Abusive Relationships Research Articles

Maternal Decision-making about Social Media after Leaving an Abusive Relationship: an Exploratory Descriptive Case Study of Women in Ontario

Maternal Decision-making about Social Media after Leaving an Abusive Relationship: an Exploratory Descriptive Case Study of Women in Ontario

Gambaran Self-Compassion pada Wanita yang Pernah Mengalami Dating Violence: Sebuah Pendekatan Fenomenologi

Dating violence is a form of abuse in a relationship that can have harmful physical and psychological impacts on one partner. Gender inequality due to patriarchal culture, along with the sense of attachment that often develops in women, makes them more vulnerable to becoming victims of dating violence. Self-compassion, which focuses on being kind to yourself and accepting pain as part of the human experience, can be used as a mechanism to help people cope with the traumatic experiences caused by dating violence. This study aims to describe self-compassion in women who have experienced dating violence using a qualitative method and a phenomenological approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, and purposive sampling was used to select 5 female participants, all of whom were college students who had experienced dating violence. Data analysis was carried out using a coding technique to identify the main themes related to the participants' self-compassion after experiencing dating violence. The findings showed that 2 out of 5 participants exhibited positive self-compassion. This was shown in their ability to recover after experiencing dating violence, where they could show care and concern for themselves during the difficult post-breakup phase while also giving themselves the necessary positive affirmations. Furthermore, the participants initiated productive activities to improve their self-worth and confidence. This positive self-compassion played an important role in facilitating the psychological and emotional recovery from the inner wounds caused by the abusive relationship.

Development and Initial Validation of a Scale to Measure Social Abuse in Intimate Partner Relationships.

Social abuse represents a distinct form of intimate partner violence characterized by intentional violations of a victim's social rights and inherent need to belong. This is achieved by tactics such as severing, interfering with, and surveilling the victim's social connections as well as limiting their social participation. Such abuse often results in victims experiencing social isolation, potentially causing adverse mental health outcomes and failure to seek help. This study aimed to develop and validate the Social Abuse Scale (SAS) to measure social abuse in intimate partner relationships. After generating the preliminary items, content validity testing was performed. Ten international experts reviewed the items and assessed their relevance. Additionally, 17 interview participants assessed the items for clarity and ease of response. Thereafter, the SAS was administered to 251 individuals, either currently in or who had an intimate relationship in the previous year. The final SAS comprised 30 items unified under a single-factor structure, which accounted for approximately 69.77% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the model's satisfactory fit. The instrument showed excellent internal consistency, as evidenced by Cronbach's alpha and a McDonald's omega value of .986. The SAS can be employed to investigate the prevalence of social abuse, its underlying mechanisms, and its impacts, and it can also assist in further development and evaluation of programs aimed at its prevention.

Choice of Communication Channel for Dyadic Relationship Dissolution Processes in Abusive and Non-Abusive Relationships

Abstract: This study employs an affordances and multiple goals approach to explore channel choices in the initiation of dyadic relationship dissolution processes. In an experiment, participants imagined breaking up with an abusive romantic partner, breaking up with a nonabusive partner, or not breaking up. Then they indicated their likelihood of using various channels (i.e., face-to-face conversation, texting, social media, voice call, and video call) to communicate with their partner, responded to perceived social affordances measures for each channel, and provided insights in an open-ended prompt. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. Results reveal that face-to-face communication is often preferred for dyadic relational dissolution processes, as bandwidth, social presence, and a lack of accessibility can convey a sense of seriousness and respect for the non-initiator while preventing miscommunication. However, mediated channels offer protection from emotional manipulation (for abusive relationships), physical violence (for abusive relationships), and awkward situations (for nonabusive relationships) thanks to their unique combinations of affordances.

Subtle or Covert Abuse Within Intimate Partner Relationships: A Scoping Review.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health problem enacted with varying degrees of severity, leading to mental and physical damage. Despite the acknowledgment that perpetration can be enacted in a subtle or covert way, there is a paucity of literature defining and describing such subtle abuse. Consequently, understanding about the behaviors and impacts of subtle abuse is limited, and there is a potential inability by therapists to recognize it in their clients. This scoping review sought to identify and synthesize the literature around subtle or covert abuse (SCA) in intimate adult relationships to clarify the concept, with the aim to aid professional recognition. PsychINFO (EBSCO), MEDLINE Complete (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), PsychArticles (EBSCO), Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and EThOS were searched using relevant search terms. In total, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria by containing a description or definition of abuse based on primary research with adults in intimate partner relationships. Findings were synthesized using descriptive content analysis under four headings: (a) Descriptions and groupings of SCA behaviors, (b) The impact of SCA on victims, (c) Underlying theories of SCA, and (d) Recognition by professionals. This review suggests that SCA may be the most damaging of all abuses.

Associations Between Acculturation, Discrimination, and Adolescent Relationship Abuse: A Matched Parent-Adolescent Study of Latine Families.

Adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) is prevalent among adolescents, including those who identify as Latine. However, there is limited research that has considered the cultural and structural mechanisms that may impact ARA experiences among Latine youth. Further, although parents play a crucial role in ARA prevention, few studies have investigated how adolescent-parent differences in acculturation and discrimination are associated with ARA. The objective of this exploratory study of Latine families was to examine how acculturation, discrimination, and adolescent-parent acculturation/discrimination differences relate to ARA victimization and perpetration. Parent-adolescent dyads recruited from clinic and community-based settings in Pittsburgh and Kansas City completed matched surveys. Parent-adolescent acculturation and discrimination differences were calculated using multilevel linear models. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations among ARA victimization and perpetration and adolescent-reported acculturation, adolescent-reported discrimination, and adolescent-parent acculturation and discrimination differences. One hundred eighty-two adolescents and their parent/caregiver (n = 364) completed a matched survey in English or Spanish from March 2020 to March 2021. Forty-three percent of adolescents reported that they had started dating; of these 35% and 24% reported ARA victimization and perpetration, respectively. Higher levels of adolescent-reported acculturation conflict were associated with lower ARA victimization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.24; 95% confidence interval, CI [0.08, 0.75]); conversely, higher adolescent-reported discrimination was associated with ARA victimization (aOR: 2.50 [1.30, 4.60]) and perpetration (aOR: 2.10 [1.10, 3.90]). Wider adolescent-parent acculturation differences in Spanish language (aOR: 3.40 [1.04, 11.30]) and interpersonal discrimination (aOR: 2.40 [1.10, 5.20]) were associated with increased ARA victimization. Results underscore the importance of discrimination in understanding ARA experiences among Latine youth. Future work should consider developing culturally and linguistically affirming ARA prevention programs for Latine adolescents and parents.

Honourable kāwanatanga: A prerequisite for constitutional transformation

Understandings of Te Tiriti o Waitangi continue to unfold as we find our way through the complexities of colonial misinformation about our herstory and history. Looking ahead to the prospect of constitutional transformation, this paper examines honourable kāwanatanga as a necessary pathway to Tiriti justice. This commentary paper draws on existing literature and insights from the Māori and Tauiwi authors’ decades of experience of pursuing Tiriti justice. The Crown has consistently breached Te Tiriti and engaged in dishonourable kāwanatanga. Māori have always resisted colonisation and imagined a future where Te Tiriti was honoured. Latterly, Tauiwi in increasing numbers have also joined this resistance. The preamble of Te Tiriti o Waitangi articulates the desire of rangatira and the British to enter into a relationship of goodwill and peace. Rangatira reasonably anticipated that the British would behave honourably. The subsequent displacement of Māori from land, language, economy and cultural traditions from 1840 onwards, resulted in devastating intergenerational harms and losses. Ani Mikaere has argued that the Māori–Crown relationship has deteriorated to the point of resembling the dynamics of an abusive relationship. This characterisation suggests an unequal and harmful interaction, where one party holds power and control over the other, often at the expense of the latter’s rights, well-being, and autonomy, whilst societal institutions and common sense, deeply support the abuser. Honourable kāwanatanga, as a tool for transformations toward social justice, is often used as an intentional description to mark Tiriti-centric governance as opposed to deep-rooted dishonourable, Tiriti-breaching governance. This form of abuse characterises the ongoing colonial hegemony which has generated and maintained institutional racism and monoculturalism and allowed it to flourish within the public service and many other sectors of society. The notion of honourable kāwanatanga intersects with the call of Matike Mai and supports collective Indigenous peoples’ rights.

Predicting the Tendency to Re-Experience Abusive Relationships Based on Schema Modes and Self-Compassion: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Finding an intimate partner is an important step in adulthood that has a special effect on self-concept and mental health. The tendency to re-experience abusive relationships (TREAR) refers to a person’s inclination to repeatedly find themselves in abusive or unhealthy relationships. There are many factors for the TREAR. This study aimed to predict TREAR based on schema modes and self-compassion. The present study design was predictive correlational, with the statistical population consisting of adults over 18 who have experienced emotional relationships in Rasht, Iran. Finally, 190 participants entered the study. Due to COVID-19 quarantine circumstances, we used an internet-based convenience sampling method through the social media groups of students at Rasht’s universities. Participants completed the tendency to re-experience abusive relationships scale, schema modes, and self-compassion. Most of the participants were between age 23 and 32 years (44.2%) and female (81.6%). According to the findings, self-compassion was greatly associated with a lower TREAR. In contrast, the schema modes were significantly associated with a higher score of the TREAR (p< .05). The coefficient of determination (R2) was equal to 0.506, indicating that 50.6% of the change in re-experiencing abusive relationships was explained by demographic characteristics, schema modes, and self-compassion. The results showed that both schema modes and self-compassion were predictors of continuing the abusive relationship cycle. These findings could have important implications for future research, especially on the prevention and treatment of individuals involved in abusive relationships.

Trauma, Dissociation, and Relational Authenticity

Relational trauma can be understood as a psychological injury that occurs in the context of abusive interpersonal relationships and appears to be correlated with a wide array of mental illnesses. However, one potential harm of trauma that has not received much attention from philosophers is the threat it poses to authenticity. To understand why relational trauma potentially creates impediments to authentic agency, we need to consider two other phenomena that are commonly associated with it: (i) dissociation, and (ii) diminished habitual trust. Whereas trauma-related dissociation commonly involves bodily alienation and detachment from the self, diminished habitual trust often leads to alienation from others. I maintain that dissociative detachment and diminished habitual trust often are mutually reinforcing and that, together, they can cause agents to become disconnected from themselves, others, and the reality of what has happened to them. What implications does this have for authentic agency among traumatized individuals? After outlining existing conceptions, I emphasize the important sense in which authenticity is relational and scaffolded by social connections. I also discuss several competencies that undergird authenticity and argue that the interplay between dissociative detachment and attenuated habitual trust can make it difficult for traumatized individuals to develop and sustain these competencies. Thus, the trauma they have experienced impedes their ability to conduct their lives in accordance with their genuine cares and desires.

The Ethical Implications of Prosocial Synthetic Resuscitation: Analysing User Comments to a Deepfake Campaign Addressing Intimate Partner Violence

In recent years, the ‘digital resurrection’ of the deceased through Deepfake technology has become a reality accessible to the general public and has raised profound ethical discussions in society. While the academic literature focuses primarily on regulatory and political implications, the public reception of digital resurrection remains largely unexplored. Furthermore, much of the public discourse around Deepfakes centres on their malicious applications, despite the potential for digital resurrection to serve prosocial purposes. This study focuses on an Israeli campaign called ‘Listen to My Voice’ (2021), which ‘resurrected’ women murdered by their partners, having them ‘tell’ the stories of the abusive relationships that preceded their deaths. An analysis of viewer responses shows that the campaign elicited strong reactions straddling the line between technology and ethics. Quantitatively, most comments supported the use of Deepfakes, given the importance of the cause and the impactful messaging. Qualitatively, two key themes emerged: one technical, indicating that visceral realism sparked both emotional connections and fundamental misunderstandings of the technology itself. The second highlighted an ethical tension between desires to protect autonomy and justifications for posthumously using an individual’s likeness for positive aims. The findings suggest Deepfakes’ technical attributes, particularly tangibility, significantly shape its ethical reception—a phenomenon we term ‘the ethics of technological misunderstanding’.

Framing Perceived Emotional Abuse by Former Intercollegiate Student-Athletes into Categories Based on Power

ABSTRACT Although contemporary researchers suggest that abuse is especially prevalent in sport, athletes’ experiences of coaches’ emotional abuse are not well understood. To address this gap, the present study was designed to examine how former intercollegiate student-athletes described experiences of emotional abuse in the coach-athlete relationship. Twenty former student-athletes were interviewed, and an inductive comparative analysis was utilized to interpret and situate the data. Results were framed in terms of power and were organized into four distinctive categories. Results highlight a critical need for institutions to reflect on current policies and practices regarding the prevention and investigation of athlete abuse.

Decoding love signs: The role of perceived relational red flags in mate selection criteria among Filipino young adults

Abuse and infidelity are common relational conflicts in the Philippines. The prevalence of this growing social problem among Filipinos has also been observed in their calls regarding these warning signs in a romantic partner. Hence, this study explores how these issues influence young adults’ mate preferences by examining their lived romantic experiences. Utilizing criterion purposive sampling, ten diverse stories of heterosexuals were evaluated through semi-structured in-depth interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis to understand the complexity of experiential meanings of participants who have had long-term relationships with their previous ex-lovers and are currently engaged in committed relationships. Participants denoted relational red flags encompassing emotional distance, deception, emotional labor, destruction, and emotional manipulation. These turbulent behavioral patterns deliberately cause the deterioration of their previous relationship while they consider the dimensions of warmth, competence, and attractiveness when choosing an ideal mate. These preferences mentioned are similar to the desirable qualities of their current partners. Findings also assert that relational red flags were perceived as the diametric bases for mate selection, non-negotiable deal breakers, and a lesson to captivate dealmakers. Considering the rising numbers of reported domestic violence victims, including psychological abuse in relationships, this research has compelling implications for Gender and Development and Anti-Violence Against Women. Further, it is also pertinent to counseling psychology practices, especially in the current status and emerging development of Couples Therapy, which primarily handles relationship issues during the pre-marital stage.

Social realities in remote villages: Infant and young child feeding in Kirewa, Uganda.

Understanding infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in Africa requires an examination of the social context. Social relationships influence people through mechanisms such as social support, social influence, social engagement, access to resources and negative social interactions. This study explores how these mechanisms manifest in IYCF in remote villages in Uganda. In 2018, we conducted two focus group discussions each with mothers, fathers and grandparents, ande interviews with two clan leaders, six village health teamers (VHT) and four healthcare workers (HCW). We deductively searched the data for any indications of elements that could influence child feeding and health using the psychosocial mechanisms of social support, social influence, social engagement, access to resources and negative social interactions as the broader themes. The manifestation of social support involved practical help from mothers-in-law (MIL), financial contributions from fathers, and informational, instrumental, emotional and appraisal support from VHTs. Social influence by MILs mainly concerned the transmission of food-related beliefs and pressure to have many children. The social engagement of young mothers was restricted. Access to resources was stratified and affected by poverty, patriarchy, and knowledge of HCWs and VHTs. Negative social interactions included physical abuse, alcoholism, and fear-based relationships. We found the different psychosocial mechanisms to construct a useful framework for describing the social reality surrounding IYCF. Changing attitudes towards family planning, involving fathers in IYCF, and strengthening the position of VHTs as family advisers can potentially improve IYCF in rural Uganda.

Deaths Related to Domestic Violence in Washington State.

Domestic violence (DV; including intimate partner and family violence) is associated with heightened lethality risks, yet limited research has comprehensively assessed the connection between DV and fatal violence considering both homicides and suicides. Understanding the fatal consequences of DV can point to missed opportunities to support individuals and their families. To assess the proportion of violent deaths that were connected to DV and describe contacts with the legal system or social services prior to each DV-related fatality. This cross-sectional study used quantitative and qualitative data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for all individuals who died by homicide or suicide in Washington from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020. Analyses were conducted from August 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. A multipronged approach was used to assess DV history using existing NVDRS variables, leveraging data from prior review of NVDRS death narratives, applying a validated natural language processing tool, and linking related deaths. Domestic violence was recorded as yes or no, but the decedent's role in the abusive relationship (ie, experiencing or enacting DV) could not be differentiated. To describe system involvement prior to each death, keyword searching and hand review of NVDRS death narratives were used. A total of 7352 intentional violent deaths (1192 homicides [16.2%]; 6160 suicides [83.8%]) with known circumstances were recorded in Washington during the study period. Of these, 948 deaths (12.9%) were connected to DV (624 [65.8%] among males; mean [SD] age at death, 45.3 [19.2] years), including 588 suicides (62.0%) and 360 homicides (38.0%). For 420 DV-related deaths (44.3%), there was evidence to suggest that the person who died or their intimate partner(s), family, or cohabitants had prior contacts with the legal system or social services. Specifically, 318 records (33.5%) mentioned prior contacts with law enforcement or the criminal legal system (eg, prior 9-1-1 calls, criminal convictions), and 225 (23.7%) described engagement with social services or the civil legal system (eg, civil protection order, divorce, or child custody problems). In this cross-sectional study, 12.9% of violent deaths in Washington were connected to DV. The findings suggest that more resources are needed to support law enforcement, court professionals, and social services specialists to proactively identify and refer families to wraparound supports before the situation can escalate to a fatality.

Intimate Partner Violence Predicts Child Marriage and Pregnancy Among Adolescents in Malawi.

A sizeable literature has shown that child marriage is associated with an increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). However, this research has been cross-sectional, and the temporality of the association has not been investigated. Specifically, no study has yet examined whether IPV is a predictor of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy. This study uses prospective longitudinal data on a cohort of adolescent girls from the Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health to evaluate whether IPV victimization predicts child marriage or adolescent pregnancy. Using survival models, we find that adolescent girls who experienced physical IPV (measured at survey baseline, in 2017-2018) are more likely to enter child marriages (measured at survey follow-up, in 2021) (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.7 [1.44, 5.08]). Experiencing sexual IPV is also significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy (HR = 1.97 [1.16, 3.33]). These findings indicate the need for greater intervention to ensure healthy adolescent relationships, as well as further research to understand how abusive relationships shape early transitions to adulthood.

The consequences of psychological abuse and control in intimate partner relationships.

The consequences of psychological abuse and control in intimate partner relationships.

Adolescent Relationship Abuse among Hospitalized Adolescents

ObjectiveWe assessed adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) prevalence and ARA intervention acceptability and perceived benefit among hospitalized adolescents and young adults (AYA. MethodsThis was a planned secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey exploring sexual and reproductive health among a convenience sample of AYA (14-25 years) hospitalized in medical/surgical units at two Midwest children’s hospitals. Survey items assessed history of dating, lifetime prevalence of four types of ARA (physical abuse, sexual abuse, reproductive coercion, sexual exploitation), and demographics. ResultsAmong 324 participants, 72.5% reported dating and, among those with history of dating, 17% reported one or more types of ARA. ARA was more common among those who reported foregone healthcare in the preceding 12 months. There was no difference in likelihood of dating and ARA between those with and without a chronic health condition. Approximately half felt it is helpful for clinicians to discuss dating relationships with adolescents (58.6%) and acceptable to do this during a hospitalization (50.6%). Conversations with clinicians about dating relationships were more likely to be reported helpful by those who had dated (63.9% reporting dating vs. 50.6% not reporting dating, p 0.04) and those who reported prior ARA (79.5% reporting ARA vs. 60.4% not reporting ARA, p 0.02). ConclusionsHospitalization may represent a unique opportunity to support healthy AYA dating relationships. Further work is needed to further explore acceptability and feasibility of such interventions.

Мнение молодежи об абьюзивных партнерских отношениях в американском кинематографе XXI века

The article is devoted to studying the youth’s and future filmmakers’ opinions about abuse in partner relationships in modern American cinema. In modern culture, abuse has become somewhat of a trend. The research reveals that both theoretically and in real life, the boundaries of the concept of “abuse” are often blurred. Respondents also tend to confuse the notion of “abuse” with a partner’s character traits or existing difficulties in the relationship. The majority of the young people surveyed (71 %) expressed a negative attitude towards scenes of abuse in American cinema. At the same time, they believe that the presence of abuse in partnerships on screen can perform an educational and therapeutic functions for young people, and that art should not hush up those phenomena that are observed in real life.

Lifestyle Factors and Stroke Prevention: From the Individual to the Community.

The overwhelming majority of stroke burden can be prevented through the pillars of lifestyle medicine: diet, exercise, sleep, substance abuse, stress management, and healthy relationships. Among these, diet confers the greatest attributable risk. Despite abundant data and integration of lifestyle medicine within major stroke prevention guidelines, several barriers to effective implementation remain. These include lack of emphasis in medical education, integration in hospital certification metrics, reimbursement from medical insurance, and health policy that inadequately addresses social determinants of health. However, both top-down and bottom-up solutions introduced within the last few years are helping to break down these barriers. This review highlights recent literature and interventions that are closing the gap between the theory and practice of stroke prevention through lifestyle risk factors from a US perspective. By strategically targeting the various institutional barriers, it is possible and essential to substantially reduce stroke burden.

‘I Almost Poisoned Myself’: Understanding the Suicidal Behaviors of Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Ghana*

ABSTRACT Despite growing evidence of an increased risk of suicidality among female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), no scientific research has explored this topic in Ghana, where male-partner violence is not uncommon. Using thematic analysis to analyze and synthesize 30 in-depth interviews with female survivors in the Eastern Region of Ghana, this study explored the suicidal behaviors of women in abusive intimate relationships. The findings showed IPV profoundly affected women, exposing them to complex intersecting economic, physical, and psychosocial health problems. Many saw suicide as a solution to their traumatic experiences. The results suggest the need for policymakers to create violence prevention programs and introduce community-based mental health programs, especially those targeting female survivors of violence.