Intimate Violence Research Articles

Reflections on strategies to mitigate women’s vulnerabilities to intimate violence in the pandemic by covid-19

Resumo Neste artigo, objetiva-se refletir sobre as estratégias no campo da saúde que possam colaborar para a mitigação da vulnerabilidade de mulheres à violência íntima (VI) em meio a crises econômicas e sociais que ocorrem em contextos de pandemias, epidemias e catástrofes climáticas. Trata-se de um ensaio teórico-reflexivo elaborado a partir do diálogo entre os referenciais teóricos da vulnerabilidade e direitos humanos e o modelo ecológico de compreensão da violência. A composição desses referenciais permitiu elencar estratégias de enfrentamento da VI, analisando-as nos âmbitos individual, familiar, comunitário e social, entendendo que as dimensões da vulnerabilidade necessitam ser abordadas de forma indissociável. Tal análise indicou ser fundamental compreender os marcadores sociais da diferença e como as opressões de classe social, raça e gênero se articulam na constituição de vulnerabilidades à VI. À luz dessa compreensão, também foi possível ressaltar o papel essencial da Atenção Primária à Saúde no atendimento às mulheres em situação de violência. Recomenda-se que o poder público, a academia e os serviços de saúde possam coproduzir respostas que mitiguem essas vulnerabilidades e que as medidas sejam tomadas como prioridade.

Cross-Generational Transmission of Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Direction and Dynamics

Studies of the cross-generational transmission of intimate partner violence (IPV) have yielded controversial findings about the centrality of child abuse (CA) and child exposure to parental violence (EIPV) as a risk factor for interpersonal violent relationships in adulthood. This cross-sectional study examines the intergenerational cycle of IPV by differentiating the gender of the parent and the directionality of violence. The purpose of the study was to test (a) the prevalence of the three patterns of IPV as suggested in Straus’s (2015) Dyadic Type’s typology (e.g., man only, woman only, or both) for both CA and EIPV; (b) the relevance of the Dyadic Type’s Typology of IPV on the cross-generational transmission of IPV; and (c) whether the gender of the violent parent has any differential effect on the cross-generational transmission of IPV. A total of 1,196 Israeli Jewish and Arab students completed a cross-sectional self-report questionnaire, retrospectively addressing CA and EIPV in their childhood family environment and their own IPV experience as adults. Our findings show that among families in which any one of the three violent dyads took place, the involvement of both parents in the violent dyad is the prevalent one and raises the highest risk for cross-generational transmission of IPV in adulthood. Utilizing the Dyadic Type’s typology proved insightful in mapping the prevalence of CA, EIPV, and IPV in three ways: (a) it more accurately maps the prevalence of the different IPV dynamics than does the “dichotomous lens,” (b) it highlights the interactive violent dynamic as the prevalent one, and (c) it shows that exposure to aggression by both parents seems to be the strongest predictor of cross-generational transmission of IPV. Overall, the present study contributes to the developing understanding of interactions between retrospectively reported experiences of exposure to IPV and one’s own current behavior.

Intimate Partner Violence in Lesbian and Queer Relationships

Ovesen, Nicole. 2021. Intimate Partner Violence and Help-Seeking in Lesbian and Queer Relationships – Challenging Recognition. PhD diss. Uppsala University: Department of Interdisciplinary Gender Studies. (256 pages)

Gambaran Krisis Respon Komunitas LGBTI di Kota Makassar

This research aims to obtain in-depth information about the motives behind the persecution cases of the LGBTI community in Makassar, as well as how the LGBTI community can survive in a society that rejects it. This research method uses ethnographic methods about why and how identity acceptance, group organizing, violence in relationships with partners, legality of partner status, diversity of identity construction, support system responses, and health behaviors are influenced by ethnographic methods, trying to answer what LGBTI communities and support systems do, to whom they do certain actions, and how people, LGBTI communities, and support systems deal with persecution cases as part of actions that violate the law. The results showed that the community is hampered in the acceptance of identity but makes efforts to organize the group; the source of violence comes from socio-economic crush; legally, there is no recognition of the state and citizens; the construction of diversity is not a serious problem; the response of the support system is a vacuum and is still in search of a formula, and community health behavior has not included safe sex. The conclusion of the research is that the LGBTI community is in a state of anxiety, worry, and fear because of the potential for persecution, physical violence, and verbal violence at any time, while the support system, such as the community empowerment office, social service office, health office, village, community association, neighborhood association, religious leaders, community leaders, and community organizations, have not made real efforts such as dialogue or formal meetings for the security and safety of the lives of LGBTI communities.

Do Victims and Perpetrators Justify Intimate Partner Violence Even While They See It Happening in Front of Their Eyes?

When intimate partner violence occurs, both victims and perpetrators may justify the violence. However, efforts to understand justifying violence typically rely on written descriptions of violent acts or are assessed well after the violence has occurred. Do victims and perpetrators justify violence even while they see it happening? A novel paradigm addressed this question in two cross-sectional studies (Study 1, N = 535 and Study 2, N = 480). Using this paradigm, participants in the violent and non-violent relationships gave in-the-moment and continuous justification ratings (using a slider) as they watched video clip(s), each depicting a couple having a heated and violent fight. The results showed that participants who previously had experienced victimization or perpetration were more likely to justify the violence, both during and after watching the violent clips. This research provides new insights into the nature of violence justification and offers a novel paradigm for future studies.

Violent Partners or a Specific Class of Offenders? A Criminal Career Approach to Understanding Men Involved in Intimate Partner Sexual Violence.

The current study investigates the criminal career of individuals involved in intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). Specifically, the goal is to determine whether men who engage in IPSV can be distinguished from those who engage in intimate partner non sexual violence (IPNSV) only and whether criminal trajectories in the resulting subgroup are heterogeneous. The sample comes from a Canadian database including a total of 12,458 individuals involved in IPSV and 32,474 individuals involved in IPNSV). Bivariate and multivariate analyses are performed to examine the differences in the two groups while latent profile analysis allows examining the heterogeneity of characteristics of men who engaged in IPSV. Findings indicate that the criminal career of men who engage in IPSV follows a pattern that is clearly distinct from that of men who engage in IPNSV only and is more specialized in terms of sexual offenses. Results also show that the criminal trajectories followed by the men who engage in IPSV are heterogeneous. Four profiles of different trajectories were identified. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Legal Review of Abusive Dating Relationships

Researching and discussing abusive and violent romantic relationships within a legal framework is becoming an increasingly pressing social issue. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive legal examination of the numerous forms of abuse in dating relationships, including physical, psychological, sexual, economic, and digital forms of abuse. The author employs normative juridical research for his study. Based on what has been said, it is clear that abusive dating relationships are a pervasive and troubling social issue that calls for legislative action. The safety of victims and the efficiency of law enforcement are of the utmost importance.

Interrupted gender transitions: underlying motivations as correlates of psychosocial risks

Background Previous research on what is often termed “detransitioning” experiences among transgender and nonbinary individuals has frequently lacked conceptual clarity, failed to differentiate interrupted gender transition experiences by underlying motivations, and failed to examine correlations with psychosocial risks by the various motivations. Aims Utilizing a proposed conceptual framework that captures motivational differences between various interrupted gender transition experiences, this examination seeks to provide a more nuanced understanding of these interrupted gender transitions and their associations with psychosocial risks, underscoring the importance of improved conceptual clarity and empirical precision in this body of scholarship. Methods This secondary data analysis of the 2015 US Transgender Study (N = 26,026) examines how three specific interrupted gender transitions (i.e. interpersonal adaptive gender transitions, structural adaptive gender transitions, and gender recalibration) are correlated with a series of lifetime (i.e. suicide attempts and physical relational violence) and recent (i.e. illicit drug use, fear-based avoidance of medical providers, homelessness, and arrests) psychosocial risks. Multivariate models examine the relationships of interest controlling for age, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, partner status, education, employment status, and household income. Results Across all six examined risks, we find that interrupted gender transitions due to interpersonal pressure from others (interpersonal adaptive gender transition) and structural barriers facing transgender and nonbinary people (structural adaptive gender transition) are associated with the highest likelihoods of risks. Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) respondents who experience an interrupted gender transition due to a shift in their gender identity from one identity to another identity within the TNB umbrella (gender recalibration) are not significantly different than TNB respondents who had never undergone a gender transition in the first place. Discussion The study’s findings underscore not only the importance of disaggregation of gender transition interruptions by their underlying motivation, but also highlight one other way in which interpersonal and structural transphobia negatively impact the lived experiences of TNB people.

Prevalence estimates and factors associated with violence among older adults: National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence (NISVS) Survey, 2016/2017

ABSTRACT Abuse of older adults is a public health problem. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) is a nationally-representative, telephone survey for non-institutionalized adults in the United States. To determine the prevalence and factors of intimate partner psychological aggression and physical violence and sexual violence by any perpetrator against older adults, we analyzed NISVS 2016/2017 data (n = 10,171, aged ≥ 60 years). Past 12-month prevalence of psychological aggression, physical violence, and sexual violence was 2.1%, 0.8%, and 1.7%, respectively. Odds of psychological aggression were significantly higher among those with hearing or vision impairment, and lower among those aged ≥70 years. Odds of physical violence were significantly higher for males and for those with hearing or vision impairment. Odds of sexual violence were significantly higher for unpartnered individuals and those with cognitive impairment; and lower for those aged ≥ 70 years. Epidemiologic studies of violence against older adults can inform population-specific prevention strategies.

The attitude of senior pupils to the role of a witness to cyberbullying

Cyberbullying as a scientific problem is one of the popular topics in foreign and domestic literature, but the main attention of researchers is primarily focused on the relationship that arises between the aggressor and the victim. The purpose of the study, the results of which are recorded in the article, is to identify personal characteristics that contribute to or hinder the manifestations of adequate behavior of high school students who have witnessed a cyberbullying situation. The key research tool was the Cyberbullying Witness Behavior Questionnaire. An additional analysis of the personal characteristics of high school students was carried out by means of an Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and a Short questionnaire of the "dark triad" of qualities; socio-demographic information about the respondents was also collected. In total, 268 high school students aged 16 to 18 years took part in the study (approximately an equal number of girls and boys). The study showed that an adequate type of perception of cyberbullying situations prevails in this age group, but there were also some contradictions that were fixed in the processes of interaction between parents and teachers. Students of boys and girls aged 16-18 years, who have a higher level of empathy and emotional intelligence, show a more adequate attitude to the role of a witness to cyberbullying, while schoolchildren whose personalities are characterized by elements of psychopathic accentuation are more likely to show an inadequate attitude in the appropriate situation. In conclusion, the authors conclude that systematic work on the development of aggressive behavior control skills among high school students, taking into account all personal characteristics, will contribute to reducing the number of manifestations of violence in relationships within high school students' collectives.

Beyond Surviving: A Glimpse Into Jewish-Israeli Women's Recovery Trajectories After Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence.

The present study identifies and articulates the recovery trajectories of 12 Jewish-Israeli women who experienced intimate partner violence. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the Clinical Ethnographic Narrative interviews revealed three central themes. The first theme dealt with the chronology of the violence and its escalation. The second theme described the turning points that facilitated the termination of the violent relationship. The third theme reflects these women's attempts to regain control and fulfil their needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. The findings are discussed through the lens of Jewish-Israeli culture, which is child-oriented and underscores the centrality of motherhood.

Preventing bullying of students with special educational needs through dialogic gatherings: a case study in elementary education

Scientific literature has clarified that bullying is a global challenge and students with special educational needs (SEN) are at a higher risk of experiencing it. Educational actions focused on dialogue and interaction as dialogic gatherings (DG) have been widely studied as a successful educational action (SEAs) rooted in egalitarian dialogue that promotes social cohesion. However, its potential to prevent bullying among students with SEN remains to be investigated. This qualitative case study explores the impact of implementing DG in two elementary classrooms and its potential to prevent school violence in a comprehensive school setting (43 students, 10–12 years old, from which 5 had SEN). Classroom observations of DGs and focus groups with teachers and students were conducted. Data analysis indicated that DG effectively contributed to students’ increased awareness regarding the distinction between violent and non-violent relationships, and influenced their personal preferences, guiding them towards non-violent behaviours. Implications for practice highlight the potential of DG to enhance non-violent behaviours among elementary students, which is particularly relevant to ensure students with SEN’s protection and inclusion.

‘“She Tells Me I'm Pushy” is More Likely than the Man Directly Admitting to Being Pushy’: Practitioners’ Views on Screening and Assessing Risk of Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

Domestic and family violence (DFV) and sexual violence intersect, with sexual violence often perpetrated by an intimate partner alongside other forms of DFV. While DFV perpetrator interventions are commonly used in response to DFV perpetration, scant research has considered how these interventions identify and address sexual violence, including intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). Drawing on the findings from an Australian study which involved a survey of 97 practitioners, this paper explores screening and risk assessment of IPSV within the DFV perpetrator intervention context. The research findings demonstrate limited screening and risk assessment of IPSV, particularly when compared to other forms of DFV. This demonstrates a clear need for focused attention on IPSV as part of broader efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for all forms of DFV.

An updated report on trauma in Anorexia Nervosa: Confirmation and novel data

ObjectiveLiterature reported a great occurrence of Traumatic Events (TEs) and post-traumatic symptoms in anorexia nervosa (AN). The present study aims to: a) describe the prevalence and the characteristics of TEs in AN, also comparing TEs related to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to those without this link; b) compare patients with and without TEs and with and without PTSD in terms of clinical picture; c) compare patients who suffered the TE before AN onset to those with TE after AN onset. MethodsThe sample consisted of 126 patients with AN who were interviewed with the Structured and Clinical Interview for DSM 5 (SCID-5), and completed self-reported questionnaires to investigate the general and eating-related psychopathology. ResultsThe results showed that the majority of the patients with AN reported a TE, and TEs related to PTSD were more relational and sexual-related compared to TEs not leading to PTSD. Moreover, after Bonferroni correction was applied to the results, no significant differences emerged between patients with and without TEs, and between individuals with TEs before and after AN onset; differently, patients with PTSD presented a more severe global clinical picture than those without PTSD, partially independent of diagnostic AN subtype. ConclusionThe study highlights that, despite TEs are risk factors for AN, the diagnosis of PTSD makes the difference in terms of clinical presentation and severity, impacting not only eating-related symptoms but also general psychopathology. A careful screening for PTSD in patients with AN is suggestable, especially when relational trauma and sexual violence are reported.

Incidence of Dating Violence in Middle Adolescence

Background: Middle adolescents interact more with the opposite sex so that mutual liking arises, interest in the opposite sex will continue to undergo a relationship called dating. Middle age is emotionally and mentally unstable so that if there are problems in dating it will cause or will experience dating violence.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of dating violence in middle adolescents.Methods: This research is descriptive quantitative. The population in this study were middle adolescents in Ciparay District School, Bandung Regency, with a total sample of 295 respondents.Results: The results showed that the description of the incidence of physical violence was small (5.8%), threatening behavior was small (11.2%), sexual violence was almost half (37.6%), verbal emotional violence was almost half (30.2%), relational violence was small (18.0%), and in cyber violence most of 51.2%.Conclusion: The conclusion is that almost all adolescents are dating violence. Schools form a task force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence.

Implications of intimate partner physical violence and substance misuse for parenting

AbstractApproximately 35%–45% of young married adults engage in intimate partner violence (IPV), and it is possible to reliably distinguish between general IPV and clinically significant IPV in a manner accepted both by DSM‐V & ICD‐11. IPV and alcohol misuse have been associated in many research designs, and experts now argue that alcohol misuse causes IPV. While less research exists on other substances like marijuana, there is clearly a moderate association between marijuana use and IPV, and that association appears to be dose‐dependent. Both IPV and substance use disorders (SUD), especially alcohol misuse, have been associated with a host of both internalizing and externalizing problems of children and adolescents. Research on the co‐morbid effects of IPV and substance misuse is relatively new but there are documented cumulative effects of IPV, problematic alcohol use, problematic drug use, and depressive symptoms on aggressive and neglectful parental disciplinary practices. Fortunately, research on the effects of both alcohol misuse and IPV shows that while both can have deleterious effects on children, the majority of children exposed to either IPV or alcohol misuse do not grow up to have diagnoses of emotional or behavioral problems. Support from one parent, a teacher, or extended family members, as well as the ability to maintain family rituals, serve as protective factors for children. Recommendations are made regarding reviews of assessment of IPV and substance misuse as well as a guide for conceptualizing and completing forensic evaluations involving IPV and substance misuse.

Digital Violence in Affective-Sexual Relationships among Spanish University Students

Digital Violence in Affective-Sexual Relationships among Spanish University Students

Intimate Partner Violence among College Women: A Single-Centred Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of sexual violence between intimate partners among college women at Ankara University. The depression symptoms were compared with the history of their sexual abuse in the past and in six months. The study, a cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 400 college women. Intimate partner sexual violence was evaluated using the Intimate Partner Violence Victim version and depression was evaluated with the Personal Health Questionnaire-9. Study data were evaluated using statistics such as number, percentage, and mean Mann-Whintey U test, and sample t-test. Sexual violence between intimate partners is present during romantic relationships in college women. Using tobacco, alcohol compulsion, or substance abuse are risk factors for sexual violence with an intimate partner. Furthermore, depression is double diagnosed in college women with sexual violence from intimate partners.

Çocukluk Çağı Travmaları ile Romantik İlişkide İstismara Maruziyet Arasındaki İlişkide Borderline Kişilik Özellikleri ve Ayrılık Anksiyetesinin Aracı Rolü

The study aims to examine the mediating role of borderline personality pattern and separation anxiety in adults in the relationship between childhood traumas and exposure to abuse in romantic relationships, to emphasize some factors that may cause violence in relationships, and to support initiatives to prevent exposure to partner violence. For the research, 400 participants aged 18-55 residing in Istanbul were determined by a simple random sampling method. After that, a Socio-demographic Information Form, Childhood Traumas Questionnaire (CTQ-33), Romantic Relationship Assessment Inventory (RRAI), Borderline Personality Questionnaire (BPQ), and Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASAQ) were given to them. The data obtained from the study were evaluated with the SPSS-25 statistical analysis program. Relationships between scales were evaluated with Pearson Correlation analysis, and mediating roles were evaluated with PROCESS 3.5 Macro. All analyses were based on a 95% confidence interval. When the research findings were examined, A positive correlation was found between the Childhood Traumas Questionnaire and all its subscales, the Borderline Personality Questionnaire and all its subscales, and the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire and the Romantic Relationship Assessment Scale. Research results show that childhood traumas predict exposure to abuse in romantic relationships and that borderline personality traits and adult separation anxiety play a partial mediating role in this relationship. It has also been determined that adult separation anxiety predicts borderline personality traits. As a result of the study, it is shown that in the case of abuse and neglect experiences in childhood, whether individuals are exposed to abuse in romantic relationships or not is related to borderline personality traits and low tolerance for separation. Study results reveal that separation anxiety significantly predicts borderline personality traits (34%), indicating that separation anxiety can be targeted as a key point in the repetitive abuse pattern. Another result of the study is that the increase in separation anxiety in borderline personality traits is associated with low economic levels. The current result reveals the importance of economic independence in exploitation patterns.

Behaviours Associated with Male “Sweethearting” (Infidelity) in Heterosexual Relationships in The Bahamas

This paper presents incidental data on sweethearting from a study on sexual violence in intimate-partner relationships between men and women in The Bahamas. Females participating in the study reported male infidelity to be common (with about 20% and possibly as many as about 50% of men being unfaithful) in both unmarried and married relationships. Associated with infidelity were behaviours of concern, such as physical and sexual violence, as well as psychological abuse by male partners. These abusive behaviours were associated with the woman feeling that she would leave the relationship if she could, and that the relationship was not a loving one. Furthermore, the study suggests that unfaithful married men are more likely to demonstrate activities of concern (in the form of elevated scores for domestic violence and psychological abuse) compared to unfaithful unmarried men in relationships with women.