Abusive Relationships Research Articles

On The Connection between Using Internet Usage and the Development of Negative Behavior among Malaysian Youth

The Internet impacts students' lives and career paths. Excessive use may correlate with tobacco and alcohol consumption despite its benefits. The present study aimed to identify the relationship between gratification of Internet usage, problems in Internet usage, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse among Malaysian youth. The quantitative method was applied by using a survey questionnaire. A total of 440 students from the University Putra Malaysia (32.3% males, 67.7% females) were selected using a stratified random sampling method. The majority of the respondents (93.2%) were single. The students ranged from 23 to 40, with the majority of the younger group (78.3%) in the age range of 18-23. No link was found between Internet use gratification and alcohol/drug usage. No correlation was found between the Internet, alcohol, and drug problems. The association between age and alcohol usage was not significant. However, this relationship for drug abuse was substantial and positive. No significant differences were found in the mean values for the respondents' fields of study and alcohol or drug usage. The findings of the independent t-test illustrated that there were significant differences between marital status and alcohol consumption. Still, there were no significant mean differences between marital status and drug usage.

“There Is No Winning”

Abstract A range of health effects are associated with debt burdens from ubiquitous access to expensive credit. These health effects are concerning, especially for women who owe multiple types of higher-cost debt simultaneously and experience significantly higher stress associated with their debt burdens when compared to men. While debt burdens have been shown to contribute to poor mental and physical health, the potential gendered and racialized effects are poorly understood. We conducted interviews between January and April 2021 with twenty-nine racially marginalized women who reported owing debt, and used theoretical concepts of predatory inclusion and intersectionality to understand their experiences. Women held many types of debt, most commonly from student loans, medical bills, and credit cards. Women described debt as a violent, abusive, and inescapable relationship that exacted consequential tolls on their health. Despite these, women found ways to resist the violence of debt, to care for themselves and others, and to experience joy in their daily lives.

Переживание личностью опыта домашнего (партнерского) насилия

<p><strong>Relevance.</strong> Domestic violence is becoming an increasingly relevant problem in our time. Despite the removal of taboo, this problem still remains understudied, especially in the context of phenomenology. The study considers different approaches to the problem of abusive relationships, types of violence, as well as constructs such as experience (F.E. Vasilyuk) and relationships (V.N. Myasishchev). <strong>Purpose of the study.</strong> This article presents the materials of the study, which aims to describe the peculiarities of a personality's experience of domestic violence. The study involved 108 people, among whom there were 79 women and 29 men (the average age of respondents was 30 years). <strong>Methods.</strong> Results were based on an online questionnaire and the Measurement of Maladaptive Guilt Questionnaire, as well as an in–depth phenomenological interview with female survivors of domestic violence. Data were processed using frequency, comparative (U–Mann–Whitney test) and correlation analysis, and factor analysis (principal component method). <strong>Results.</strong> It was found that the reliving of this experience in the respondents is presented on 3 levels of attitudes, and consequences such as loss of self and increased existential guilt were noted. <strong>Conclusions.</strong> The findings of the study indicate the potential for the application of phenomenology in psychotherapy with survivors of domestic violence.</p>

Social Workers’ Perceptions of the Effect of Interpersonal Factors on Older Adults’ Decision to Remain in Abusive Relationships

Abstract Older adults who are abused by their offspring often find it difficult to cooperate with professionals to end the abuse. In these situations, social workers face an ethical dilemma between respecting the older adult’s right to autonomy and intervening in a paternalistic way to prevent harm. This qualitative study aimed to examine the effect of interpersonal factors on the decision-making ability of older adults who do not experience significant cognitive and mental decline and choose to remain in abusive relationships. Twenty-one social workers specialising in the field of aging participated in a semi-structured interview based on a vignette. The analysis was encoded inductively, informed by the principles of content analysis. Two themes emerged: (i) Older adults’ feelings towards their abusive adult children, including love and concern, shame and guilt and relationships with symbiotic characteristics; (ii) Older adults’ motivation to stay in the abusive relationships, based either on utilitarian motivation or on their fear of the abuser. The study’s findings can serve as a foundation for the development of a tool for evaluating the influence of abusive relationships on older adults’ decision-making ability, which considers not only their personal characteristics but also their interactions and relationships with their surroundings.

Violent and Abusive Behaviour in Nineteenth-Century Marriage in Bohemia

The study focuses on the conflictual, abusive relationships between spouses in the second half of the long nineteenth century in Bohemia. We will trace the ways in which constructions of masculinity and femininity in the past have influenced the possibilities for perpetrating violence and how offenders have defended their behaviour. The children were also part of the conflicts and sometimes displayed problematic behaviour. In addition to the judicial apparatus, marital disputes also involved town parish priests, and families, possible witnesses in cases of marital divorce. We will also focus on using gender-related swear words during the conflicts.

Does Multidimensional Self-Concept Mediate the Relationship of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Bullying Victimization on Deliberate Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescent Girls?

Does Multidimensional Self-Concept Mediate the Relationship of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Bullying Victimization on Deliberate Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescent Girls?

Fear of Crime, Perceived Risk, and Confidence About Dangerous Situations Among University Women in the United States and Poland

The purpose of the study was to compare United States and Polish university women in regard to demographics, victimization experiences, sensation seeking, fear of dangerous situations, perceived likelihood of victimization, and confidence about managing dangerous situations. A total of 520 women completed the online instruments, which consisted of Perceptions of Dangerous Situations Scale (PDSS), Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale (BSSS), and a demographic questionnaire. Overall, in regard to Fear, Likelihood, and Confidence about dangerous situations, Polish women scored significantly higher in Fear and Likelihood than U. S. women. Differences in Confidence between the two groups were not statistically significant. The two groups differed in the frequency of victimizations in terms of violent crimes, rape, and abusive relationships. The groups also differed in Likelihood scores depending on prior victimization. U. S. women made less of a distinction than Polish women between their emotional (Fear) and their cognitive (Likelihood) appraisals of dangerous situations. Neither group of women scored higher in Fear if they had been previously victimized. The researchers found differences between Polish and U.S. university women in Fear and Likelihood scores, some of which may be related to cultural differences. Sensation seeking did not differ between the two groups. Regardless of country membership, women did not acknowledge rape by a known person to be as likely as rape by a stranger, nor did they acknowledge the greater likelihood of being beaten up by a known person than by a stranger. It is clear that more education is still needed.

‘We don’t get money in our own hands’: evidence from focus group discussions on economic abuse against women in two states of India

IntroductionViolence against women is a serious human rights violation. While much attention has been given to the prevalence and prevention of physical, sexual and emotional violence, one crucial dimension is...

Contextualizing Cisgender Women's Histories of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization With Men and Women.

Sexual minoritized women (SMW) are more likely than exclusively heterosexual women to experience intimate partner violence (IPV). We conducted in-depth interviews with a clinic-based sample of plurisexual SMW (n = 25) ages 18 to 34 about the gender of their perpetrators. Participants primarily experienced physical and sexual IPV in relationships with men and emotional abuse in relationships with women. IPV perpetrated by men often included weapons with women fearing for their lives. Offering patients information about IPV resources and supports that do not make assumptions about women's sexualities may create more opportunity for empathic and effective communication with SMW experiencing IPV.

Prevalence and Correlates of Economic Abuse Among Married Women in a Nigerian Population.

Economic abuse (EA) is a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) whereby abusers employ various tactics to control their partners' ability to acquire, access, and maintain economic resources thus threatening their economic security and potential for self-sufficiency. It poses a global public health challenge as economic concern is a significant reason for the observed persistent high prevalence of IPV given that even when women want to leave abusive relationships, they are less likely to if they lack the means to cater for themselves and their children upon doing so. However, very few studies in Nigeria have focused on EA. The current study assessed the prevalence and correlates of EA among a Nigerian population of married women. Survey responses of 480 randomly selected married women were used for analysis. The prevalence of EA among respondents was found to be 64.2% while that for emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical abuse were 40.2%, 17.3%, and 16.7%, respectively. EA was also found to be significantly associated with other forms of IPV such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. The study findings add to the literature by highlighting the high prevalence of EA among Nigerian women. It also underscores the importance of empowering women to minimize victimization. Study limitations are discussed and directions for future research are presented.

Coercion, Control and Criminal Responsibility: Exploring Professional Responses to Offending and Suicidality in the Context of Domestically Abusive Relationships

Significant strides have been made in the law's recognition of harms arising from domestic abuse. In England and Wales, the Serious Crimes Act 2015, and in Scotland, the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, have supported a more holistic understanding of the dynamics of abuse and the means by which coercion and control are deployed to cement and supplant perpetrators’ violence. In this article, we explore what the introduction of these offences means in other situations where questions regarding the impact of abuse upon victims’ agency arise: specifically, where victims commit an offence that might have been compelled by abusive behaviour or take their own lives in contexts that might indicate perpetrators’ liability for suicide. In particular, drawing on interviews with professionals across both jurisdictions, we highlight the precarity of recognition of the effects of coercive control and the need to engage in more complicated discussions about when and why context matters.

Mistreatment behaviours in the Athlete-coach relationship

This qualitative study aimed to describe the nature of mistreatment behaviours in the Athlete-coach relationship, in the region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal. For our study, we interviewed 12 athletes of federated sports. We focused on young athletes, aged 13-18 years old, who practiced a collective, combat, or individual sports discipline. The data was then studied through content analysis. In the case of athletes as victims, there were no mistreatment behaviours in the Athlete-coach relationship. However, as observers, the athletes have reported forms of abuse in the Athlete-coach relationship, such as verbal emotional abuse and denial of attention and support. As preventative measures for mistreatment behaviours, the athletes mentioned supervision and even the dismissal of the coach. Respondents stress the need to deepen the topic for the strategies to be effective. They emphasize the need to sensitize clubs for the protection of athletes, through investigations in the area under study, for fighting and preventing mistreatment behaviour in sports practice. Keywords: Emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglecting, federated sports.

Barriers Faced by Australian and New Zealand Women When Sharing Experiences of Family Violence with Primary Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review.

Despite the Australian Government's attempts to reduce domestic violence (DV) incidences, impediments within the social and health systems and current interventions designed to identify DV victims may be contributing to female victims' reluctance to disclose DV experiences to their primary healthcare providers. This scoping review aimed to provide the state of evidence regarding reluctance to disclose DV incidents, symptoms and comorbidities that patients present to healthcare providers, current detection systems and interventions in clinical settings, and recommendations to generate more effective responses to DV. Findings revealed that female victims are reluctant to disclose DV because they do not trust or believe that general practitioners can help them to solve their issues, and they do not acknowledge that they are in an abusive relationship, and are unaware that they are in one, or have been victims of DV. The most common symptoms and comorbidities victims present with are sleep difficulties, substance use and anxiety. Not all GPs are equipped with knowledge about comorbidities signalling cases of DV. These DV screening programs are the most prominent intervention types within Australian primary health services and are currently not sufficiently nuanced nor sensitive to screen with accuracy. Finally, this scoping review provides formative evidence that in order for more accurate and reliable data regarding disclosure in healthcare settings to be collected, gender power imbalances in the health workforce should be redressed, and advocacy of gender equality and the change of social structures in both Australia and New Zealand remain the focus for reducing DV in these countries.

Single Case Study: Malaysian Male Chinese Young Adult’s Decision to Leave Abusive Romantic Relationship

With an emerging phenomenon of emotional abuse among Malaysian male young adults in romantic relationship, this single case study aims to explore the experiences and decision-making processes of Malaysian Chinese male young adult who decided to terminate an emotional abusive relationship. Case study method allows the full coverage and in-depth investigation towards this current phenomenon. This study utilizes three data collection methods, they are semi-structured interview with follow-up interview, psychometric tests, and social media texts analysis. The theoretical framework of this study includes FOG – Fear, Obligation, Guilt, Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, and Choice Theory Reality Therapy. Seven themes emerged to capture the experiences during and after the abusive romantic relationship, which are ‘interactive abuse’, ‘over thinking’, ‘emotional distress – guilty, helplessness, and fear’, ‘progressive abuse’, ‘positive and negative self-condition’, ‘internal conflict’, and ‘prioritization of self-value’. Three themes are pointed out to explain the decision-making process of Malaysian male young adult, which are ‘self-centred decision’, ‘fear of losing’, and ‘prioritization of mental health’. The implications of findings, limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.

A New Era of Fetishism: Winterson’s Dys/Utopian Sexbots

The issues concerning the female body and sexuality have long been a priority for feminist scholars and critics. In the last three decades, this field of study has been greatly influenced by current technological implementations, especially regarding the creation and modification of bodies. Although these modifications seem promising from the perspectives of tech-optimists, feminists object to bodily modifications by underlining the fact that technology is designed and developed following the desires of heterosexual masculinity, thereby preserving the dehumanization of women and reinforcing the objectification of their bodies. The growing sextech industry and the recent trend of all-equipped sexbots serving in sexbots brothels demonstrate the adverse consequences of the d/evolution of heteronormative technology. Thus, considering the above discussions within the light of Jeannette Winterson’s Frankissstein: A Love Story (2019) and basing the argument on cyberfeminist critiques of Donna Haraway, in this study, I have aimed to reveal the fact that the use of sexbots will re-establish a new type of fetishism and rape fantasy by normalizing the sexual abuse in a master-slave relationship, rather than creating post-gender worlds.

Economic Abuse and Help-Seeking Intentions Among Adolescents.

Economic adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) includes coercive behaviors leading to interference with education, employment, and finances. To date, no study has examined help seeking among adolescents and young adults if they were to experience economic ARA. The goals of this article include examining: (a) help-seeking intentions of adolescents regarding economic ARA; (b) help-seeking sources and reasons for not seeking help; and (c) differences in help-seeking intentions based on age, race/ethnicity, gender identity, and experiences of economic ARA. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adolescents ages 13-19 focused on economic ARA experiences and help seeking. We performed descriptive statistics of help-seeking intentions, sources, and barriers. We utilized logistic regression, adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, and gender identity, to explore associations between economic ARA victimization and help-seeking intentions. Of 2,852 participants, 56% said they would seek help for economic ARA. Adolescents with positive help-seeking intentions shared that they would seek help from their parents (43%) or friends (35%). Those less likely to seek help were concerned about others finding out (32%), not being believed (31%), or authority figures being notified (31%). Help-seeking intentions were lower among Black/African American adolescents (aOR = 0.55, CI [0.43, 0.70]) and Multiracial adolescents (aOR = 0.26, CI [0.16, 0.42]) compared to White adolescents. Help-seeking intentions were higher among gender diverse adolescents (aOR = 5.78, CI [2.98, 11.22]) and those ages 15-17 years (aOR = 1.84, CI [1.36, 2.47]) compared to those identifying as female and ages 18-19 years. Help-seeking intentions were lower among adolescents who experienced economic ARA (aOR = 0.61, CI [0.51, 0.72]). While the majority of adolescents reported that they would seek help if they experienced economic ARA, those who had experienced economic ARA were less likely to report intentions to seek help. Supportive interventions for adolescents experiencing economic ARA are needed.

Risk factors for traumatic bonding and associations with PTSD symptoms: A moderated mediation

BackgroundTraumatic bonding, defined as attachment to a perpetrator of intimate partner violence (IPV), offers one explanation as to why many people with abusive romantic partners do not break off these relationships. But what individual-level risk factors make some victims of IPV more likely than others to develop traumatic bonding toward their partners? What is the nature of the potential association between traumatic bonding and PTSD symptoms? ParticipantsA path model tested the potential roles of childhood maltreatment and attachment insecurity as risk factors for traumatic bonding, as well as the potential association between traumatic bonding and PTSD symptoms, in a high-risk sample of 354 participants in current abusive relationships. ResultsAs hypothesized, childhood maltreatment and attachment insecurity significantly predicted traumatic bonding over and above the effects of age, gender, and romantic love. In addition, attachment insecurity moderated the association between childhood maltreatment and traumatic bonding, such that at higher levels of attachment insecurity, the association between childhood maltreatment and traumatic bonding was stronger than at mean or lower levels of attachment insecurity. Traumatic bonding was positively associated with PTSD symptoms. ConclusionsOverall, the results support the role of childhood maltreatment as a risk factor for both traumatic bonding and PTSD symptoms and highlight the importance of attachment insecurity in these associations. This was the first study to examine a complex model of risk factors for traumatic bonding. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Pengalaman Komunikasi Perempuan Korban Kekerasan dalam Pacaran

Dating violence is a phenomenon that is rife in society. Basically, or dating violence is a problem that continues to get an increase in every case, especially in women's gender-based violence. This study aims to determine the motives of women to endure dating violence, patterns and forms of violent behavior experienced by women while involved in dating relationships, and the meaning of actions and also violent relationships based on the experiences of each informant. This study uses a qualitative phenomenological approach with symbolic interaction theory, phenomenological theory, and social construction theory. The research results were obtained through structured and semi-structured in-depth interviews with five female informants who experienced this phenomenon. The results of the study show that women's motives for surviving violence in their relationship can be seen from two different motives, namely past motives due to affection and an imbalance of positions in relationships that make women powerless. On the other hand, the past motive that underlies women to survive is because they feel their partners are very good outside of the violence. Meanwhile, when viewed from the future motive, it is because the woman still believes that her partner can change for the better for herself and also for the relationship. Regarding the experience of communication in the form of violence experienced by the informants, there was verbal and physical violence. Patterns of violence can occur because of various conflicts, such as the woman's feeling that she has violated the rules of her partner, feelings of jealousy, her partner's prejudice, and her partner's stubbornness about what he thinks is right, which makes the partner emotional and ends up committing violence. Of course regret and false promises are mentioned by the partner which makes the woman accept and forgive her behavior again. Meanwhile, from the length of their relationship, the women interpret or view the phenomenon of dating violence as an act that is wrong. So they interpret the relationship as not to be fought for and feel that an abusive relationship can cause trauma. On the other hand, there are also other opinions that being involved in a violent relationship gives insight on how to deal with someone with unstable emotions, so that it can be used as a learning relationship in the future.

Perpetrator Perceptions on the Emotions and Motivations Driving Technology-Facilitated Abuse in Relationships: A Story Completion Study.

Technology-facilitated abuse in relationships (TAR) is a widespread social problem that has a significant impact on victim-survivors. Most contemporary evidence on TAR focuses on victim-survivor and practitioner perspectives rather than those of perpetrators who choose to enact this form of harm. Addressing this deficit, this study explored perpetrators' discourses on emotions and motivations associated with engaging in TAR. Using story completion method, 35 self-identified perpetrators of TAR completed story stems describing scenarios that may precede the use of abusive online behaviors. Reflexive thematic analysis generated three themes. Abusive behaviors and negative emotions speaks to maladaptive experiences of anger and/or sadness that can precede a decision to use TAR. A loss of trust, a desire for control describes potential motives for using TAR. Finally, inhibitors of abusive behavior investigates rationales perpetrators use for avoidance of TAR behaviors, suggesting avenues for working with perpetrators to refrain from using TAR. We conclude by discussing policy, practice, and research recommendations including strategies for technology designers and suggestions for primary prevention and response to TAR.

Associations between adverse childhood experiences and diabetes among middle-aged and older Chinese: a social-ecological perspective.

This study examined the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and diabetes within a social-ecological framework, incorporating personal and environmental unfavorable conditions during childhood from family, school, and community contexts. Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2014 life history survey and 2015 survey), including 9,179 participants aged ≥45 years. ACEs were collected through self-report questionnaires, and participants were categorized based on the number of distinct ACEs experienced (0, 1, 2, 3, or ≥4 ACEs). Diabetes was defined by biomarkers, self-reported diagnosis, and treatment status. Logistic regression was conducted to explore the associations between ACEs and diabetes. Subgroup analyses were conducted by gender, age, and obesity status. Compared with participants without ACEs, those exposed to any ACE (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.40), 3 ACEs (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.62) and ≥4 ACEs (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.56) had an increased risk of diabetes. For each additional ACE, the risk of diabetes increased by about 5%. Regarding the source of ACEs, those originating from the family (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.41) were associated with diabetes. In terms of specific ACE types, family members with substance abuse (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.52), emotional abuse (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.46), and poor parental relationship (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.43) were associated with diabetes. ACEs, particularly those originating from the family, were associated with diabetes. Interventions aimed at preventing and mitigating ACEs are essential for the early prevention of diabetes.