Partner Violence Intervention Research Articles

Participatory data analysis in social change work: empowering, practical, or both?

Participatory work with marginalized groups claims to bridge a divide between researchers or project implementers (outsiders) and those with whom they are working to create social change (insiders). A debate within this field is whether participation's primary function is to support participants taking ownership over social change in their communities (an empowerment approach) or to garner feedback, particularly during the evaluation stage, in order for implementers to more efficiently assess project goals and adjust project design (a so-called ‘practical’ approach). This paper makes the claim that a greater focus on theory building through participatory data analysis can help bridge the divide between the empowerment and practicality camps. It does so by simultaneously embracing the assumptions behind empowerment ideologies (that community members hold the key to understanding and changing policies and systems) and behind more ‘practical’ approaches (that participation is immensely useful and practical for creating and improving interventions). I discuss a participatory evaluation of a US intimate partner violence intervention in order to demonstrate how participation supports theory building, including the crucial findings that emerged which the researcher, as an outsider, had missed. I offer raw excerpt analysis as a method to support these goals, and I discuss best practices for those using the method.

Improvements in Safety Outcomes Following Brief Healthcare-Based Intimate Partner Violence Interventions among Women Who Screen Positive for Intimate Partner Violence-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common consequence of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV-related TBI contributes to adverse health outcomes among women, but it is unknown whether a history of IPV-related TBI negatively impacts safety outcomes following healthcare-based interventions for IPV. Methods: Using data from a larger randomized clinical trial, we explored the impact of IPV-related TBI status on safety-related outcomes in two healthcare-based IPV interventions. At baseline, 35% (n = 21) of the sample screened positive for IPV-related TBI history. We used repeated measures ANOVAs to examine differences in safety outcomes at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up based on treatment condition and IPV-related TBI status. Results: Significant interaction effects were found for safety outcomes, such that women with IPV-related TBI history experienced larger reductions in the frequency of physical IPV and similar reductions in sexual IPV across both treatment conditions compared to women without IPV-TBI (F(2, 102) = 10.88, p < 0.001; F(2, 98) = 3.93, p = 0.036). Conclusions: Findings suggest that brief healthcare-based IPV interventions may result in improvements in safety outcomes for women with a history of IPV-TBI. This highlights the continued need for implementation of promising IPV-focused interventions to promote safety and protect women from experiencing further IPV.

Efficacy Of ICT Based Intimate Partner Violence Intervention; A Systematic Review

Efficacy Of ICT Based Intimate Partner Violence Intervention; A Systematic Review

The Effectiveness of Intimate Partner Violence Interventions by the Police, Prosecutors, and Courts

The criminal justice system (CJS), comprising police, prosecutors, and courts, is pivotal in preventing intimate partner violence (IPV). However, challenges persist in effectively protecting victims, with high post-reporting recidivism rates. This systematic review aims to identify CJS interventions targeting IPV recurrence and to assess their effectiveness. Eleven articles meeting inclusion criteria were categorized into three themes: police (five articles), prosecutor (zero articles), and court (six articles). While overall findings lack conclusive evidence on intervention effectiveness, they suggest potential in reducing IPV recidivism among specific perpetrator sub-groups. The review underscores the need to consider contextual factors when evaluating interventions like arrest for IPV prevention. Challenges in identifying evidence-based practices within the CJS persist, necessitating ongoing evaluation research and investment in evidence-based strategies to inform policy and practice effectively.

Predictors of veteran attendance in an intimate partner violence intervention.

This study examined session attendance data from 2,754 veterans who participated in a national implementation of a trauma-informed intimate partner violence intervention, Strength at Home, across the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Potential correlates of attendance were demographic characteristics, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, alcohol use, court involvement, current military involvement, and intervention modality (in-person vs. virtual). Given the trauma-informed nature of the intervention, it was expected that trauma-relevant risk factors, specifically PTSD symptom severity and racial minority status, would be less strongly associated with attendance than barriers related to other demographic variables and higher alcohol use, intervention modality, and court involvement. Results indicated that age, education level, employment status, retirement status, PTSD symptom severity, alcohol use, and court involvement were associated with session attendance in the expected direction at the bivariate level. Only education level, employment status, retirement status, alcohol use, and court involvement emerged as unique predictors of attendance such that more educated, employed, retired, and court-mandated veterans with less alcohol use attended more sessions. These findings suggest the importance of a trauma-informed, coordinated community response to intimate partner violence intervention and integration of motivational components surrounding problematic alcohol use to enhance compliance and mitigate barriers to attendance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Child Abuse Exposure, Internalizing and Externalizing Trauma Sequelae, and Partner Violence Perpetration Among Young Adult Men

ABSTRACT Partner violence is a major public health concern. Theory and research connect exposure to abuse in childhood to partner violence in adulthood. The present study examined internalizing and externalizing trauma sequelae as mediators in the association between child abuse exposure and adult partner violence perpetration. Young U.S. adult men (N = 423) completed background measures assessing exposure to psychological, physical, and sexual child abuse, internalizing (symptoms of anxiety and depression) and externalizing (problems with anger and alcohol use) sequelae, psychological and physical partner violence perpetration, and follow‐up assessments regarding sexual violence perpetration over the course of 3 months. Negative binomial regression showed that problems with anger mediated the associations between child psychological abuse exposure and adult psychological violence perpetration and between child physical abuse exposure and adult psychological violence perpetration. Problems from alcohol use mediated the associations between child psychological abuse exposure and adult psychological, physical, and sexual violence perpetration. Although child abuse exposure was associated with internalizing sequelae, none of the indirect effects from child abuse exposure to adult violence perpetration via internalizing sequelae were statistically significant. These findings add to the extant literature supporting an intergenerational transmission of violence and underscore that men who experience trauma early in life may attempt to cope with such experiences via maladaptive acting out behaviors. Partner violence interventions may benefit from incorporating strategies that address trauma and provide healthy alternatives for coping with distress.

Health system barriers to access to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights in relation to family planning and contraception

Background: Access to reproductive health information and services is critical to health, well-being, and the ability to achieve personal and corporate life and work goals. Within the context of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), the health system should adopt a life course approach to achieve a continuum of care. This spectrum needs to span from conception to the care of the aging woman across all contexts and must encompass humanitarian crises, climate change, and environmental exposures while embracing the ongoing digital transformation narrative. Current challenges relating to family planning and contraception (FPC) within the Kenyan context typically arise from highly prevalent unfavorable sociocultural norms and traditions.&#x0D; Selected SRHR intervention programs: Programs that promote girls’ education and enhance community engagement to effect sociobehavioral change programing have high transformative potential. Some of these programs include the provision of contraception, adolescent, and youth-friendly programs (AYFS), intimate partner violence intervention programs, HIV prevention, use of multipurpose product technologies (MPT), prevention of abortion-related mortality, provision of access to maternity care, and continuous improvement of quality of care.&#x0D; Conclusion: Obstetricians and gynecologists must commit to governance leadership that focuses on SMART advocacy, the establishment of health system resilience to provide access, effective coverage, and rights-based approaches. These are vital to the provision of optimal FPC care in Kenya.

Ethnic-specific prevalence rates of intimate partner violence against women in New Zealand

ObjectiveThis study presents age-standardised ethnic-specific prevalence rates of intimate partner violence against women in New Zealand, by physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, psychological intimate partner violence, controlling behaviours and economic abuse. MethodsData are from 1,431 ever-partnered women in the representative and cross-sectional He Koiora Matapopore, the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Study. ResultsHigh lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence is present across all ethnic groups in NZ, with over half of all women reporting any intimate partner violence (55.8%). Substantial ethnic disparities exist in intimate partner violence rates, with Māori women reporting the highest prevalence of intimate partner violence (64.6%), followed by NZ European women (61.6%). ConclusionsIntimate partner violence prevention and intervention services are needed at the population-level, and services must be culturally responsive and attuned to the needs of communities that bear the greatest burden. Implications for Public HealthEthnic differences in intimate partner violence prevalence likely contribute to health disparities at the population-level, reinforcing calls for prevention and necessitating healthcare systems to be culturally informed and mobilised to address intimate partner violence as a priority health issue.

Using the Colaizzi Method to Explore Intimate Partner Violence Caseworkers' Subjective Experience: Pathways to Intimate Partner Violence Work and What Keeps Them Going.

Successful intimate partner violence (IPV) safety, advocacy, and intervention programs require recruitment and retention of persons of experience and commitment. To examine lived experiences of IPV advocates working in transitional shelter programs for women exiting IPV relationships, focus group discussions of 15 transitional housing and IPV shelter caseworkers were analyzed using the Colaizzi seven-step phenomenological method of analysis. Several themes emerged through the analysis, including historical, intergenerational pathways to IPV work and unity in sisterhood with IPV clients. The seven-step Colaizzi method is presented with examples of how each Colaizzi step yields an understanding of what motivates and sustains IPV caseworkers.

Intervention Programs for Intimate Partner Violence: Insights From Professionals

This qualitative study explores available intimate partner violence (IPV) intervention programs offered in Saskatchewan, Canada, a province with a substantial rural population and a high rate of IPV. Given these unique circumstances, it was necessary to investigate what IPV interventions are currently available and if professionals who work at these programs feel these programs are effectively meeting the needs of men who have perpetrated IPV and working toward reducing rates of IPV in the province. Interview respondents represented IPV intervention programs based in mental health, community corrections, and community-based organizations. Taken together, information shared by the professionals who work at these IPV intervention programs provides an overview of the current state of intervention programs offered in Saskatchewan, including the extent to which interventions align with the Principles of Effective Intervention (PEI). Findings include differences in the delivery of IPV interventions in rural communities and highlight challenges in delivering group interventions for clients who perpetrate different types of IPV, have different criminogenic needs, and have varying levels of risk. Findings inform recommendations for policy and practice, including the need for training for IPV intervention professionals, increased public awareness about IPV interventions, and incorporation of the PEI. Findings also inform recommendations for research, including longitudinal evaluations of outcomes for participants from various programs that incorporate data from multiple sources.

Randomized Clinical Trial of a Brief Alcohol Intervention as an Adjunct to Batterer Intervention for Women Arrested for Domestic Violence.

Despite a rise in women being arrested for domestic violence and court-ordered to batterer intervention, batterer interventions remain limited in their ability to address women's treatment needs. Alcohol use is an important intervention target: one-third of women in batterer interventions have an alcohol-related diagnosis, half engage in at-risk drinking, and alcohol use contributes to intimate partner violence (IPV) and batterer intervention dropout. Research has not evaluated whether adding an alcohol intervention to batterer intervention improves women's alcohol use and IPV outcomes. We randomized 209 women (79.9% white) in Rhode Island to receive the state-mandated batterer intervention program alone or the batterer intervention program plus a brief alcohol intervention. Alcohol use (percentage of days abstinent from alcohol [PDAA], number of drinks per drinking day [DPDD], percentage of heavy drinking days [PHDD], percentage of days abstinent from alcohol and drugs [PDAAD]), and IPV perpetration and victimization frequency (psychological, physical, and sexual IPV, injury) data were collected at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Multilevel modeling revealed that, relative to the batterer intervention alone, women who received the brief alcohol intervention reported a higher PDAA and PDAAD, fewer DPDD, and a lower PHDD across all follow-up assessments. Women who received the brief alcohol intervention perpetrated less physical IPV and experienced less injury than did women who only received the batterer intervention. For physical IPV, these differences became more pronounced over time. No other group differences or group x time interactions emerged. Adding an alcohol intervention may improve batterer intervention outcomes for women arrested for domestic violence.

A survey of intimate partner violence intervention programs in saskatchewan, canada.

A survey of intimate partner violence intervention programs in saskatchewan, canada.

"My Family Was Also Happy": Couples' Qualitative Reports of a Combined Behavioral Economics and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use and Intimate Partner Violence.

Improving intimate partner violence interventions requires understanding pathways to change among couples participating in these interventions. This article presents qualitative data from 18 males and 16 females who participated in a combined behavioral economics (contingency management) and cognitive behavioral therapy alcohol and violence reduction intervention trial in Bengaluru, India. Results confirmed several theorized pathways of change, as well as identified further mechanisms through which the intervention supported the change. These included the emotional impacts of incentives, perceived and actual accountability via breathalyzers and family involvement, and enhanced support gained through counseling skills. Findings reveal critical insights into intervention design for future implementation.

A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Community-Based Intimate Partner Violence Interventions in India.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) in India remains an entrenched and prevalent public health issue. Despite ample evidence of the widespread problem of IPV in India and associated mental and physical morbidities, far less is known about intervention models to reduce IPV in India. The aims of this meta-analysis and systematic review are to assess the effectiveness of community-based interventions to reduce IPV in India and to provide a narrative synthesis of these intervention approaches. A total of 9 databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed, English-language articles published between January 2000 and September 2022. The search identified 10 studies that met study inclusion criteria, including 3 randomized control trials, 4 quasi-experimental, 2 pre/post, and 1 time-series evaluation. Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was notable variation in the interventions and approaches employed to reduce IPV and varying measurement of IPV outcomes. The results of the meta-analysis show that participating in community-based IPV interventions produced a significant reduction in IPV among women. When considering different types of IPV, study participants were less likely to report physical and psychological IPV victimization. In addition, participants were also less likely to report approving of IPV after participating in community-based IPV interventions. Community-based interventions and research addressing IPV are still evolving in India. Missing descriptions of theoretical frameworks, sampling, intervention design, and inadequately reported effectiveness of intervention (both quantitative and qualitative reporting) need to be addressed. Moreover, long-term evaluations of the pilot interventions are needed to provide a clear picture of the long-term effectiveness, sustainability, and replicability of the community-based IPV interventions. The findings have implications for researchers, practitioners (community health workers, clinicians, and social workers), and policymakers keen on IPV reduction in India and globally.

Bystander Opportunity, Actions, and Inaction in Suspected Intimate Partner Violence: Differences Between Graduate and Undergraduate Students

Limited research examines graduate student experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV) or bystander intervention. In this exploratory study, we compare the extent of opportunity to intervene in suspected IPV, how students tried to help, and barriers to intervention for undergraduate (n= 698) and graduate students (n= 967) at one university using data from stratified random samples of students. Graduate students indicated significantly less opportunity to intervene than undergraduate students (16.2% vs. 35.5%). Among students with the opportunity, however, similar proportions of undergraduate and graduate students tried to help, with most confronting the situation directly. Among those who did not try to help, graduate students commonly endorsed “not knowing what to do,” suggesting an opportunity to enhance prosocial intervention skills among this population through targeted bystander-based training initiatives.

Evidence of Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Black Women Under Community Supervision in New York City: A Plea for Culturally Tailored Intimate Partner Violence Interventions.

Black women involved in the legal system disproportionately experience intimate partner violence (IPV); however, current research does not satisfactorily describe the risk and protective factors associated with IPV among Black women under community supervision. We conducted a subgroup analysis of Black women (N = 128) using data from a randomized controlled trial that evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of two IPV screening and prevention programs for women under community supervision. Participants in the original study were randomized into two IPV prevention conditions-computerized or case manager Women Initiating New Goals of Safety (WINGS). In this study, we examine the effects of that study's two conditions on linkage to IPV services and secondary outcomes, specifically among Black participants who experienced physical, sexual, and psychological IPV. Both conditions showed significant reductions in days of substance use abstinence over the 3-month period among Black women who experienced sexual or verbal IPV. Participants in the case manager arm were 14 times more likely to receive IPV services in the past 90 days-from baseline to the 3-month follow-up (adjusted odds ratio = 14.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25 to 166.51, p = 0.032). Participants in the computerized arm were significantly more likely to report receiving social support from baseline to the 3-month follow-up assessment (regression coefficient [b] = 2.27, 95% CI = 0.43 to 4.11, p = 0.015). Although both conditions showed significant reductions in the number of days of abstinence from substance use among this subgroup of Black women, the findings showed differential effectiveness between the computerized WINGS arm and the case manager WINGS arm in improving social support and linkage to services. These findings may indicate that different modalities of WINGS may work better for specific activities and point to the need for a hybrid format that optimizes the use of distinct modalities for delivering activities.

Intimate partner violence among adolescents: Prevalence rates after one decade of research.

Intimate partner violence research and intervention strategies have grown substantially over the last two decades. However, little research has examined whether the intimate partner prevalence has changed or remained stable over time in Spain. Moreover, few studies have analyzed whether intimate partner violence prevalence rates among genders and age groups have fluctuated similarly or not. The aim of this study was to analyze the trends observed in intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization rates among adolescents in three sample cohorts from Spain interviewed in 2006, 2010, and 2016 (4591 Spanish adolescents; 53.6% girls and 46.2% boys). ANCOVA was used to compare the population means between the cohorts: sex, age, and the type of intimate partner violence, for example, verbal, physical, and sexual. The results showed a significant decrease in intimate partner violence rates from 2006 to 2016, which was more noticeable within the first half of this decade. Throughout the decade, the girls perpetrated more verbal and mild physical assaults, while the boys perpetrated more sexual assaults. However, these results suggest a clear bidirectional intimate partner violence dynamic between the genders. Additionally, late adolescence reported a higher prevalence of aggressions. The results highlight the need to adapt current prevention strategies considering the differences in the intimate partner violence trajectories based on sex and age, with the aim of regaining the marked rate of decline in aggression observed up to 2010.

Perspectives on delivering safe and equitable trauma-focused intimate partner violence interventions via virtual means: A qualitative study during COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has been linked with increased rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) and associated experiences of compounded trauma. The emergence of this global pandemic and the public health measures introduced to limit its transmission necessitated the need for virtually delivered interventions to support continuity of care and access to interventions for individuals affected by IPV throughout the crisis. With the rapid shift to virtual delivery, understanding the barriers to accessing virtually delivering trauma-focused IPV interventions to these individuals was missed. This study aimed to qualitatively describe the challenges experienced by service providers with delivering virtually delivered IPV services that are safe, equitable, and accessible for their diverse clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe study involved semi-structured interviews with 24 service providers within the anti-violence sector in Alberta, Canada working with and serving individuals affected by IPV. The interviews focused on the perspectives and experiences of the providers as an indirect source of information about virtual delivery of IPV interventions for a diverse range of individuals affected by IPV. Interview transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsFindings in our study show the concepts of equity and safety are more complex for individuals affected by IPV, especially those who are socially disadvantaged. Service providers acknowledged pre-existing systemic and institutional barriers faced by underserved individuals impact their access to IPV interventions more generally. The COVID-19 pandemic further compounded these pre-existing challenges and hindered virtual access to IPV interventions. Service providers also highlighted the pandemic exacerbated structural vulnerabilities already experienced by underserved populations, which intensified the barriers they face in seeking help, and reduced their ability to receive safe and equitable interventions virtually.ConclusionThe findings from this qualitative research identified key determining factors for delivering safe, equitable, and accessible virtually delivered intervention for a diverse range of populations. To ensure virtual interventions are safe and equitable it is necessary for service providers to acknowledge and attend to underlying systemic and institutional barriers including discrimination and social exclusion. There is also a need for a collaborative commitment from multiple levels of the social, health, and political systems.

Parental Psychological Control and Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Romantic Relationship Power Dynamics.

In the current study, we utilized a person-centered approach to examine the relations of parental psychological control (PPC) and relationship self-efficacy (RSE) to power dynamics in emerging adults' romantic relationships. College student emerging adults (N = 312) completed measures assessing retrospective PPC, RSE, and perceived self and partner power in current relationships. Latent profile analysis uncovered four relationship types based on reported self- and partner-power: balanced-unified, balanced-interchanging, unbalanced-high self, and unbalanced-high partner. Increases in PPC were related to increased odds of being in an unbalanced relationship. Higher levels of RSE were associated with decreased odds of being in an unbalanced relationship. Further, even individuals in the balanced profile who reported average levels of both self and partner power (balanced-interchanging) reported higher levels of PPC and lower levels of RSE compared to those in the balanced group where levels of both self and partner power were low (balanced-unified). These findings suggest using a person-centered approach to relationship power may advance our conceptualization of power distribution in romantic relationships. Further, experienced family dynamics and one's sense of self may be especially important for young adults' tendency to form healthy relationships. The current findings encourage future investigation into the mechanisms by which parental factors predict both dominance and submissiveness in romantic relationships. Understanding predictors of power dynamics may contribute to intimate partner violence prevention and intervention.

Antenatal depression and the association of intimate partner violence among a culturally diverse population in southeastern Norway: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTIONAntenatal depression and intimate partner violence (IPV) are independently associated with adverse short- and long-term health effects for women and their children. The main aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of antenatal depression and the association between symptoms of antenatal depression and physical, emotional and sexual abuse in a culturally diverse population attending antenatal care.METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted with 1812 culturally diverse pregnant women from Safe Pregnancy, a randomized controlled trial to test the effect of an intimate partner violence intervention for abused women in southeastern Norway.RESULTSMore than one in ten women (14%) reported symptoms of antenatal depression. Women with symptoms of antenatal depression were significantly younger and single, had lower educational level, more limited economic resources and were more likely to use tobacco and to report negative experiences regarding alcohol consumption, including that of her partner, compared to women with no symptoms of depression. A total of 15.4% of the women reported experiences of some form of IPV during their lifetime. Most women reported previous experiences of IPV rather than recent experiences. Women with a history of IPV were significantly more likely to report symptoms of antenatal depression, after adjusting for confounding factors (AOR=1.96; 95% CI: 1.35–2.83).CONCLUSIONSWomen who reported symptoms of antenatal depression were significantly more likely to have experienced physical, emotional and sexual IPV than women with no history of IPV. It is important to identify women at risk of antenatal depression in order to offer appropriate services during pregnancy.