Nonfamily Violence Research Articles

Analysis of the rate of working women's acceptance of partner violence and cultural reflections in Cypriot society.

This case study aims to measure the level of acceptance of violence among women and couples and to reveal the level of acceptance within and outside the families of women who have participated in working life. The concepts of anger and violence, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and economic violence, which are the sub-components of violence, violence in dating, and marital relations are examined separately according to Feminism and Social Learning Theory approaches. The Working Group was formed by applying questionnaires to 50 participants from the cities of Kyrenia, Güzelyurt, Lefke, Nicosia, and Magusa and determining the 20 participants with the highest level of acceptance of violence. The 11 people who agreed to the study were interviewed for a Dec of 1 week and 5 sessions ranging from 20 to 30 min. It is observed that women who are subjected to violence have a deep sense of helplessness and accept their helplessness, as well as those women resort to various passive solutions, such as silence and avoiding attitudes that make their partner angrier. The sense of helplessness, as a result of chronic depression, makes it inevitable to experience suicide cases. This study will be particularly important in terms of revealing the levels of domestic and non-family violence exposure and acceptance of violence by women who have participated in working life.

Family violence in Victoria, Australia: a retrospective case-control study of forensic medical casework.

To identify the risk factors and assault characteristics of family violence among victims referred for forensic medical examination in Victoria, Australia. A retrospective 1:1 case-control study was conducted, comparing adult family violence victims and non-family violence victims examined by clinical forensic practitioners from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, between July 2015 and June 2016. Data were extracted from victims' forensic medical casework. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine group differences. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of family violence. One hundred and forty-three family violence victims (97.2% female, Mdnage = 29, 90.2% intimate partner violence) were identified and gender- and age-matched with controls. Family violence victims had significantly higher odds of reporting a history of violence victimisation (OR = 5.20; 95% CI, 2.54to 10.66) and current pregnancy (OR = 5.28; 95% CI, 1.09to 25.46) than controls. Family violence was significantly more likely than non-family violence to occur in the victim's home, and to involve physical assault, use of weapon(s), trauma to the neck and anal sexual assault. Family violence victims sustained significantly more physical injuries, and were more likely to be injured to almost every bodily location, than controls. This study highlights the importance of assessing and managing risk for family violence following initial victimisation and throughout pregnancy. Findings further indicate that family violence is more dangerous (i.e. more likely to involve severe forms of assault and cause injury) than non-family violence.

Relationship between the history of abuse in the childhood and abusive behaviour towards children. Itagüí, Colombia, 2012–2013

IntroductionOne of the experiences that represent the biggest risk for any society is child abuse. Despite the consequences of this form of violence, it tends to be a hidden and little understood phenomenon. The reason why parents mistreat their children has been one of the issues that has raised the most interest in the investigation of this phenomenon. ObjectiveTo determine how the history of child abuse in adults is related to abusive behaviour directed at their own children. MethodologyA cross-sectional study, based on a source of secondary information. The study included sociodemographic variables, variables related to violent behaviours directed to other people, pro-social factors and the use of psychoactive substances. From this population, 2 groups were selected, parents who were abusive and parents who were not abusive towards their own children. In both groups the frequency of different factors that could explain the probability of abusive behaviour of the adults towards their children was evaluated. We analysed the association between aggressive behaviour against one's own children and having a history of child abuse. As a measure of association, the OR was used with its respective 95% confidence interval and p-value <.05. Results187 adults were included, 63.1% were women. The median [IQR] age was 38 [24–52] years. The abusive behaviour of the parents towards their children was associated with: the female sex (OR=2.23; 95%CI, 1.13–4.40), partner's aggression (OR=3.28; 95%CI, 1.58–6.80), aggression towards other people outside the family (OR=2.66; 95%CI, 1.05–6.74), pro-social behaviour (OR=0.32; 95%CI, 0.14–0.73), and dysfunctional behavioural traits (OR=2.23; 95%CI, 1.11–4.52). There was no association with the history of child abuse (OR=1.54; 95%CI, 0.59–4.04). ConclusionsThe history of abuse in the parents’ childhood was not associated with abusive behaviour towards their children. Other forms of partner's violence and non-family violence were associated, suggesting that child abuse in the study population was related to other expressions of family and social violence.

Relación entre antecedente de maltrato en la niñez y comportamiento maltratador hacia los hijos. Itagüí, Colombia, 2012-2013

IntroductionOne of the experiences that represent the biggest risk for any society is child abuse. Despite the consequences of this form of violence, it tends to be a hidden and little understood phenomenon. The reason why parents mistreat their children has been one of the issues that has raised the most interest in the investigation of this phenomenon. ObjectiveTo determine how the history of child abuse in adults is related to abusive behaviour directed at their own children. MethodologyA cross-sectional study, based on a source of secondary information. The study included sociodemographic variables, variables related to violent behaviours directed to other people, pro-social factors and the use of psychoactive substances. From this population, 2 groups were selected, parents who were abusive and parents who were not abusive towards their own children. In both groups the frequency of different factors that could explain the probability of abusive behaviour of the adults towards their children was evaluated. We analysed the association between aggressive behaviour against one's own children and having a history of child abuse. As a measure of association, the OR was used with its respective 95% confidence interval and P-value<.05. Results187 adults were included, 63.1% were women. The median [IQR] age was 38 [24-52] years. The abusive behaviour of the parents towards their children was associated with: the female sex (OR=2.23; 95%CI, 1.13-4.40), partner's aggression (OR=3.28; 95%CI, 1.58-6.80), aggression towards other people outside the family (OR=2.66; 95%CI, 1.05-6.74), pro-social behaviour (OR=0.32; 95%CI, 0.14-0.73), and dysfunctional behavioural traits (OR=2.23; 95%CI, 1.11-4.52). There was no association with the history of child abuse (OR=1.54; 95%CI, 0.59-4.04). ConclusionsThe history of abuse in the parents’ childhood was not associated with abusive behaviour towards their children. Other forms of partner's violence and non-family violence were associated, suggesting that child abuse in the study population was related to other expressions of family and social violence.

Lack of Toilets and Violence Against Indian Women: Empirical Evidence and Policy Implications

It is now well-accepted among policy makers that the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene is a basic human right. Yet, millions of people lack access to basic toilet facilities, which anecdotal evidence suggests may increase violence against women. We examine the relationship between the lack of toilet facilities in the Indian household on non-family violence (i.e. not family member) against Indian women. Using the latest 2005-2006 National Family Health Surveys (NFHS-3) data, we relate the lack of toilet facilities in Indian households (when members use bush or pit latrines to relieve themselves) to non-family violence against Indian women. Multilevel logistic regression results, using data from 60,847 Indian women, indicate that after controlling for economic prosperity and other covariates, lack of toilet facilities in the household is positively related to non-family violence against urban Indian women but not for rural Indian women. Further, this relationship is stronger for poor urban women. Additional analysis indicate that the findings are robust. The paper’s insights indicate that the lack of toilet facilities in households is a source of violence against urban Indian women. We offer policy recommendations to reduce non-family violence against urban Indian women.

Correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder in forensic psychiatric outpatients in the Netherlands

Using a sample of 154 Dutch forensic psychiatric outpatients aged 18-62 years, this study investigated whether risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mainly identified in nonforensic research, forensic psychiatric factors, and potential comorbid mental disorders were associated with PTSD. Data on demographics, victimization during childhood or adolescence, and forensic psychiatric factors were derived from electronic medical records. Mental disorders were assessed using structured psychiatric interviews and consensus diagnoses were established during weekly case consultations. The PTSD rate was 75% in the sample. Whereas the PTSD group was significantly more likely to be older, female, not Dutch, and to have a history of victimization, previously perpetrated family violence, and lower psychosocial and occupational functioning than the non-PTSD group, the latter group had significantly higher rates of psychiatric history, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), antisocial personality disorder, drug abuse, and previous repeated nonfamily violence perpetration. Effect sizes ranged from Nagelkerke R(2) = .04 for psychosocial and occupational functioning to Nagelkerke R(2) = .70 for ADHD. This study demonstrated differences between those with and without PTSD in demographic, victim, forensic, and psychological characteristics. Future studies should examine the complexity between early victimization, delinquency patterns, and psychopathology regarding the prediction of PTSD among forensic psychiatric outpatients.

The russian family as a resource and diagnostic criterion of counteraction to extremism and terrorism

The modern Russian family as a live social system, on the one hand, forms personality, setting a system of moral values counteracting to extremism and terrorism; on the other hand, it is transformed under influence of experience of family and nonfamily violence; from the third party, quality of family relations can serve as a diagnostic criterion of its safety/danger for society.

Posttraumatic stress among young urban children exposed to family violence and other potentially traumatic events

This study examines the relationship between the number of types of traumatic events experienced by children 3 to 6 years old, parenting stress, and children's posttraumatic stress (PTS). Parents and caregivers provided data for 154 urban children admitted into community-based mental health or developmental services. By parent and caregiver report, children experienced an average of 4.9 different types of potentially traumatic events. Nearly one quarter of the children evidenced clinically significant PTS. Posttraumatic stress was positively and significantly related to family violence and other family-related trauma exposure, nonfamily violence and trauma exposure, and parenting stress. Additionally, parenting stress partially mediated the relationship between family violence and trauma exposure and PTS. This study highlights the need for early violence and trauma exposure screening in help-seeking populations so that appropriate interventions are initiated.

Intimate partner violence: Persistence of myths and implications for intervention

Since the issue of intimate partner violence first penetrated the realm of academia and policy some 30 years ago, the public has responded with the creation of hundreds of treatment centers, policy groups, advocacy groups, and public health campaigns [Pleck, J.H. (1987). The contemporary man.In, M. Scher, M. Stevens, G. Good, & G. Eichenfield, (Eds). Handbook of counseling & psychotherapy with men. (pp. 16-27). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications]. Almost all such programs are based on the first set of theories that lifted the problem of IPV into the public realm; these center on the role of patriarchal social norms in the etiology and maintenance of partner violence [Dobash, & Dobash, (1979). Violence against wives: The case against the patriarchy. New York: Free Press.; Walker, L. (1989). Psychology and violence against women. American Psychologist, 44(4), 695-702]. Yet, new data accumulating from numerous rigorously designed studies challenge existing theories, and are largely overlooked or discounted. This article reviews evidence that accumulating data countering the traditional theories is not penetrating the field in several critical arenas: 1) A developmental approach to partner violence is omitted from the field's mainstream lexicon; 2) The intersection of partner violence with other forms of family and non-family violence is underrepresented; 3) Partner violence prevention programs have limited effects, because they do not integrate accumulating data on relevant risk factors (mental health, poverty, etc.), focusing instead on universal prevention and gender-based interventions. The article overviews a program of research using longitudinal research methods to test prevailing theories and assumptions about partner violence. We draw from this evidence to recommend new directions for IPV research, and urge dissemination of the most recent, and often controversial, basic research findings to practitioners and academics.

Jocks, Gender, Binge Drinking, and Adolescent Violence

Previous research has suggested a link between athletic involvement and elevated levels of adolescent violence outside the sport context. The present study expanded on this literature by positing differences in the sport-violence relationship across dimensions of athletic involvement (athletic participation vs. jock identity), type of violence (family vs. nonfamily), and gender as well as by examining the impact of binge drinking on the sport-violence relationship. Regression analyses using a sample of 608 Western New York adolescents indicated that (a) jock identity (but not athletic participation) was associated with more frequent violence, (b) jock identity predicted nonfamily violence (but not family violence), and (c) the link between jock identity and nonfamily violence was stronger for boys than for girls. Binge drinking predicted family violence among nonjocks only.

Violence and injury in marital arguments: risk patterns and gender differences.

Community-based research on violence against women typically focuses on marital arguments rather than on resulting injuries. This study investigated patterns of victimization, violence perpetration, and injury in marital arguments. Data from the National Survey on Families and Households and binomial and multinomial logit models were used to analyze characteristics of those who experienced physical violence, as well as to determine who was the perpetrator and who was the victim. Men and women reported similar behaviors during verbal arguments. Young persons, urban dwellers, the less educated, those with low incomes, and Blacks were more likely to report that there had been physical violence in their marriages in the past year. Ethnicity, income, education, and number and age of children at home were not associated consistently with injury of the wife, the husband, or both. Persons who report physical violence in their marriage are very similar to those who are at increased risk of interpersonal violence in general. The co-occurrence of street and other nonfamily violence with spousal violence may be a fruitful area for future research.

THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF URBAN VIOLENCE

THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF URBAN VIOLENCE

A Family Approach and Network Implications of Therapy for Victims of Violence as Applied in a Case of Rape

There is a well researched and articulated literature on treating individual victims of violence. There is little on family work or larger systems issues with victims and their families and most of this consists of applications of individual approaches. The following case illustrates the importance and use of a structural and systemic conceptualization for intervention in cases of non-family violence. It also underscores the need for empirical data on the impact of traumatic events occurring to individuals in the family and arger social network.

Gender comparisons in the relationship between parental and sibling violence and nonfamily violence

This paper addresses two neglected areas in the research on the relationship between family violence and violence outside the home: violence other than parent-child abuse and the effect of gender. Specifically, we consider both parental and sibling violence as independent variables, nonfamily violence as the dependent variable, and gender as the specification variable. The data were collected from a sample of 306 students in Introductory Sociology and Social Problems classes. The finding of particular importance is that the interaction between the gender of both the aggressor and the victim has a significant effect on the relationship between violence within the home and nonfamily violence.

Characteristics of Perpetrators of Family and Nonfamily Assaults

Persons involved in family and nonfamily violence may be distinguished both demographically and behavionally. There appear, in fact, to be grounds to consider them as two different groups. Those involved in family violence appear to be the most stable in that they are more likely to live with others and have some employment and are less likely to report suicide or alcohol abuse. Also, the groups appear to be rather specialized in their violence, and those involved in both kinds of assaults are generally more frequently violent. These group differences corroborate the research done on violent men drawn from a human service population. Shields and associates (10) found three distinct patterns of violence—family only, nonfamily only, and general violence—to be associated with distinct life-styles, social networks, and values, which in turn seem to reinforce the violence pattern. The findings, therefore, suggest that those who assault their families may at least require separate consideration as a research gr...

Patterns of Family and Nonfamily Violence: Violent Husbands and Violent Men

This article explores the relationship between criminological and family violence approaches to the study of male violence, both domestic and nondomestic. Reasons why these two approaches have remained relatively independent are discussed, and ways of linking the two perspectives are suggested. Interview data from 85 violent husbands are analyzed and interpreted in light of their implications for family violence and criminological approaches. The data confirm the existence of three patterns of male violence--"family only," "nonfamily only," and "generally" violent. The patterns are found to be associated with relatively clear and distinct lifestyles, social networks, and values, which seem to reinforce the violence pattern. The authors conclude that both the family violence and criminological perspectives can provide insight into the problem of understanding violent husbands.