collection of research memoirs, the research note presents the author’s conceptualisation of personal positionality in the study, based on nationality, personal values, work experience, age and gender. The note details the author’s multiple identity shifts throughout the study. Potential challenges and opportunities of knowing one’s positionality together with the effects of positionality on the participants, the researcher as well as the research process are highlighted. It concludes that positionality among qualitative researchers is characterised by fluidity, instability and continued shifts as opposed to it being a constant form of researcher identity.

A Qualitative Study of the Male Victims’ Experiences With the Criminal Justice Response to Intimate Partner Abuse in Four English-Speaking Countries

The criminal justice system plays a pivotal role in addressing the safety of victims of intimate partner abuse (IPA). Over the past 40 years, most changes in the criminal justice response to IPA have been made with the intention of improving support to abused women and their children. However, a growing body of research shows there are many men who are victims of IPA. This qualitative study explored the help-seeking experiences of 38 abused men within the criminal justice system in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Twelve online focus groups (three in each country) were conducted and themes were identified inductively at a semantic level. Thematic analysis identified that most of their experiences were negative and reflected the gender paradigm embedded in the criminal justice response. This study offers insights into the relevance of a gender-inclusive criminal justice response in addressing IPA.

Four Case Studies Examining Male Victims of Intimate Partner Abuse

ABSTRACT The limited research into male victims’ experiences of intimate partner abuse (IPA) does not clarify whether men’s experiences align with those of women who sustain intimate partner abuse. We conducted four case studies to explore how those men’s experiences align with patterns of male-to-female abuse, specifically abuse with a focus on gaining and maintaining control. Four men who identified as victims of IPA from female partners participated in semi-structured interviews, with collateral information obtained from friends and family members. These cases were selected because on first presentation they appeared to fit the definition of intimate terrorism. The men’s experiences were assessed in three domains that indicate a pattern of abuse used to control: power and control, psychological impact, and victim response. The data indicate that participants’ experiences are comparable to those of female victims, except for the fear response. While fearful of the perpetrator, these four men did not display the immobilizing fear and entrapment that many female victims display. Control as a motivation and effect of abuse is a useful starting point for describing and conceptualizing some male victims, until further research allows more precise conceptualizations.

Victims’ experiences and satisfaction with a family justice center

PurposeThe family justice center (FJC) model centralizes social and legal services available to intimate partner abuse (IPA) victims in order to facilitate their help-seeking and improve their experiences and the response to IPA. Little, yet promising, research has highlighted the effectiveness of this model. The purpose of this paper is to explore experiences of victims of IPA at one FJC.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 24 respondents who utilized a FJC in a western county in the USA were interviewed using a survey that included both descriptive quantitative and qualitative questions. Descriptive analysis was performed on the quantitative portion and content analysis on the qualitative portion.FindingsMost of the respondents used the FJC multiple times and for multiple services. Most were referred by a shelter or a hotline. The most common services used were housing services, followed by counseling. Overall, these respondents felt supported by FJC staff and were satisfied. However, some of the respondents who did indicate satisfaction in the quantitative portion of the survey expressed concerns in the qualitative portion.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited by a small sample size; however, it has implications for recruitment, outreach and training as well as methodological implications for how FJCs should be evaluated.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the scant literature on FJCs and the FJC model.

Mediating Justice: Women's Perceptions of Fairness in the Civil Protection Order Process.

Mediation use has grown rapidly in the past few decades as an efficacious method of civil dispute resolution. However, early research suggests that civil mediation may cause further harm to victims of intimate partner abuse because, based on the inherent power dynamics of abusive relationships, they are not able to effectively advocate on their own behalf. In addition, organizational efficiency concerns have led to the development of consent processes for civil protection orders (POs). However, research has yet to examine the extent to which victims of intimate partner violence who take part in these consent processes perceive the process and associated outcomes as fair. Using qualitative data (N = 19 interviews) collected from women who sought civil POs through Family Court in Delaware, this research finds that the consent process and women's interactions with mediators reproduce power inequalities that are inherent in cases of intimate partner abuse, which shape their perceptions of fairness in the PO process and outcomes. Victims being silenced and disempowered throughout the consent process results in cumulative effects-similar tactics used by batterers-which continue to leave victims vulnerable. In addition, the power asymmetry victims experience in abusive relationships is replicated by the legal institution and court structure in terms of not having access to attorneys, not receiving guidance and advocacy, and, at times, experiencing insensitive treatment. Thus, this study provides insight into the inequalities present within the PO consent process that can create further harm to victims.

Evaluating a Brief Group Program for Women Victims of Intimate Partner Abuse

Objective: Despite high client satisfaction and excellent outcomes for completers of a 12-week dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) group program for women victims of intimate partner abuse (IPA), the dropout rate between initial contact and program completion has been as high as 70%. To establish better treatment engagement and retention, and thus to help more women, a two-day DBT group program, or “workshop” with a similar curriculum was developed and evaluated. Methods: The participants were 72 women who were referred from crisis centers, courts, local women`s shelters and agencies serving intimate partner abuse victims. Women who are or have been in an abusive relationship voluntarily participated in the research and received a 2-day intervention, which included baseline, post-treatment and 3-month follow-up assessment. Results: The 2-day workshop resulted in significantly higher attendance (69% vs. 43%) and completion rate (65% vs. 17%) compared with the 12-week standard group treatment program. From pre-treatment to 3 months follow-up, participants (N = 37, who completed both the treatment and the follow-up assessment) reported significant improvements across a range of outcome and process variables, including general psychological distress, depression, hopelessness, PTSD severity, self-compassion, self-efficacy, positive affect, negative affect, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, shame, mindfulness, and use of DBT skills. Results also showed that improved self-validation, emotion regulation, DBT skill use, mindfulness, and decreased emotional arousal were associated with most outcome variables (i.e., social adjustment, depression, general psychological distress, hopelessness, PTSD severity, and effective skill use). In addition, participants reported very high satisfaction with the intervention. Conclusions: These findings support the utility of the program`s effectiveness in increasing treatment engagement, reducing dropout, and enhancing psychological well-being of women victims of IPA. Further research on the long-term impact of this brief intervention is warranted. Suggestions for future research will be discussed.

The Impact of Children on Intimate Partner Abuse Victims’ Service-Seeking

Intimate partner abuse is a major problem. This is especially true when there are children present. In attempt to stop the cycle of abuse, it is of critical importance to understand the impact children have on the relationships and the decision-making process of those involved. This research is part of a larger project examining the help-seeking behaviors of victims of intimate partner abuse. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 26 victims of intimate partner abuse who eventually sought services. This paper reports on how children affect the decision of their parent to either seek services while in an abusive situation or to postpone seeking services. This study focuses on 19 of those respondents with children. Both quantitative and qualitative data analyses were conducted. This paper utilizes part of the qualitative data relating to the import of children in the decision-making process. Analysis reveals that for all respondents, children were important to their decision-making process. Several themes related to children were identified, including those who identified leaving the situation and seeking services because of their children and those who postponed seeking services because of their children. Implications for prevention and intervention in cases of intimate partner abuse will be discussed.

Understanding Patterns of Intimate Partner Abuse in Male-Male, Male-Female, and Female-Female Couples.

Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA), a major social problem, can lead to mental health conditions and is implicated in 30% of female and 5% of male homicide deaths. We hypothesized that due to distinct relationship structures and power dynamics which are immersed in varying sociocultural contexts, victims of male-male, female-female and female-male dyads experience different patterns of IPA. Our objectives were: (1) To examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of victims of male victim-male abuser (M-M), female victim-male abuser (F-M), male victim-female abuser (M-F), and female victim-female abuser (F-F) dyads. (2) To compare patterns of IPA reported by the victims in these groups. Out of 397 subjects in the general population that attempted this Internet-based study, 214 English-speaking subjects were older than 18years, had experienced IPA, and provided complete information for the analysis. Victims of IPA were screened and specific methods of abuse were evaluated. M-Ms were significantly more educated (70%) than other groups. F-Fs experienced more abuse before age 18 by a parent or relative. F-Fs experienced the most physical abuse while M-Ms the least (p=0.004). Physical abuse or threats of abuse in front of children was reported more in F-Fs (p<0.01) and least in M-Ms. IPA patterns differ significantly with F-Fs presenting the most physical profile and M-Ms presenting the least.

Assessing the Latent Structure of Posttraumatic Growth and Its Relationship With Cognitive Processing of Trauma Among Filipino Women Victims of Intimate Partner Abuse.

The study intends to find out which model best represents posttraumatic growth's (PTG) latent factor structure in a sample of Asian, particularly Filipino, women victims of intimate partner abuse (IPA) using Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). In addition, it also aims to find out the differential relationships of the components of the best-fitting PTG model with cognitive processing strategies. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted with the one-factor, three-factor, and five-factor models of PTG in a sample of 217 Filipino women who have history of IPA within the last 6 months of a previous or current relationship. Results revealed that the five-factor model comprised of appreciation of life, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and relating to others best fits the sample. Furthermore, all the components of the five-factor model were found to be positively correlated with cognitive processing of trauma strategies, including positive cognitive restructuring, denial, downward comparison, regret, and resolution/acceptance, albeit in varying degrees. These findings confirmed the robustness of the five-factor model of PTG compared with other models in a sample of women victims of IPA. In addition, the findings demonstrated the relationship of PTG with cognitive processing of trauma. These findings would be useful in developing cognitive interventions for women who experienced IPA.

Protecting the Invisible Victim: Incorporating Coercive Control in Domestic Violence Statutes

All states have domestic violence statutes that offer legal remedies to victims of intimate partner abuse. To qualify for these remedies, the victim must demonstrate that they have been subject to certain elements of abuse. Thus, the definition of abuse under these statutes is crucial, as it determines who qualifies as a victim of abuse and as a result is afforded legal protection. Despite the clear importance of an efficient definition, the elements of abuse are outlined differently by each state. Two‐thirds of states define abuse in their domestic violence statutes as criminal acts or imminent threats or acts of physical violence. Limiting the definition of abuse to purely physical acts or threats of physical acts does not address the unforgiving realities of domestic abuse. In reality, all forms of abuse—emotional, economic, and physical—are interrelated, and based on the desire for power and control. Adding the definition of coercive control can effectively address the complex issues faced by these victims. However, the definition of coercive control itself must be outlined as a gender‐neutral term. Doing so will address the numerous plights faced by victims of domestic abuse and afford them the availability of the protection they deserve. This Note proposes a recognition that coercive control affects all genders and urges legislatures to adopt language based on proposed legislation in the United Kingdom that labels and defines coercive control as abuse, permitting its victims to seek legal remedies. Key Points for the Family Court Community: Two‐thirds of state domestic violence statutes require the victim to prove they are victims of physical violence or were threatened physically in order to be considered victims of abuse and be able to petition for a civil protection order. Nonphysical abuse can be just as, if not more, devastating than physical violence for victims. Coercive control is a catch‐all term that emphasizes the core of most domestic abuse, which is the need for power and control over another person and incorporates numerous types of nonphysical domestic abuse. Adding coercive control under the definition of abuse in these statutes will better match the reality of intimate partner abuse, afford protection to victims, and aid in preventing further abuse. The definition of coercive control must be gender neutral in order to provide protection for all potential victims of this form of abuse and not bar anyone from recovery based on gender. The proposed legislation in the United Kingdom provides worthy model language and an effective definition of coercive control.

Long-Term Consequences of Intimate Partner Abuse on Physical Health, Emotional Well-Being, and Problem Behaviors.

This study examines the physical health, emotional well-being, and problem behavior outcomes associated with intimate partner abuse (IPA) victimization and perpetration experiences by analyzing a nationally representative, prospective, and longitudinal sample of 879 men and women collected from the National Youth Survey Family Study (NYSFS) and assessed across a period of 9 years from 1993 to 2003. Using multivariate regression techniques, it was found that both men and women experience numerous negative outcomes associated with their IPA victimization and perpetration experiences. Implications of these findings are discussed, as are the study's limitations, and future research directions.

Male victims of intimate partner abuse: use and helpfulness of services.

Data obtained from a national study of male victims or survivors of intimate partner abuse (IPA) indicate that the experience (current or past) of abuse and with service use may predict a positive perception toward help seeking. However, marital status and a tendency to minimize problems may predict negative attitudes toward help seeking. Empirical evidence from this mixed-method study suggests that male victims face many interpersonal and societal obstacles. Feeling uncomfortable when requesting assistance, men in IPA situations are affected by a masking factor that causes them to hide their situation and contributes to a misconception factor that causes people to treat men as the sole perpetrator. Although men are eligible, services may not be perceived as being available or helpful. The study yields important implications for social work practice, and the findings result in several recommendations for increased awareness about IPA, advocacy for gender-inclusive services, revision of laws and policies, increased research, and emphasis on funded and anonymous services.

Complementary and alternative medicine for victims of intimate partner abuse: a systematic review of use and efficacy.

Objectives. To examine: (i) the extent to which victims of intimate partner abuse (IPA) use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and (ii) the effects of CAM on their mental health. Methods. Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies measuring the extent of CAM use amongst victims of IPA and trials assessing the impact of CAM on mental health amongst this population. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration tool. Results. No studies measuring the level of CAM use amongst IPA victims, and only three studies assessing the effect of CAM on the mental health of this population were identified. Two studies looked at yogic breathing, while one assessed the effect of music therapy. All three studies showed some beneficial effects; however, each had a small sample, brief intervention period, and no follow-up measurement and were considered to be at high risk of bias. Conclusions. The review found little evidence for the benefits of CAM for IPA victims. Findings suggest positive effects of music therapy and yogic breathing; however, methodological limitations mean that these results should be interpreted with caution. It is important that more research into the use and effects of CAM amongst this population are undertaken.

Interventions targeting substance abuse among women survivors of intimate partner abuse: A meta-analysis

In this article, meta-analytic techniques are used to examine existing intervention studies ( n = 11) to determine their effects on substance abuse among female samples of intimate partner abuse (IPA) survivors. This research serves as a starting point for greater attention in research and practice to the implementation of evidence-based, integrated services to address co-occurring substance abuse and IPA victimization among women as major intersecting public health problems. The results show greater effects in three main areas. First, greater effect sizes exist in studies where larger numbers of women experienced current IPA. Second, studies with a lower mean age also showed greater effect sizes than studies with a higher mean age. Lastly, studies with smaller sample sizes have greater effects. This research helps to facilitate cohesion in the knowledge base on this topic, and the findings of this meta-analysis, in particular, contribute needed information to gaps in the literature on the level of promise of existing interventions to impact substance abuse in this underserved population.