Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Research Articles

Effects of Alcohol Use and Minority Stress on Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration among Transgender and Gender Diverse People.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults. Integrated theories of minority stress and alcohol-related IPV suggest minority stress risk and protective factors should interact with alcohol use to predict IPV, although this has never been examined in TGD adults. Thus, we examined the synergistic influence of alcohol use, minority stress, and TGD community connectedness on IPV perpetration among TGD adults. A sample of 137 TGD adults completed a cross-sectional survey assessing minority stressors (i.e., internalized transnegativity, identity outness), TGD community connectedness, alcohol use/problems, and IPV perpetration (i.e., psychological, physical, and gender minority identity-specific abuse). We regressed each form of IPV perpetration on alcohol use/problems and tested the moderating effect of internalized transnegativity, identity outness, and community connectedness on the association between alcohol use/problems and IPV perpetration. The association between alcohol use/problems and all forms of IPV perpetration were moderated by internalized transnegativity and identity outness, but not TGD community connectedness. Alcohol use/problems related to each form of IPV perpetration at low and medium, but not high levels, of identity outness and internalized transnegativity. Alcohol use/problems is an important risk factor for IPV perpetration among TGD adults and this association may be exacerbated by less identity outness. Further, internalized transnegativity might not influence IPV risk at high levels of alcohol use. TGD-affirming IPV prevention programs might focus on reducing alcohol use and related problems while providing a safe and accessible space for TGD individuals at various levels of identity outness.

Are We Screening the Wrong Person?: A Scoping Review on Screening Men for Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence [ID 2683612

INTRODUCTION: The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) currently does not recommend screening men for perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) because of a lack of evidence. Screening women for victimization of IPV has demonstrated limited effectiveness; screening potential perpetrators may be a more useful strategy for the identification and prevention of IPV. The objective of this study is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to recommend screening men for perpetration of IPV. METHODS: We performed a scoping review to identify studies that screen for male perpetration of IPV. We included peer-reviewed, full-text English-language studies that screened men for perpetration of IPV or evaluated an IPV screening tool. Review articles, meta-analysis papers, and studies that only screened women were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 834 studies reviewed, the primary objective of 12.1% of studies was determining the prevalence of male perpetration of IPV. The most commonly used screening tools for IPV were the Conflict Tactic Scale (CTS) (23.1%) or CTS-2 (29.0%). The 10th to 90th percentile of reported physical IPV perpetration ranged from 8.10% to 44.40% with a median of 21.80%. CONCLUSION: There is an abundance of studies examining male perpetration of IPV, and most use the CTS or CTS-2. These studies indicate that it is feasible to assess men for perpetration of IPV; however, the length of the available questionnaires is prohibitive toward use in a medical setting. We recommend a shorter version of the CTS-2 be developed and validated for use in clinical settings.

Substance Use and Mental Health as Mediators of the Association Between Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Condomless Sex with Serodiscordant Partners Among Black Sexual Minority Men Living with HIV.

Black sexual minority men (SMM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States. Intimate partner violence (IPV), substance use, and depression are associated with HIV risk behavior such as condomless sex. In this study, we assessed cross-sectional associations between multiple types of IPV victimization and condomless sex with serodiscordant partners. We then evaluated the mediating roles of mental health and substance use, in a sample of 213 Black SMM living with HIV. We used validated scales to assess IPV victimization, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, general mental health, and substance use. All independent variables (IPV type) that had at least a marginal (p < .10) association with the dependent variable (condomless sex with a serodiscordant partner) and any potential mediator were included in mediation models. Mediator role was determined based on a statistically significant outcome (p < .05) in the mediation model. Physical assault, injury-inducing IPV, and sexual coercion were each positively correlated with condomless sex. Depression, overall mental health, and substance use were associated with physical assault and injury-inducing IPV, and depression was associated with sexual coercion IPV. Both physical assault and injury-inducing IPV were associated with overall mental health, but none of the mental health and substance use measures mediated the associations between IPV and condomless sex. Findings suggest that HIV prevention efforts for Black SMM may need to incorporate IPV screening and prevention services. Further research is needed to understand the psychosocial pathways by which physical forms of IPV relate to condom use.

Supporting the applicability and transferability of the “Sortir Ensemble & Se Respecter” program in France

The prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) among young people is a major challenge for public policies. Nevertheless, there are a few prevention programs that have proven effective in France. “Sortir Ensemble & Se Respecter” (SE&SR) is a Swiss adaptation of “Safe Dates,” an American intervention program that has reduced violent behavior by young perpetrators and victims of IPV alike. The aim of this article is to analyze the applicability and “potential transferability” of SE&SR in France. We described the SE&SR intervention by explaining the intervention theory, the key functions (i.e., the “ingredients” allowing the SE&SR program to work), and we commented on its applicability from a perspective of adapting and transferring it to the French context. We used the ASTAIRE tool and the FIC (key functions, implementation, context) approach. The intervention theory highlighted various factors, acting at the individual level (i.e., beliefs/representations, knowledge, life skills) and at the level of the living environment (i.e., facilities welcoming young people; families; public policies; networks of actors), that can prevent IPV among young people. Ten key functions have been identified, revealing the “skeleton” of the Swiss intervention. We drew on these results to comment on the intervention’s applicability, with a view to transferability, specifying the contextual elements to consider before implementing SE&SR in France. This study aims to make the process of evaluating applicability, with a view to transferring an evidence-based program to the French context, more accessible.

Peer and land-based approaches for fostering empowering and healthy relationships with Indigenous and northern young people in the Northwest Territories.

Indigenous and Northern women in Canada experience high rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), and this is particularly true in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Adolescents are also at increased risk of IPV, which has far-reaching, lifelong effects. Indigenous youth are particularly vulnerable to IPV due to ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma caused by colonialism, racism and residential school legacies. We explored attitudes towards IPV and the healthy relationship knowledge, skills, and experiences among participants of Fostering Open eXpression among Youth (FOXY) and Strength, Masculinities, and Sexual Health (SMASH) Peer Leader Retreats in the NWT. Multi-method approaches included quantitative surveys youth completed before and immediately following retreats. Quantitative analysis from retreats (2018-2021) included 240 participants aged 12-19 (mean age 14.5) who reported ever having an intimate partner. Most were from the FOXY program (64.2%), Indigenous (69.6%) and heterosexual (66.4%). Qualitative methods included Focus Group Discussions (FGD) (n = 69) conducted with peer leaders and apprentices (n = 311) and youth and adult staff (n = 14 FGDs, n = 165 participants). We thematically analysed FGDs to explore healthy relationship knowledge and skills, alongside paired t-tests to examine pre/post retreat changes in attitudes towards IPV. Qualitative findings suggest that leadership and embodied learning were effective in equipping youth with violence prevention and healthy relationship skills. While young women were committed to sharing knowledge and skills about healthy relationships in their communities, young men resonated with values of respect and appreciated support to identify and express emotions. Participants across programmes demonstrated their belief that healthy intimate relationships have communal, relational and intergenerational benefits. Quantitatively, we found a statistically significant reduction in attitudes accepting of IPV among young women, but no changes were noted among young men. Findings contribute to emergent evidence on strengths-based, culturally-responsive IPV prevention programming. Components of effective IPV prevention programming with young men merit further exploration.

Intimate Partner Violence Among Rwandan Women With HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Rwanda, women have higher incidence of HIV and intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of IPV among women living with HIV (WWH) in Rwanda and measure the difference in psychological outcomes, demographic data, and HIV-related outcomes using a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational design. A convenience sample of 162 Rwandan WWH were purposefully recruited to participate. The study collected demographic data and data about IPV, depression, HIV-related stigma, coping, self-esteem, and hope. The prevalence of any form of IPV in the sample was 27% with psychological IPV being the most prevalent. Demographic data had no statistical significance with the prevalence of IPV. WWH who experienced IPV had higher HIV stigma, lower coping self-efficacy, lower self-esteem, and less hope and worse HIV psychological outcomes. Further studies are needed to look into the correlation between the two and interventions addressing IPV prevention.

Physical and psychological health consequences of intimate partner violence among married primary school teachers in Delta South Senatorial Zone of Delta State, Nigeria: Implication for marital stability

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious health issue among couples which is recorded more among married partners. Dishearteningly, IPV among couples who are teachers is underreported due to shame, thereby increasing the prevalence of IPV in the area of the study. Objectives: The study examined physical and psychological health consequences of IPV on married primary school teachers. Methods: The design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted on married primary school teachers in Delta South Senatorial zone of Delta State, Nigeria from 22nd February - 29th November, 2021. Three hundred and thirteen 313 (207 women and 106 men who have experienced various forms of IPV) who were identified as victims of IPV were used as participants in the study. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on physical and psychological health consequences of IPV on married teachers. Conclusion: The researchers concluded that there are severe and serious physical and psychological health consequences associated with IPV among married primary school teachers in Delta South Senatorial zone of Delta State, Nigeria. Urgent interventions such as public enlightenment, campaigns, workshops, seminars, community health talk-shows should be organized by government stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, community leaders on the prevention of IPV and its dare consequences for marital stability. Keywords: Intimate partner violence (IPV); physical; psychological health consequences, married primary school teachers

Risky Sexual Behaviours and Knowledge on Contraceptive Use and Family Planning Among Women Who Use Drugs (WWUDs) in Malaysia

Women who use drugs (WWUDs) face elevated risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) and unsafe sexual behaviours. This prevalence study, involving 200 WWUDs in a mandated drug rehabilitation program, examined risky sexual behaviours, family planning knowledge among IPV victims, and barriers to contraceptives or condoms use. The majority were Malays (86%, n = 171/200), averaging 32.3 years of age (SD = 8.61). Over half had experienced IPV in their lifetime (53%, n = 105/200). IPV victims had higher odds of unwanted pregnancies, prior abortions, concurrent drug use with partners, drug use before sex, and cohabitation with male partners who used drugs. Sixty percent were uninformed of female condoms, and most disliked using male condoms due to performance concerns. Despite better family planning knowledge among IPV victims, WWUDs had limited awareness of contraceptive use. Interventions should prioritize empowering and educating WWUDs, particularly IPV victims, on IPV prevention and the risks associated with unsafe sexual behaviour during rehabilitation.

Scoping Review of Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Programs for Undergraduate College Students.

Recognizing that intimate partner violence (IPV) negatively affects college students' health and well-being, colleges offer preventive interventions to address these effects. However, scholarly evidence on this effort has been limited, such that we know little about the risk factors addressed, theoretical approaches, target outcomes, and other essential intervention characteristics. To address this gap, this study reviewed evidence-based IPV preventive interventions conducted in U.S. colleges reported in 25 peer-reviewed articles and dissertations published between 2010 and 2020. Findings showed that IPV preventive interventions for college students were designed to address multilevel risk factors of IPV, typically via bystander interventions and emerging skill-building interventions. Most IPV preventive interventions were theoretically driven primary preventions or a combination of primary and secondary preventions. Most studies of program outcomes focus on awareness of IPV and bystander roles, but 44% of the included articles measured participants' behavioral outcomes (e.g., actual bystander behavior, reaction to IPV disclosure, IPV screening behavior, social emotional skill use, or decreased rates of IPV perpetration) based on participants' use of skill-building components (e.g., bystander strategies, healthy relationship skills, conflict resolution, communication skills, empathy, and self-regulation). Student participants in the included studies were predominantly white (>60%) and only two studies included any Latinx students or students at historically Black colleges and universities. This review indicates that future IPV prevention practice, policy, and research must further define and explore how multilevel IPV prevention approaches can address the various systems level of needs among diverse student subpopulations.

Intimate Partner Violence Among Bisexual-Spectrum Cisgender Undergraduate Women and Their Heterosexual Counterparts: A Preliminary Investigation

This study examined intimate partner violence (IPV) and identity abuse (i.e., partner violence targeting someone’s sexual orientation) among bisexual-spectrum and heterosexual cisgender undergraduate women in relation to their mental health and academic adjustment. Participants were first- and second-year bisexual-spectrum (n = 81) and heterosexual (n = 243) undergraduate cisgender women at a large, public university in the Midwest. IPV was prevalent in the sample, but bisexual-spectrum cisgender women who had been in relationships were significantly more likely to report IPV than their heterosexual counterparts (77.44% vs. 44.44% respectively). Over half of bisexual-spectrum cisgender women in dating relationships reported identity abuse. Most participants that experienced identity abuse indicated the perpetrator was heterosexual and/or a cisgender man. Sexual orientation did not moderate the relationship between IPV and depression, anxiety, or negative academic adjustment outcomes. Universities should integrate education on LGBTQ oppressions into their primary prevention programs, while also continuing to bolster IPV prevention and intervention efforts.

The Association Between Financial Strain, Mental Health, Job Loss, and Intimate Partner Violence for LGBTQ + Adults During COVID-19

The current study examines the impact of COVID-19 for a sample of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, and other emerging sexual (and gender) identities (LGBTQ+) adults. We hypothesized that financial strain, mental health, job loss, and physical COVID-19 symptoms would be positively related to intimate partner violence (IPV). Data were collected through recruitment using Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) from May to September 2020. Respondents were 18+ years old, identified as a member of the LGBTQ + community, and resided in the United States. Participant ages ranged from 18-90 years old, and most of the sample identified as White (53.9%), bisexual (47.6%), and transgender (32.6%). The final sample consisted of 1,249 participants. All types of perpetration violence were significantly associated with COVID-19 symptoms. Both physical perpetration and psychological victimization were significantly associated with financial strain. All types of perpetration violence were significantly associated with COVID-19 symptoms. Both physical perpetration and psychological victimization were significantly associated with financial strain. Results highlight the increased need for access to IPV prevention resources for LGBTQ + adults, especially during national public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Social Network Analysis of a Multi-sector Service System for Intimate Partner Violence in a Large US City

About one in four women in the US report having experienced some form of intimate partner violence (IPV) during their lifetime and an estimated 15.5 million children live in families in which IPV occurred in the past year. Families of young children with IPV experiences often face complex needs and require well-coordinated efforts among service providers across social and health sectors. One promising partnership aims to support pregnant and parenting IPV survivors through coordination between IPV agencies and community-based maternal and early childhood home visiting programs. This study used social network analysis (SNA) to understand the interconnectedness of the system of IPV prevention and intervention for families with young children in a large US city. The SNA included 43 agencies serving this population across various service domains spanning IPV, legal, maternal and child health, and public benefit programs. An SNA survey collected data on four forms of collaboration between agencies, including formal administrative relationship, referral reciprocity, case consultation, and shared activities in community committees/organizing bodies. Density and centrality were the primary outcomes of interest. A community detection analysis was performed as a secondary analysis. The overall level of interconnectedness between the 43 responding agencies was low. Making referrals to each other was the most common form of collaboration, with a network density of 30%. IPV agencies had the highest average number of connections in the networks. There was a high level of variation in external collaborations among home visiting agencies, with several home visiting agencies having very few connections in the community but one home visiting program endorsing collaborative relationships with upwards of 38 partner agencies in the network. In serving families at risk for IPV, home visiting agencies were most likely to have referral relationships with mental health provider agencies and substance use disorder service agencies. A community detection analysis identified distinct communities within the network and demonstrated that certain agency types were more connected to one another while others were typically siloed within the network. Notably, the IPV and home visiting communities infrequently overlapped. Sensitivity analyses showed that survey participants’ knowledge of their agencies’ external collaborations varied by their work roles and agencies overall had low levels of consensus about their connectedness to one another. We identified a heterogeneous service system available to families of young children at-risk for or experiencing IPV. Overall inter-agency connectedness was low, with many siloed agencies and a lack of shared knowledge of community resources. Understanding current collaborations, silos, and centrality of agencies is an effective public health tool for allocating scarce resources across diverse service sectors to efficiently improve the system serving families experiencing IPV.

Predictors for the utilization of community support systems against intimate partner violence among married women living with HIV in southwestern Uganda-A cross sectional study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects married women living with HIV (MWLHIV), resulting in undesirable human rights, socio-economic, mental, maternal, and child health consequences. Community Support systems against Violence (CoSaV) are widely available and promising public and voluntary resources for the prevention and mitigation of IPV but are poorly investigated. We set out to identify the predictors for the utilization of the CoSaV among the MWLHIV. This was a quantitative cross-sectional study conducted among 424 consecutively sampled MWLHIV attending the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital in southwestern Uganda in April 2021. Using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, data were collected on the participant's socio-demographic characteristics, exposure to IPV, awareness about the CoSaV, perceptions about the quality, accessibility and challenges in accessing the CoSaV and the utilization. Modified Poisson regression model was used to identify the predictors for the utilization of CoSaV using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. The mean age of the 424 participants in the study was 39.5 ± 10.2 years. More than half of the participants 51.9% (220/424) reported exposure to any IPV. Utilization of any CoSaV was found to be above average at 58.3% among the participants. The formal support (police, local government leaders, health workers and counselors) were more frequently utilized compared to the informal support (family, relatives and friends). Utilization of any CoSaV was higher among the women who were aware of the CoSaV and also those who were exposed to violence. Accessibility was identified as an independent predictor for utilization of any CoSaV. Intimate partner violence (IPV) was prevalent among MWLHIV in southwestern Uganda. However, the utilization of any CoSaV was suboptimal. The formal CoSaV were more frequently utilized than the informal support systems. Accessibility was an independent predictor for utilization of any CoSaV. There is need to improve access in order to increase the utilization of the CoSaV and contribute to the attainment of sustainable development goal 5.2.1 and end violence against women.

Intimate Partner Violence and Help-seeking Behavior Among College Students Attending A Historically Black College and University.

This study provides critical evidence of the diversity of college students' experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV) and their informal and formal help-seeking behaviors at a historically Black college and university (HBCU). The study collected data on college students (N = 266) in fall 2021 using a one-site cross-sectional survey data. Findings revealed that many students at the HBCU reported IPV victimization (68.4%), IPV perpetration (68.0%), and coexperience of IPV victimization and perpetration (61.3%) in the past 12 months, but a few student survivors of IPV sought help from formal or informal support systems. Further, we found that IPV victimization types (e.g., physical, psychological, sexual abuse, and injury) with different severity levels (e.g., less severe or more severe) were differently related to the student survivor's help-seeking behaviors from formal and informal support systems. The findings of this study highlight the importance of supporting students attending HBCUs by addressing their perceptions of IPV help-seeking and coping with different types of IPV victimization via culturally tailored IPV prevention programs. HBCU campuses should promote physical health and mental health services for Black/African American survivors in HBCUs.

A global call for adolescent intimate partner violence prevention

A global call for adolescent intimate partner violence prevention

Impact of the minimum wage increase on intimate partner violence (IPV): a quasi-experimental study in South Korea

BackgroundPoverty is associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), but whether exogenous increases in wage could reduce IPV among low-income women is still unclear. We examined whether the 2018 minimum wage...

Perceived social support and the experience of intimate partner violence among married and cohabiting young women in urban slums, Ibadan, Nigeria: a descriptive study

BackgroundSocial support is an important factor for improving the outcome of intimate partner violence (IPV) among abused women. Gaps exist on the role of social support among young women who...

The psycho-social factors that escalate intimate partner violence (IPV) among South Asian women in North America: An intersectional approach and analysis

ABSTRACT South Asian (SA) women, immigrant, and non-immigrant, living in the United States (US) and Canada make up a unique population for social research, specifically as it relates to intimate partner (IPV) or gender-based violence (GBV). Despite an increase in study of GBV or IPV including in the current pandemic situation, research on IPV for South Asian women in North America remains inadequate. There is a disconnect in the literature about how multiple psycho-social factors including socio-cultural, socio-demographic, and individual factors intersect and intensify IPV victimization of South Asian women in the North American context. Factors, like collectivism, patriarchy, and family honor are essential to this discussion. To better understand this gap and mobilize knowledge, this paper seeks to assess, evaluate, and examine the current state of literature on IPV among South Asian women in North America (Canada and US) in an effort to determine the associated psycho-social factors that exacerbate South Asian women’s abuse experiences. Additionally, Kimberlé Crenshaw’s intersectional approach is used to explain how South Asian women’s overlapping multiple identities escalate the IPV experience. The results of this paper identify and articulate several psycho-social factors including individual factors (ethnicity, gender role, young age, education, religion, immigrant identity, English fluency, and economic dependency); social/community factors (acculturation which intersect with limited family support and change of gender roles; patriarchy; family primacy (collectivism and family honor); and limited community support); and the (lack of) service/technology knowledge can affect one’s experiences of violence. Educational and policy recommendations for better intervention and/or prevention of IPV for South Asian women residing in the West is also considered.

Perpetrators’ Characteristics and Intimate Partner Violence in Informal Settlements at Iringa Municipality Tanzania

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common form of violence faced by women globally. The prevalence of lifetime experiences of physical and sexual IPV is estimated to range from 15% to 71%. IPV where a perpetrator is a male current or ex-partner is an existing gender problem in many countries. Millions of women in Africa especially those living in informal settlements are affected by IPV. The most common form of IPV is physical, psychological and sexual abuse. Several studies conducted in Tanzania on IPV have not yet examined the characteristics of perpetrators of such violence acts in informal settlements. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine IPV perpetrators’ characteristics and their association with IPV perpetration in informal settlements. Multi-stage sampling was applied. Random sampling was used to obtain a sample of 300 women living in informal settlements of Iringa Municipality. A survey was used to collect data and SPSS version 20 was used for analysis. A χ2 test was used to assess the association between the outcome variable and a set of exposure variables. Ethical clearance was obtained from Muhimbili University Institutional Review Board. Written consent was sought before participation in the study. IPV perpetrators’ socio-demographic characteristics were age, marital status, marriage type, occupation and level of education. Alcohol intake characteristics were alcohol intake status and intake frequency, where 62.7% were reported to take alcohol many times. Marital status, level of education, occupation, alcohol intake status and frequency of alcohol intake were linked to physical IPV ( p &lt; 0.005). Perpetrators’ characteristics associated with both sexual and emotional IPV were marital status, alcohol intake and the frequency of alcohol intake ( p &lt; 0.005). IPV perpetrators’ socio-demographic characteristics mainly marital status, level of education, alcohol abuse and alcohol intake frequency have a major contribution to the burden of IPV in Iringa municipality. Low level of education and occupation status as business persons are at higher risk of being violent physically, sexually and emotionally. Men aged between 31 and 50 years are more violent in all forms than others. Community IPV prevention interventions focusing on both men and women will be helpful since IPV perpetration may not only be initiated by men but also by women who may lack life and relationship coping skills. More research is important focusing on IPV perpetration attitude and perceptions from men and women perspectives to inform IPV prevention and management.

The Predictive Validity of Intimate Partner Violence Warning Signs

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is harmful and prevalent, but leaving abusive partners is often challenging due to investments (e.g., children, shared memories). Identifying warning signs of abuse early on is one prevention strategy to help people avoid abusive long-term relationships. Using university and online samples, the present studies identified warning signs and protective factors that predicted overall, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse cross-sectionally (Study 1) and prospectively over 6 months (Study 2). These studies demonstrated that the number of warning signs a person experienced and the frequency with which they experienced those warning signs predicted overall abuse. Seven warning signs emerged as predictors in both studies (e.g., “My partner acted arrogant or entitled”), suggesting that they are particularly important for identifying potentially abusive relationships. This is the first research to identify warning signs that prospectively predict abuse; findings have implications for IPV prevention efforts in academic and public contexts.