Physical Abuse Perpetration Research Articles

Men’s experience of perpetrating intimate partner violence following disclosure of HIV status by their seropositive female intimate partners: a qualitative study

Background Gender-Based (GB) intimate partner violence is a social and public health issue globally. Several risks of violence related to male sexual partners’ perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) following the disclosure of their female intimate partners’ HIV + status have been reported. No research has been conducted on male sexual partner’s perspectives of perpetrating IPV following their female intimate partners’ disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive status as a risk factor for the perpetration of IPV in Ghana. Objective The objective of this study is to explore and describe male sexual partners’ views or perspectives of perpetrating IPV following their female intimate partners’ disclosure of being HIV positive in Ghana. Methods Interpretive phenomenological approach was used to collect and analyse data from a purposive sample of 18 Male participants whose female intimate relations informed them of being HIV + in Ghana. The sample population was taken from Ghana because such research has been reported elsewhere but none has been done in Ghana. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect the data. The interview guide covered topics such as background information, participants’ reaction to HIV positive disclosure, lived experiences of participants, and Participants’ understanding of different forms of IPV. Results The findings of this study reveal five main themes that emerged from the interviews which include views on the perpetration of emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse; views on the perpetration of sexual deprivation; views on the perpetration of social isolation; views on the perpetration of financial abuse and views on escalated perpetration of physical abuse. Conclusion From the data, HIV positive status disclosure served as a risk factor for different forms of GB IPV against HIV positive women in Ghana, thus making this group more vulnerable and exposed to more GB IPV. Strategies to prevent the perpetration of IPV against women newly diagnosed as HIV positive are needed. We recommend screening all newly diagnosed HIV-positive women for abuse as an additional prevention strategy for IPV associated with disclosure of positive HIV status. KEY MESSAGES HIV positive status disclosure serves as a risk for the perpetration of IPV. Men are predisposed to violence upon hearing that their female heterosexual intimate partners are HIV positive. HIV infection information is distressful to receive from an intimate partner.

Rates and predictors of child maltreatment re-perpetration against new victims and prior victims

BackgroundLimited prior research has examined the rates or predictors of re-perpetration of child maltreatment. Yet, perpetrators may have multiple victims, and perpetrators, rather than their victims, are often the primary focus of child welfare services. ObjectiveWe examine rates of child maltreatment re-perpetration of repeat and new victims, and test perpetrator demographics and maltreatment index incident case characteristics as predictors of re-perpetration. Participants and settingWe use a sample of 285,245 first-time perpetrators of a substantiated maltreatment incident in 2010 from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. MethodsWe use linear probability models with full information maximum likelihood to test new victim and same victim perpetration by the end of FY 2018. ResultsFifteen percent of perpetrators re-maltreated one or more of their original victims (“same victim re-perpetration”); 12% maltreated a new victim. Overall, re-perpetration was more common among younger, female, and White perpetrators. Perpetrators who were the biological or adoptive parent of their initial victim(s) had higher rates of same victim re-perpetration; new victim re-perpetration was more common among perpetrators who initially victimized an adoptive or stepchild. Same victim re-perpetration was less common among perpetrators of physical abuse than other types of maltreatment, and new victim re-perpetration was more common among perpetrators of sexual abuse and neglect than physical abuse. ConclusionsChild welfare agencies should track re-perpetration in addition to revictimization as part of agency evaluations and risk assessments.

Sexual and physical abuse and identity of the perpetrator: Associations with binge eating and overeating in Project EAT 2018

BackgroundSexual and physical abuse are risk factors for binge eating and overeating, but few studies have examined association of the identity of the perpetrator with survivors' risk of binge eating and overeating. PurposeTo examine the risk of binge eating and overeating by (1) type of abuse and identity of the perpetrators and (2) cumulative abuse experiences/perpetrators. MethodsData came from Eating and Activity over Time (N = 1407; ages 18–30 during 2017–2018). Sexual abuse perpetrators included family members, non-family members, and intimate partners. Physical abuse perpetrators included family members and intimate partners. Cumulative abuse experiences were defined as the number of types of abuse experienced. Modified Poisson regressions were used to examine the risk of binge eating (overeating with loss of control) and overeating (without loss of control), by (1) abuse type and perpetrator and (2) cumulative abuse experiences. ResultsAbuse was more strongly associated with binge eating than overeating. For binge eating, risk factors included familial and intimate partner sexual abuse (RR = 1.48 [95% CI = 1.01–2.17] and 2.41, [95% CI = 1.70–3.41], respectively) and physical abuse (RR = 1.84, [95% CI = 1.33–2.53] and 1.95, [95% CI = 1.35–2.81], respectively), after adjustment for sociodemographic variables. For overeating, associations with physical abuse were close to the null, and those with sexual abuse were modest, with wide CIs that overlapped the null. Abuse experiences were cumulatively associated with binge eating, but not overeating. ConclusionAssessment of identity of the perpetrator, and cumulative abuse experiences/perpetrators may assist in identifying people at the greatest risk of binge eating.

Prevalence of domestic violence and abuse among Saudi women: an online based cross-sectional study

Background: Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) has a major impact on women's lives, their psychological, physical, and reproductive health and mostly occurring behind closed doors. The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of DVA among Saudi women, to determine factors related to each type of abuse, identify sources of abuse, and level of disclosure.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey using social networking platforms. Four hundred and twenty-one women completed the validated Arabic version of the NorVold domestic abuse questionnaire.Results: The lifetime prevalence of DVA was 69.9%. The most prevalent type of violence was emotional abuse, followed by physical abuse (47%), and subsequently sexual abuse (35%). Among the abused women, 25.6% (n=75) had experienced all types of abuse. Fathers, mothers, and brothers were the main perpetrators of emotional violence, while brothers, mothers, and fathers were the main perpetrators of physical abuse; relatives (not from the family) and brothers were the main perpetrators of sexual violence. Approximately 26% of the emotionally abused try to seek help, 78.7% did not disclose the abuse to their doctors, and 16.5% of the physically abused try to seek help; however, 82.2% were unable to inform their doctors after abuse, only 8.7% of sexually abused women try to get help after abuse, and 90% cannot inform their doctors.Conclusions: DVA against Saudi women is unacknowledged, and national research data are urgently required to assess the prevalence of DVA and risk factors for abused women.

Gender Disparity in Pennsylvania Child Abuse and Neglect Sentencing Outcomes

Sentencing studies consistently show that male offenders receive more severe sentences than females. However, theory-based explanations for gender disparities in sentencing, which posit lenience is partially based on caregiver status, may be less relevant for crimes against children. This study leverages Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission data to assess sentence type and length among adults convicted of child neglect or physical abuse between 2006 and 2016. Employing bivariate and multivariate statistics, we found that, although female perpetrators make up the majority of child neglect and physical abuse perpetrators in the Child Protective Services system, they are a minority of those convicted. If convicted, women received less harsh sentences than men, consistent with the disparate gender patterns found in general criminal sentencing research.

Empathy Mediates the Relations between Working Memory and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence and Aggression.

Deficits in executive functioning have been associated with aggressive and violent behavior toward intimate partners. However, it is unclear what specific mechanisms are being affected by cognitive deficits that increase an individual’s tendency to become aggressive. The current study examined empathy as a mediating factor between deficits in working memory and perpetration of intimate partner aggression and violence. Men in heterosexual relationships (N = 49) were administered a measure of visual-spatial working memory, and questionnaire measures of head injury and empathy. During a second session, men participated in a conflict discussion with their female partner that was coded for aggressive behavior. Female partners also reported on men’s physical and psychological abuse. Working memory was positively related to cognitive and affective empathy, and negatively related to men’s physical abuse perpetration and observed aggression during the conflict discussion. The effects of working memory on observed aggression during the conflict were fully mediated by cognitive and affective empathy. Additionally, the effects of working memory on reported physical IPV frequency were fully mediated by affective empathy. Deficits in working memory may decrease men’s ability to use empathetic processes, resulting in increased aggression and violence toward their intimate partners. Clinically, incorporating empathy training in battering intervention programs may be helpful, especially among men with deficits in cognitive functioning.

Relationship Dynamics and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence Among Female Chinese College Students.

In China, most intimate partner violence (IPV) research focuses on male perpetration and female victimization, whereas studies on dating violence and female IPV perpetration are less common. Although research on female IPV perpetration in China has surfaced recently, there have been limited studies examining factors related to female perpetration in dating relationships in China. In the current research, we sought to examine how relationship factors, including anger management, communication problems, relationship conflict, and relationship distress, are linked with female physical and psychological IPV perpetration. We included 857 female college students in three regions in China from the International Dating Violence database. We found that Chinese women's anger management skills and communication problems were both significantly associated with physical and psychological IPV perpetration on both minor and severe levels. Furthermore, we found that relationship conflict was significantly associated with minor and severe physical abuse perpetration and severe psychological abuse perpetration. Anger management skills moderated the negative effects of relationship conflict on minor physical IPV perpetration as well as minor and severe psychological IPV perpetration. Anger management skills also moderated the negative effects of relationship distress on minor and severe physical IPV perpetration among Chinese women. Our findings suggest that it may be important to explore the role of college women's anger management skills, communication problems, and conflict resolution skills in their dating relationships, as well as to develop female-based intervention programs to increase Chinese college women's relationship skills to reduce their levels of IPV perpetration.

Workplace Abuse: A Survey of Radiographers in Public Hospitals in Tshwane, South Africa

The scope of practice of a radiographer involves interactions with patients and hospital personnel before and after medical imaging services. It has been observed that radiographers experienced loss of enthusiasm and involvement toward their work leading to absenteeism, poor morale, and stress. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of work-related abuse against radiographers in public hospitals in Tshwane, South Africa (SA). A quantitative method, nonexperimental cross-sectional design, was used, and data collection tools were questionnaires that were hand-delivered to the participants. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results are presented in figures. In a population of 65 radiographers, only 57% (n = 37) participated in the study. Results are for participants who were involved in one or more form of abuse. Three forms of abuse were investigated, verbal abuse at 73%, emotional abuse at 46%, and physical abuse at 27%. The perpetrators of physical abuse (14%) were hospital patients, whereas coworkers were the main perpetrators of verbal abuse (12%) and emotional abuse (10%) was perpetrated by coworkers. In conclusion, workplace abuse of a radiographer is prevalent, in the x-ray departments of tertiary public hospitals in Tshwane, SA. Verbal abuse was ranked the highest form of abuse, followed after by emotional and physical abuse. Perpetrators of physical abuse were hospital patients, while coworkers were the main perpetrators of verbal and emotional abuse. The study will benefit the health care institutions and the general profession of radiography; it provided empirical evidence on the prevalence of abusive incidences and the perpetrators thereof. Findings were presented to raise awareness of work place abuse of radiographers and may be used to formulate protocols regarding management of such problems.

The genetic and environmental etiology of child maltreatment in a parent-based extended family design.

Child maltreatment has been associated with various cumulative risk factors. However, little is known about the extent to which genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual differences between parents in perpetrating child maltreatment. To estimate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to perpetrating maltreatment we used a parent-based extended family design. Child-reported perpetrated maltreatment was available for 556 parents (283 women) from 63 families. To explore reporter effects (i.e., child perspective on maltreatment), child reports were compared to multi-informant reports. Based on polygenic model analyses, most of the variance related to the perpetration of physical abuse and emotional neglect was explained by common environmental factors (physical abuse: c2 = 59%, SE = 12%, p = .006; emotional neglect: c2 = 47%, SE = 8%, p < .001) whereas genetic factors did not significantly contribute to the model. For perpetrated emotional abuse, in contrast, genetic factors did significantly contribute to perpetrated emotional abuse (h2 = 33%, SE = 8%, p < .001), whereas common environment factors did not. Multi-informant reports led to similar estimates of genetic and common environmental effects on all measures except for emotional abuse, where a multi-informant approach yielded higher estimates of the common environmental effects. Overall, estimates of unique environment, including measurement error, were lower using multi-informant reports. In conclusion, our findings suggest that genetic pathways play a significant role in perpetrating emotional abuse, while physical abuse and emotional neglect are transmitted primarily through common environmental factors. These findings imply that interventions may need to target different mechanisms dependings on maltreatment type.

Intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect: Effects of maltreatment type and depressive symptoms

Parental history of childhood maltreatment victimization is a widely studied risk factor for child maltreatment perpetration, a process referred to as the intergenerational transmission of child maltreatment (ITCM). Using a sample of mothers receiving welfare in Illinois, we examined how maternal history of physical abuse and neglect was associated with perpetration of physical abuse and neglect against mothers' own children. In addition, we investigated whether the mediating effects of depressive symptoms on ITCM differ by subtype of maltreatment using PROCESS Macro analyses as developed by Hayes (2017).We found that maternal physical abuse history increased the risk of offspring physical abuse and neglect; maternal neglect history was associated with offspring neglect only. In addition, we found that mothers' depressive symptoms mediated the associations of neglect and physical abuse victimization with perpetration of physical abuse; depressive symptoms did not explain any aspect of neglect perpetration.

Experiences of violence and abuse among internally displaced adolescent girls following a natural disaster.

To describe the physical, psychological and sexual violence among internally displaced adolescent girls following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and related risk factors, health concerns and cultural norms. Thousands of adolescents were displaced following the earthquake, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and violence. Displaced survivors are disproportionately vulnerable to violence after natural and man-made disasters. A descriptive-correlational design was used to: (1) describe the extent of violence, health risks and concerns in the displaced adolescent girls; and (2) identify correlations in the strength and magnitude of relationships between selected variables including demographics, risk factors and cultural tolerance of violence. Data were collected from participants using computer-assisted self-interviews between 2011-2013 including demographics, pre- and post-earthquake violence, perpetrators, risk factors and health consequences. Analysis included frequency, logistic regression and multiple regression. A majority reported physical, psychological, or sexual abuse both pre- (59%) and post- (64.1%) earthquake. Pre-earthquake, abused adolescents reported the perpetrator as a boyfriend (50%) or family member (30%). Post-earthquake, 20.5% of physical abuse perpetrators were family members. Pre- and post-earthquake physical and sexual abuse did not change. The risk of being sexually abused post-earthquake increased after controlling for age and education. Displaced adolescent girls reported similar rates of physical and sexual abuse pre- and post-earthquake. These findings show the importance of preventive policies for adolescent girls in disaster situations in countries with low resources. Social and cultural change is critically needed since abuse was at an unacceptably high rate prior to the earthquake.

Parent gender and child removal in physical abuse and neglect cases

Criminal justice research frequently investigates relationships between punishment decisions and demographic characteristics of the accused, such as gender, race, and age. While there are many similarities between criminal justice and child welfare cases, research on child maltreatment has yet to examine potential demographic influences on case outcomes. The current study examines relationships between parent gender, type of maltreatment, and child removal among agency responses to child maltreatment cases. Using data collected by the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), we identify differences in the likelihood of child removal from the parental home across type of maltreatment and perpetrator gender. Our results indicate that mother perpetrators of physical abuse not only face significantly higher likelihood of removal than mother perpetrators of neglect, but are more at risk for losing their children than father perpetrators of both physical abuse and neglect. Findings suggest that gendered attributions and stereotypes regarding parenting can shape assessments of parents' blameworthiness, dangerousness, and rehabilitative potential. We propose that future research on child maltreatment cases adapt and apply justice concepts and frameworks to uncover potential unwarranted demographic disparities in agency decision-making.

A Longitudinal Examination of Mothers' Depression and PTSD Symptoms as Impacted by Partner-Abusive Men's Harm to Their Children.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious and widespread form of gender-based violence that disproportionately affects women. It is well established that IPV victimization contributes to depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and that many partner-abusive men continue to perpetuate abuse even after their relationship with the victim ends. In addition, when men harm their partners, they are more likely to harm their children, and evidence suggests that this harm continues post-separation. However, scant research has been conducted on men's harm to their children as an extension of IPV perpetration, with even less known about the mental health impact this form of abuse has on mothers. For this longitudinal cohort study, 40 partner-abused mothers who had separated, or were planning to separate, from an abusive partner with whom they shared children were recruited. Women were interviewed 4 times over 1 year. Results confirmed that, in addition to men's physical abuse perpetration relating to subsequent increases in mothers' depression and PTSD symptoms over time, their harm to the children predicted both mothers' depression and PTSD symptoms as well.

Cudzoziemcy jako sprawcy znęcania się i zgwałcenia w kontekście przemocy „honorowej”

Cudzoziemcy jako sprawcy znęcania się i zgwałcenia w kontekście przemocy „honorowej”

Gender and Batterer Intervention

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of gender and other variables commonly associated with intimate partner abuse perpetration on program completion and pretreatment abusiveness profiles among a sample of men and women ordered into a 52-week batterer intervention program (BIP). Method: The study employed a posttest only design with nonequivalent groups (comparing program completers to dropouts and men to women) in an analysis of 175 clients mandated into a BIP. Results: Analysis indicated that there were no significant differences between men and women in terms of program completion and that women were significantly more likely than men to report engaging in severe physical abuse perpetration, and a logistic regression analysis indicated that dropouts were 6 times more likely to have initiated physical abuse compared to completers. Conclusion: These findings reveal characteristics of BIP program participants as they relate to self-reported abusiveness and provide preliminary evidence suggesting that both BIP pretreatment profiles and treatment completion rates of men and women are similar, with implications for policy and treatment.

Psychological and physical dating violence perpetrated by pregnant and parenting Latina adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of psychological and physical dating violence perpetratedby 126 pregnant and parenting Latina adolescents. We found 85.7% had perpetrated at least one act of psychological abuse and 47.6% had perpetrated at least one act of physical abuse against the father of their child in the past 3 months. When examining predictors of psychological dating violence, we found that Latina adolescents who engaged in less positive communication patterns with their parents as well as those who were both the victim and perpetrator of physical abuse within their dating relationships were more likely to perpetrate psychological abuse. When examining predictors of physical dating violence, we found that Latina adolescents who perpetrated psychological abuse against the father of their child were also more likely to perpetrate physical abuse.

Childhood history of abuse and child abuse potential: The role of parent's gender and timing of childhood abuse

It has been suggested that being physically abused leads to someone becoming a perpetrator of abuse which could be associated to parents’ gender, timing of the physical abuse and specific socio-demographic variables. This study aims to investigate the role the parents’ gender, timing of childhood abuse and socio-demographic variables on the relationship between parents’ history of childhood physical abuse and current risk for children. The sample consisted of 920 parents (414 fathers, 506 mothers) from the Portuguese National Representative Study of Psychosocial Context of Child Abuse and Neglect who completed the Childhood History Questionnaire and the Child Abuse Potential Inventory. The results showed that fathers had lower current potential risk of becoming physical abuse perpetrators with their children than mothers although they did not differed in their physical victimization history. Moreover, the risk was higher in parents (both genders) with continuous history of victimization than in parents without victimization. Prediction models showed that for fathers and mothers separately similar socio-demographic variables (family income, number of children at home, employment status and marital status) predicted the potential risk of becoming physical abuses perpetrators. Nevertheless, the timing of victimization was different for fathers (before 13 years old) and mothers (after 13 years old). Then our study targets specific variables (timing of physical abuse, parents’ gender and specific socio-demographic variables), which may enable professionals to select groups of parents at greater need of participating in abuse prevention programs.

Partner Abuse Worldwide

Research on partner abuse has lagged in much of the world where attention has been on other problems (such as famine and war) and other crimes against women (e.g., honor killings, genital mutilation). We conducted a sweeping review of scholarly articles published in peer-reviewed journals and by government agencies outside of the United States and English-speaking developed nations that provided quantitative data on physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of intimate partners as well as consequences, risk factors, and attitudes. One hundred sixty-two articles reporting on more than 200 studies in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Europe met the inclusion criteria from various types of samples. Most of the studies reported on female victimization only, but 73 reported on both male and female victimization.We also conducted an analysis of data from our literature review, including 1 major cross-national study, to determine the relationship among prevalence of abuse, social factors, and women’s empowerment. Results indicate that partner abuse is a widespread problem around the world, with multiple causes. Overall prevalence of abuse is higher in Third World countries compared to the United States, and rates for physical and psychological abuse are comparable across gender in most countries when all types of samples are considered. No significant association was found between rates of partner violence (PV) and a nation’s level of human development. However, a significant relationship was found between a nation’s level of gender empowerment and rates of PV by both males and females but only for university dating samples from the International Dating Violence Study (IDVS). In addition, an analysis of the IDVS indicates that efforts by 1 partner to dominate the other are positively correlated with physical abuse perpetration for women, but not for men. Among the limitations of this review was the relatively few numbers of large population studies that ask about both male and female perpetration and victimization and the consequences and context of PV. Implications of the findings include the need for a broader conceptualization of PV as not merely a gender problem but also (and perhaps primarily) a human problem.

Men’s Reactions to Participating in Interpersonal Violence Research

This study assessed college men's reactions immediately following and 2 months after completing self-report measures of interpersonal violence. Results showed that 4.3% of men experienced immediate negative emotional reactions. Greater immediate negative reactions were related to personal benefits to research participation, anticipation of future distress, experiences of childhood physical abuse and psychological abuse/neglect, and physical abuse perpetration either in adolescence or adulthood. Attrition from the study over the 2-month follow-up was predicted by fewer perceived personal benefits to study participation but not by negative emotional reactions. None of the participants who returned for the 2-month follow-up reported experiencing negative emotional reactions to research participation over the interim.

Alcohol Use, Drinking Venue Utilization, and Child Physical Abuse: Results from a Pilot Study

A positive relationship between parents’ drinking and child physical abuse has been established by previous research. This paper examines how a parent’s use of drinking locations is related to physical abuse. A convenience sample of 103 parents answered questions on physical abuse with the Conflict Tactics Scale-Parent Child version (CTS-PC), current drinking behavior, and the frequency with which they drank at different venues, including bars and parties. Ordered probit models were used to assess relationships between parent demographics, drinking patterns, places of drinking, and CTS-PC scores. Frequent drinking, frequently going to bars, frequently going to parties in a parent’s own home, and frequently going to parties in friends’ homes were positively related to child physical abuse. The number of drinking locations was positively related to child physical abuse such that parents who report attending and drinking at more of these venues were more likely to be perpetrators of physical abuse. This suggests that time spent in these venues provides opportunities to mix with individuals that may share the same attitudes and norms towards acting violently.