Understanding Of Intimate Partner Violence Research Articles

Heteronormative discourse: Therapist social constructions of intimate partner violence in queer relationships

Researchers have suggested the victim/perpetrator paradigm for understanding intimate partner violence (IPV) is limited when considering queer relationships. Instead, some propose a poststructural feminist approach as better suited for understanding the complexities involved. However, in the UK, this approach is rarely adopted. We therefore put a poststructural feminist approach to research into practice. Despite IPV occurring in queer relationships at similar or higher levels compared to heterosexual relationships, queer individuals rarely use mainstream IPV services, owing to real and perceived barriers, and access local therapy services instead. However, outside of queer-specific services in city-centre areas, there is little knowledge of the approaches used or the outcomes achieved by these therapeutic services. Our research contributes to addressing this knowledge gap. We investigate how therapists make sense of IPV in queer relationships, conducting five semistructured interviews with therapists working in small-town/rural settings in Southwest England. Despite claims of inclusivity and liberal humanist values, our Foucauldian discourse analysis highlights the dominance of a heteronormative discourse in the therapists’ accounts, and shows how heterosexual privilege is embedded in a range of discourses deployed. In light of these findings, we explore implications for practice and areas for future research in this underresearched area.

Theory-Guided Care of Intimate Partner Violence Trauma Patients in the Acute Care Setting Using the Vulnerable Populations Conceptual Model.

Background and Purpose: Vulnerable populations are social groups at increased risk for poor health outcomes. According to the vulnerable populations conceptual model (VPCM) nursing theory, vulnerable groups such as survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) are at risk for disease, morbidity, and mortality due to limited resources. The purpose of this article is to propose the VPCM as an organizing theoretical framework in the acute care setting of trauma patients suffering from IPV by outlining the factors affecting the care of this vulnerable population. Results: This synthesis of the literature outlines the decreased resource availability and increased relative risk encountered by IPV survivors, which results in poor health, which supports the application of the VPCM as a guiding theory. The VPCM provides a structure for understanding IPV patients and equips nursing with a framework for taking action through engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation of practice when caring for this vulnerable trauma population in the acute care setting. Implications for Practice: Using a theory-based model provides a framework for clinical practice interventions. Further research in the application of the VPCM as a theoretical basis for caring for trauma patients who are survivors of IPV is needed.

The Effect of Irrational Relationship Beliefs on Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence in Emerging Adults: Moderating Effect of Gender.

Attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPVA) can be considered as approval/acceptance or disapproval/nonacceptance of physical violence against the intimate partner, psychological abuse, and control of the intimate partner. Individual (such as antisocial tendencies and irrational relationship beliefs [IRB]) and social factors (such as traditional norms and beliefs) shape IPVA. Studies on intimate partner violence (IPV) have revealed a significant relationship between IPVA and IPV. For this reason, IPVA is key to understanding IPV. This study was conducted to examine the effect of IRB on IPVA in Turkish emerging adults and the moderating effect of gender. Participants consisted of 551 students studying at a university in Central Anatolia. Of the participants, 374 were female, and the remaining 177 were male. All participants had at least one previous relationship experience. In the preliminary analysis performed, males' IPVA scores were higher than those of females. The study findings revealed that IRB and gender positively and significantly predicted IPV attitudes. Another important finding showed that the effect of IRB on IPVA was stronger for females. The results highlighted the importance of working on transforming irrational beliefs into rational beliefs in women's acceptance of IPV.

Women’s Life Strains, Race/Ethnicity, and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

While women manifest high rates of Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, they may perpetrate violence and levels vary by race/ethnicity. Drawing on racial/ethnic extensions of General Strain Theory (GST), I examine IPV perpetration among Black, Latina, and White women using the Add Health data. I found that life strains, especially financial problems and prior IPV victimization, were associated with IPV perpetration among all women supporting the main argument of GST. Anger was significant for White and Latina women though there was limited evidence for emotion mediation. I found racial/ethnic differences in the experience of strain and the impact of some strains on IPV perpetration which provides support for the racial/ethnic extensions of GST in understanding IPV perpetration.

Responding to Survivors of Intimate Partner Homicide in Black Communities

While there has been increasing attention given to understanding intimate partner violence homicide, little has been done to address how to support survivors of intimate partner violence homicide. This paper explores perceptions of the needs of survivors of intimate partner violence homicide through 22 focus groups which included 128 participants identifying as Black or African American. Of those, 28 identified as survivors of intimate partner violence and 26 identified as providers. The findings reinforce addressing the needs of intimate partner violence homicide survivors from a holistic, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed lens. Implications on how to address these needs are discussed.

Coercive Control: Transforming Partial Defences to Murder in England and Wales

An abused person who kills their abuser remains a conundrum for law and justice. How do we adequately deal with this issue using the current defences to murder? The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 legislated with such situations in mind, but the focus here was on physical abuse. As our understanding of the effects of coercive and controlling behaviour has grown, how fatal reactions to such behaviour might be dealt with by the courts has become an issue of particular interest. This article considers how the current parameters of the criminal law and our increased understanding of intimate partner violence are in conflict, and further legislation will most certainly be necessary to be inclusive of non-physical abuse.

Portraying the Male Abuser in Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Newspaper headlines show that awareness of intimate partner violence is a complicated issue that needs further examination. Works of fiction narrated by women trapped in abusive relationships are useful sites for the exploration of what intimate partner violence usually includes, and the identification of subtle behaviours that can be defined as violent and abusive but usually go unnoticed. This article submits two contemporary works of fiction, First Love and the Fifty Shades series, for a study of the covert mechanisms of emotional abuse. To understand such mechanisms, the article engages with feminist as well as postfeminist contemporary thinking on intimate partner violence. The analysis shifts the focus back to the male abuser by carefully depicting how he uses under-recognized, gendered forms of power to abuse his partner. The aim is to elucidate the capacity of first-person narratives to allow access to the abused woman’s mind, while simultaneously provoking questions about the abusers’ behaviours, making them a more powerful tool for understanding intimate partner violence than a newspaper report.

Settler colonial origins of intimate partner violence in Indigenous communities

AbstractIndigenous women in the United States experience disproportionately higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to their non‐Indigenous counterparts. Through a framework of settler colonialism, this article examines how settler colonial gender practices disrupted and eroded generational patterns of gender roles and power relationships within Indigenous communities, contributing over time to today's higher levels of IPV perpetrated against Indigenous women. I argue that future research on IPV must attend to the historical, contemporary, and legal impacts of settler colonial policies and laws that contribute to increased rates of violence within marginalized and racialized communities. In this article, I first review dominant theories of IPV, then review how a theoretical framework of settler colonialism expands our understanding of IPV in Indigenous communities, and, finally, address the impacts of federal policies on Indigenous sovereign rights regarding violence against women.

Trapped in My Roles as a Woman With No Help: Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence Against Chinese Women.

An understanding of intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences is a crucial first step toward shaping effective responses. However, relevant knowledge among Chinese women is scant. This study described Chinese women's IPV experiences by analyzing 46 posts shared by 42 women on a public online forum. Five overarching themes were identified using conventional qualitative content analysis: being trapped in my roles, no power in the relationship, the struggles are real but I need to tolerate, I want to leave but have no help, and hope for the future. This study has important implications for future research, practice, and education.

Towards a better understanding of intimate partner violence in Cote d'Ivoire for policy interventions

Background/Aims Intimate partner violence is a critical and global public health issue affecting many women, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies from sub-Saharan African nations both during and post-conflict reveal an increasing risk of violence against women. Cote d'Ivoire is a West African nation that encountered multiple conflicts from 2002–2011. This study aimed at examining the underlying factors influencing violence against women in a post-conflict context. Methods A study was conducted using the cross-sectional survey data from the 2012 Cote d'Ivoire Demographic Health Survey. The outcome variable was any intimate partner violence. The predictor variables were sociodemographic characteristics of women, economic opportunities and partner-related characteristics. Three multivariate logistic regression models were performed, and odds ratios with a confidence interval of 95% were estimated. Results Just over 30% of respondents in the sample (3500) had experienced intimate partner violence. Respondents' age, religion, wealth index, residency and region were significantly related to violence. A partner's education level, alcohol consumption and polygamy status were also significantly associated with intimate partner violence. However, the results also indicated that women's level of education, occupation and decision-making on large purchases were not associated with intimate partner violence. Conclusions In Cote d'Ivoire, policymakers should consider risk factors for intimate partner violence and design interventions based on the ecological model to prevent it.

Experience of Intimate Partner Violence and Associated Psychiatric, Neurobehavioral, and Functional Burden in Male and Female Veterans: Implications for Treatment

ABSTRACT Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among Veterans. Injuries to head, neck, and face are frequent and elevate risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI). IPV also increases risk for mental health morbidity. A better understanding of IPV’s impact on health and functioning is needed among Veterans to inform assessment and intervention. This study identified lifetime IPV in post-9/11 Veterans and examined the associations between lifetime IPV and health and functioning. A sample of 813 post-9/11 Veterans completed a comprehensive assessment of psychiatric, neurobehavioral and functional outcomes. Thirty-eight percent of female and 22% of male Veterans experienced IPV during their lifetime. Veterans with IPV experience had higher prevalence of TBI, pain, and psychiatric conditions (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], mood, anxiety, substance use). Lifetime IPV experience, PTSD, mood disorder, and pain were significantly associated with functional disability in men and women (β’s = .12–.44; ps < .05); the effect was larger for women. Given the clinical complexity of Veterans with a history of IPV, we propose the need for novel, transdiagnostic treatments. The STEP-Home workshop is a skills-based intervention with preliminary effectiveness in treating combat-related TBI and commonly co-occurring psychiatric disorders in post-9/11 Veterans that could expand evidence-based treatments for IPV.

Empowered but abused? A moderated mediation analysis to explore the relationship between wife's relative resources, relational empowerment and physical abuse

There is a growing body of literature focusing on the direct relationship between women's relative resources (WRR) and intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unexplored. Grounded in the popular sociological theories, Relative Resource Theory (RRT) and Gendered Resource Theory (GRT), this study addresses the research gap by proposing a moderated-mediation model to i) understand the process through which WRR influences the relational empowerment and violence victimization, and, ii) explain the role of husband's patriarchal attitude in the proposed linkages. We posit that the relationship between WRR and IPV is mediated by relational empowerment, and husband's patriarchal attitude moderates the relationship between relational empowerment and physical abuse. The proposed model is tested in the Indian context using secondary data collected from 47,514 married couples. As our variables of interest were latent constructs, we first used factor analysis in AMOS v.22. Then, using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique, the proposed model is tested in SPSS v.22 using the bootstrap Confidence Interval (C.I.) method. In our study sample, about 28% of ever-married women reported experiencing spousal violence in the last 12 months. The study finds that WRR is a significant predictor of relational empowerment (β = 0.21, p < 0.01), and relational empowerment is negatively associated (β = −0.06; p < 0.01) with violence victimization, thus supporting mediating role of relational empowerment in WRR-Abuse linkage. The interaction of the husband's patriarchal attitude with relational empowerment significantly predicts violence victimization. Our study results indicate the critical role of socio-cultural norms, rooted in patriarchy, in understanding IPV. The study findings suggest that the potential of women empowerment initiatives against IPV is conditional on men's progressive attitude. The study findings call for acknowledging the complexity of the interaction between patriarchal attitude and IPV on the one hand, and women's position in society, in any attempt at empowerment.

Multiple Perspectives on How Intimate Partner Violence Surrogate Impact Panels Affect Abusive Partners.

Restorative justice programs, including surrogate impact panels, are increasingly used to address intimate partner violence (IPV) but research has not assessed adequately how panels may affect participating abusive partners. This article reports the perceived impacts of surrogate impact panels on justice-involved individuals (JIIs) who attended a panel as part of their batterer intervention programs (BIPs) using surveys of JIIs (N = 289) and focus groups or interviews with panelist speakers, JIIs, and BIP providers. Findings suggest that JIIs can connect with speakers, reach new understandings of IPV, and express emotional impact/intent to change. The findings can inform decisions to use panels as part of IPV interventions.

Gendering and Degendering: The Problem of Men’s Victimization in Intimate Partner Relations in Social and Crisis Workers’ Talk

Abstract The notion of intimate partner violence (IPV) as gender-based has been widely questioned by advocates of antifeminist men’s rights movements, who have claimed that societal disregard for men’s victimization in intimate relations is a central component of discrimination against men in contemporary societies. Similar views have been expressed by researchers as part of a gender-neutral discourse articulated in opposition to feminist, or gender-sensitive, understandings of IPV. To date, the views of helping professionals who work with IPV in terms of men’s victimization have been underexplored. This study traces the discursive process of problem construction concerning gender and IPV in social and crisis workers’ (N=21) talk about men’s victimization through focus group interviews conducted in Finland. The analysis shows that social and crisis workers’ sense-making closely aligns with talk about men’s victimization by men’s rights advocates; they construct and justify men’s victimization in intimate relations as a pressing societal concern in ways that both posit gender-specific normative conceptions as a significant, oppressive context for men victims and simultaneously obscure gendered structural inequalities by advocating gender-neutral understandings and solutions for IPV. The analysis highlights challenges in attending to IPV with a gender-sensitive approach in the context of widespread politicization of men’s victimization.

Intimate Partner Violence Stories of Appalachian Women.

The purpose of this study was to explore past intimate partner violence as it occurred in Appalachian women residing in rural and non-urbanized areas. The methodology was qualitative description. Twelve former intimate partner violence female victims shared their experiences through the socioculturally appropriate tradition of story-telling. The meta-theme, Turning Points, reflecting the perceived non-linearity of intimate partner violence was supported by three themes: (1) The Process of Abuse: (2) Learn from my Story; Don't Let it be Your Story; and (3) Does Where I Live Make a Difference? All participants experienced patterns of abuse that cycled in frequency and severity, similar injuries and health problems, fear, helplessness, and, at times, hopelessness. Application of knowledge gained through naturalistic methods can advance our understanding of intimate partner violence as it occurs in vulnerable populations and the depth and breadth of sociocultural influences which may affect the public health threat of this type of violence.

Males as victims of intimate partner violence \u2014 results from a clinical-forensic medical examination centre

Only few studies have reported on males as victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) so far. The aim of the present study is to analyse frequency and case characteristics of physical violence against male IPV victims examined in a clinical-forensic medical examination centre for victims of violence in Germany over an 11-year period, contributing to a better understanding of IPV in men. Male victims represented 6.2% of IPV cases (n = 167) with a median age of 40 years. Cases were reported to the police in 78.4% before medicolegal examination. In 60.5% of the cases, the perpetrator was the current partner, and 82% occurred in a domestic environment with a predominance of female offenders. In more than half of the cases (57.5%), the victims consulted the examination centre without prior healthcare utilisation. About one-third of the victims reported previous IPV (31.7%). The findings point to the relevance of men as victims of IPV, case group–specific risk factors, injury-dependent behaviour related to healthcare utilisation, the need to establish or strengthen specialised support services for affected men and underscore the importance of clinical-forensic services in documenting and assessing violence-related injuries.

Role of health care workers in the care and support of women living with HIV/AIDS experiencing intimate partner violence: the case of women attending care and treatment clinic in Singida region, Tanzania

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is behaviour within intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual and psychological harm. Health care workers (HCW) have a big role to play for women living with HIV/AIDS (LWHA) who are experiencing IPV. The understanding and perception of IPV towards health care workers is very important in the provision of integrated holistic care.Methods: This was a qualitative study where data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions for 24 HCW, working at a care and treatment clinic and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS. Content analysis was used to analyse the data.Results: The study findings showed that HCW had their own meaning and understanding of IPV that was when a male partner does something wrong to his female partner which was associated with beating, use of abusive language and refusal to provide basic needs. HCW had various roles in caring and supporting women LWHA experiencing IPV. They provided emergency medical services, health education which helped them to cope with their HIV/AIDS disease, counselled on the importance of adhering to their antiretroviral treatment medications and referral services which helped them to address their IPV as women LWHA.Conclusions: The study concluded that HCW had a very important role to play in care and support of women LWHA. They needed more training on IPV so that they will be able to provide care and support to all women living with HIV/AIDS experiencing IPV and the community at large.

Perceptions of Contexts of Intimate Partner Violence Among Young, Partnered Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States.

There has been a growth in research illustrating that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at rates that are comparable to those among heterosexual women. However, the majority of research on IPV among same-sex male couples has focused on adults, and research on the experience of IPV among younger men (those aged under 18), remains at a nascent stage, despite knowledge that IPV is often common among younger men. This article adds to the growing body of literature on IPV among young GBMSM (YGBMSM) through of an analysis of qualitative data from in-depth interviews (IDI) with GBMSM aged 15-19 (n = 30) in romantic relationships partnerships. The study sought to explore issues of relationship development, relationship contexts, and understandings of IPV. More than one-half of the sample reported experiencing some form of IPV in their current or past relationships. Participants described a range of experiences of IPV, including physical IPV, emotional IPV, sexual IPV, and controlling behaviors. Emotional IPV in the form of negative comments and controlling behaviors such as jealousy were the most commonly reported forms of violence behaviors. Although few participants reported experiencing physical or sexual IPV, several discussed concerns about giving, and partners' acknowledging, sexual consent. Antecedents to IPV included wanting or feeling pressured to participate in normative development milestones, short-lived relationships, and societal stigma. Interventions that develop content on IPV and that reflect the lived realities of YGBMSM who are experiencing their first relationships are urgently needed. Study findings also support the need for training teachers, health care providers, and parents to identify signs of IPV and provide them with the knowledge and skills to talk to YGBMSM about relationships and violence to reduce IPV.

Psychosocial Separation and Women's Disengagement From Prosecutions Against Abusive Intimate Partners in Spain.

In order to end and "liberate" themselves from an abusive relationship, female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) usually face a complex process. Although women may decide to seek help through the criminal justice system, some refuse to participate in legal proceedings against their abusers. While many studies have focused on exploring variables explaining disengagement from legal proceedings, the aim of this article is to study the impact of the process of liberation from an abusive relationship on the likelihood of disengagement (LoD) from legal proceedings. Liberation was measured through the psychosocial separation overall score and the LoD was predicted by a logistic regression model developed in a previous study in Spain. A sample of 80 women involved in legal proceedings for IPV against their ex-partners in Andalusia (Spain) participated in this study. Exploratory analyses were conducted using ANOVA and Chi-square; multiple linear regression analyses were used to study the relationship between psychosocial separation and LoD. Results showed that victims who had higher psychosocial separation from their abusers were less likely to disengage from legal proceedings against the abuser. We discuss the results in terms of practical implications like detection of women's need for specific psychological support to ease a comprehensive recovery. Training programs for legal professionals and judges in the judicial arena should use the results of this study to increase professionals' understanding of IPV and survivors' decision-making processes. This would lead to a decrease in survivors' secondary victimization, as well as decrease the frustration of legal professionals when victims disengage from legal proceedings.

"Walking on Eggshells:" A Qualitative Study of How Friends of Young Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence Perceive Their Role.

Young women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) are most likely to turn to their friends for help. Although friends can play a critical role in providing support, there is little research that examines friends' experiences. In this qualitative study, we explored how friends of young women experiencing IPV perceived their role in responding to IPV in the context of friendship. We held in-depth interviews with 15 friends of young women who had experienced IPV and used reflexive thematic analysis to develop key themes from the data. We developed two overarching themes that reflected participants' perceptions of the roles they had played or considered as a friend in responding to IPV: "taking action" (which included "providing an outsider's view," "being an advisor or coach," "being a protector," and "taking a stand"); and "being there" (which included "being a listener," "being a companion" and "being an ally"). Their perceptions were shaped by friendship expectations, as well as by understandings of IPV. However, deciding what role to play in supporting their friend was constructed as challenging due to conflicting expectations that arose in the context of friendship. It involved balancing a perceived responsibility to do what they thought was best for their friend's well-being, a need to promote honesty and mutuality in the friendship, along with a competing obligation to respect their friend's choices, maintain her trust and ensure equality in the friendship. Being friends with the abuser as well as with the victim created additional complexities. Based on our findings, we identify key areas to address in developing interventions to assist friends to respond to young women experiencing IPV. These could guide friends on how to play an effective support role while also maintaining the friendship and managing the significant emotional impacts of providing help.