Intimate Violence Research Articles

The problem of domestic violence: issues of theory and practice

The article is devoted to the problem of understanding domestic violence in the legal system of the modern state. Risk factors for domestic and family violence are examined, including individual characteristics, relationship problems, and community and societal influences. Individual factors include the psychological and physical characteristics of victims and perpetrators, which may include problems with emotion regulation, low self-esteem, and childhood trauma. Also, sexual orientation and gender identity can influence the risk of becoming a victim or a perpetrator. It is reasoned that domestic violence has serious consequences for victims, their families and society as a whole. It can lead to injuries, psychological and emotional problems, destroy relationships, disrupt the development of children and reduce the productivity and efficiency of society. Domestic violence is becoming a global problem that crosses cultural and geographic boundaries, and the level of its prevalence can vary depending on the socio-cultural and economic context. Also important is the role of economic factors, such as unemployment and economic hardship, which can increase family tension and contribute to violence. It was also found that at the community level, lack of access to psychological and legal aid services, as well as lack of education about rights and opportunities to leave violent relationships can complicate the situation for victims. In addition, cultural stereotypes and norms that condone or normalize violence may also support this problematic pattern. At the same time, research must be carried out taking into account the diversity of cultural, social and economic contexts, since approaches to solving the problem may differ depending on specific conditions. Special attention should also be paid to the support of victims of domestic violence, their access to safe places of refuge, legal aid and psychological support. Increasing public awareness and educational initiatives about the issue can also help increase awareness and support in the fight against domestic violence.

“Prevalence and Associated Factors of Perinatal Suicide Risk in Spanish Women”

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and in the perinatal period, the trend is increasing, even up to 100 times in the US. No studies have been carried out with validated instruments despite abundant recommendations to do so. This study aims to determine the prevalence of perinatal suicide risk in Spanish women, as well as the factors associated with it. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 908 women in the perinatal stage. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables, anxiety level (GAD-7), social support (DUKE-UNC), risk of intimate violence (WAST), and suicidal ideation (Paykel) were collected. Crude (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated using logistic regression for the main risk factors for suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 19.3% (175), and suicide attempt 2.4% (22). In the perinatal stage, the risk factors were anxiety [aOR of 1.08 (95% CI: 1.04-1.31)], experiencing a possible situation of intimate partner violence [aOR of 1.59 (95% CI: 1.04-2.43)], and a risk of PPD [aOR of 3.00 (95% CI: 1.86-4.81)]. Perceived social support appears as a protective factor [aOR of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-0.99)], along with skin-to-skin contact with the baby during childbirth [aOR 0.50 (95% CI: 0.28-0.88)]. Conclusions: Presenting anxiety or depression, little social support, and living in a possible situation of intimate partner violence are associated with a greater risk of suicidal ideation during the perinatal stage.

Women’s Empowerment and its Relationship to Intimate Partner Violence in Palpa District, Lumbini, Nepal

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) violates women's human rights and is a major public health concern. Intimate relationship violence or non-partner sexual assault affects about one in three (30%) women worldwide at some point in their lives. These types of violence harm women's sexual, emotional, physical, and reproductive health. This kind of abuse against women is preventable. Women's empowerment encompasses six common qualities: psychological, political, legal, economic, physical, and social empowerment, encompassing various aspects of life. Objectives: To assess the relationship between women’s empowerment and intimate partner violence. To identify the prevalence and contributing factors of intimate partner violence among married women. Materials and method: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted for the study. The sample size was 352 and a purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. Data was collected by face-to-face interviews using per-tested questionnaire during April, May, June, and July 2023. Questionnaire related to Socio-demographic information, Standard valid tool Conflict Tactics Scale tools (CTS) were used as instruments. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS version 22. Results: Out of 352 respondents, nearly half (43.2%) were between the ages of 30 and 39. Half of the respondents (50.3%) had low decision-making levels. Likewise, the lowest proportion of the respondents (16.2%) had a moderate level. More than half of the respondents (58.5%) had a low level of empowerment, whereas only 3.4% of the respondents had a high level of empowerment. Regarding violence, physical was 20.2%, sexual was 24.1%, emotional was 33.2%, controlling behavior was 53.7%, and overall intimate partner violence was 68.5%. There is a statistically significant relationship between intimate partner violence and women’s age (p =<0.010*), duration of marriage (p=<0.009*), socioeconomic class (p = <0.01*), member of the organization (p = 0.005*), bank account (p=0.006*), empowerment (p = 0.020*), husband's alcohol habit (p = <0.01*), and husband's smoking habit (p = <0.01*). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that more empowered women had less experience with intimate partner violence, whereas less empowered women had more experience with emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, as well as dominating actions from their close relationships. Having children, household decision-making, and property ownership had no noticeable effect on the prevalence of intimate relationship violence. The likelihood of intimate relationship violence was not significantly impacted by having children, making decisions, or possessing property.

Unspeakable and hidden: intimate partner sexual violence against married women in Pakistan

ABSTRACT Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) is a significant form of violence against women that remains largely under-researched in Pakistan, primarily due to sociocultural and religious factors. This study documents the nature and factors associated with IPSV against women in Pakistan by conducting qualitative in-depth interviews with Christian and Muslim women residing in both urban and rural areas of Punjab, Pakistan. A thematic approach was employed to analyse data gathered from seventeen participants. The findings revealed that the patriarchal nature of the society, privileged position of men within marriage, poverty and child marriages, consumption of alcohol and drugs, joint household system, legal ambiguities, and the absence of a supportive environment were contributory factors that increase the risk of sexual violence against women within intimate partnerships in the Pakistani context. It is crucial to acknowledge that sexual violence needs to be understood in the broader context of intimate partner and domestic violence. Additionally, there is a need for further research to explore the specific circumstances faced by women from diverse identity categories and to understand the multifaceted consequences of sexual violence on the physical and mental health of women.

My Path to Recovery From Gender-Based Violence: Elusive, Victimized, or Agentive Position.

This article analyzes 10 autobiographical narratives of women who had experienced intimate relationship violence. In these narratives, we find several positions, that come from master narratives. These positions have some effects on the construction of subjectivities and on the process of recovery or redefinition of identity. The positions are (a) elusive, (b) victimized, and (c) agentive. The purpose of this article is to describe and analyze, from a feminist perspective, the position and subjectivity of women who suffer violence to address the prevention and treatment of this problem that affects individuals and society.

Facing Campus Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence with Courage: A Guide for Institutions and Clinicians on Prevention, Support, and Healing.

Facing Campus Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence with Courage: A Guide for Institutions and Clinicians on Prevention, Support, and Healing.

Discordant and Concordant Substance Use and Daily Partner Violence in Adolescent and Young Adult Relationships With Baseline Dating Violence

PurposeIntimate partner violence (IPV) and substance use in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are significant public health issues in the United States. Together, they can harm emotional regulation and romantic relationship functioning. This study examines the role of concordant and discordant substance use on IPV within AYA relationships. MethodsA prospective cohort of community-recruited AYA women in a heterosexual dating relationship with past-month IPV completed four months of daily surveys via a cell phone. Each day, participants reported any IPV perpetration and/or victimization, their alcohol and drug use, and observed partner substance use. Concordant substance use was coded when the participant and partner used drugs or alcohol on the same day. Discordant use was coded when only the participant or partner used drugs or alcohol on a given day. Alcohol and drug use were modeled separately. Generalized estimating equations accounted for the correlation of repeated measures. ResultsParticipants (N = 143) were 18.2 (1.1) years old, 93% African American race. Discordant alcohol and drug use was associated with same-day victimization, perpetration, and co-occurring violence compared to concordant nonuse. Similarly, concordant alcohol use, drug use, and alcohol/drug use were associated with increased odds of victimization, perpetration, and co-occurring violence compared to concordant nonuse. DiscussionDaily data illustrated that dyadic patterns of substance use are associated with IPV. These findings may facilitate the development of effective and developmentally appropriate IPV intervention programs for AYA that also integrate strategies to reduce substance use.

Embodying intimate border violence: collaborative art-research as multipliers of Latin American migrant women’s affects

ABSTRACT This paper argues for the decolonial feminist potential of multi-layered arts-research collaborations for critical research committed to advancing migrant justice. It reflects on the art-research collaborative project, ‘stitching voices, stitching bodies’, investigating the gendered, racialised, colonial and geopolitical dynamics of violence and resistance of Latin American migrant women. Collaborators included the author and visual artist Nina Franco, twenty anonymous Latin American survivors of violence, three Latin American women activists and a filmmaker, a British-Caribbean sound engineer and an Irish-Caribbean video editor. Through our art-research methodological engagements, the relationship between the researcher, artists and participants was significantly altered as we alternated between and simultaneously occupied those positions. Exchanging and complementing our skills and sensibilities, we tried new ways of working and overlapped various layers of expression to collectively produce knowledge that enhanced understandings of and multiplied affects concerning intimate border violence. Through our art, we were able to envision, explore and represent intimate border violence, coloniality and resistance to these in audio-visual and visceral ways that grasped and multiplied embodied affects not only for research participants and collaborators but also audiences.

Evidence-Based Reconstruction of Memories of a Disdainful Hookup: Identifying Risk Factors and Preventing Further Victimization.

Autobiographical memories of close relationships have been shown to have strong influence in health and life. Yet, there is no research published about longitudinal memory reconstruction of violent sporadic relationships while reading and discussing scientific evidence on gender violence victimization. This article presents a novel case of the reconstruction throughout time of the memory of a disdainful hookup experienced by a young woman. The victim's diary and an interview were the sources of data collection. The analytical categories were developed in dialogue with the participant. The results indicate that, as the subject learned scientific evidence on gender violence in sporadic relationships, she progressively recalled details of the episode that she had self-censored before, became aware of the very violent nature of the hookup, rejected the relationship, and freed her desire for satisfactory romantic relationships.

An analysis of the risk factors for intimate partner sexual violence against women and girls in Mexico

The goal of this study is to identify the extent to which a set of risk factors from the ecological model are associated with intimate partner sexual violence victimisation in Mexico. To achieve this goal, a structured additive probit model is applied to a dataset of 35,004 observations and 42 correlates. Findings indicate that age at sexual initiation, women’s sexual and professional autonomy, and social connectedness are associated with their victimisation risks. The findings provide evidence of factors that were previously unknown in Mexico or were solely based on theory but lacking empirical analysis. There are four key contributions. First, findings indicate that factors closer to the individual, such as personal experiences and interpersonal relationships, are more influential in explaining the women’s risks of IPSV victimisation. Second, significant factors were identified, including age at first sexual intercourse, autonomy in sexual and professional decision-making, and social networks. Third, it was possible to identify high-risk population subgroups that are often overlooked, such as women who had their sexual initiation during childhood. Finally, the introduction of some emerging indicators allowed for the examination of the experiences faced by women in various aspects of life, such as decision-making power and social networks.

Dating Violence dan Kecenderungan Self Injury Pasangan Berpacaran

Individuals experiencing violence in romantic relationships are not limited to women alone; men also experience dating violence. This study aims to analyze the relationship between dating violence and the tendency for self-injury in early adults who are dating. This research falls under quantitative research, with 135 respondents included as subjects. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling, and the analysis employs the Pearson Product Moment correlation test. The results of this study indicate a significantly negative relationship between dating violence and self-injury in dating couples. Based on the research findings and discussions conducted, there is a highly significant negative relationship between dating violence and self-injury in dating couples. This means that the lower the dating violence in dating couples, the higher the tendency to engage in self-injury, and vice versa.

Intimate partner sexual violence: the apple and the snake

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is now considered a real scourge by society, particu-larly as the rate of mortality worldwide remains so high. Noticeable by its absence is the phenomenon of intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) and this article is there-fore concerned with understanding its nature and the form it takes within couple relationships. To some extent sexual violence is most often a genitalised extension of IPV but it may also exist in its own right. Indeed, certain pathological personality organisations consider the spouse’s body as an object, a property, or an extension of the self. The consequences for both physical and mental health are significant, and although IPSV has much in common with IPV it also presents specific risk factors. Because of this, care must be both comprehensive and multidisciplinary, providing support and protection for the victim, as well as for both members of the couple to help them defuse, individualise, or emancipate themselves from the controlling aspects of the relationship. At a collective level, it is through a strong commitment to public policies of sexual health, education, and justice that we can tackle this complex and hitherto neglected process. Psychotherapy also has an important role to play in providing a secure and safe space for partners to explore the presence of sexual violence within the couple relationship and to address the issues concerned.

Exploring the Interplay of Intergenerational Transmission, Structural Inequalities, and Relative Resources in Domestic Violence: Evidence From a Nationally Representative Dataset

Domestic violence persists as a significant social challenge affecting a considerable number of women globally. Some scholars have ascribed the inclination toward domestic violence to a “cycle of violence” spanning generations, while others have pointed out structural inequalities. Feminist researchers contend that a comprehensive understanding necessitates exploration within the social and institutional realms of gender inequality. While each of these perspectives contributes significantly to comprehending domestic violence, individually, they might not unveil the complete causal narrative. This study endeavors to address this gap by proposing an integrated model to elucidate domestic violence in the context of Türkiye, examining (a) the correlation between growing up in a violent household and the susceptibility to domestic violence, (b) the interrelation between structural factors and the vulnerability to domestic violence, and (c) the connection between a woman’s advantageous position in terms of the couple’s relative resources and the likelihood of experiencing domestic violence. To achieve this objective, multivariate micro-level analyses were conducted using nationally representative data from the 2014 Research on Domestic Violence Against Women in Türkiye. The outcomes affirm the significance of all three approaches, highlighting the value of integrated methodologies for a more profound comprehension of the etiology of domestic violence. This insight is crucial for the development of effective prevention programs. Furthermore, the findings highlight intra-parental violence exposure as the most robust risk factor or predictor for subsequent involvement in violent intimate relationships. As the initial study in Türkiye encompasses early-life experiences, structural inequalities, and the relative resources of couples, this research is poised to contribute significantly to the existing body of literature on domestic violence.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence: A Phenomenological Interpretative Analysis Among Female Survivors in France.

Despite its prevalence, intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) remains a concealed and poorly understood form of violence against women. Although it is associated with numerous detrimental effects on mental health, very little is known about the subjective meaning of IPSV for survivors. This study addresses this gap by exploring IPSV from the perspective of female survivors within the context of their relationship with a male partner, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. This study seeks to provide a detailed examination of the personal experience of IPSV and to illuminate its meaning from a personal standpoint. We conducted in-depth interviews with seven IPSV survivors who were recruited after filing a complaint for intimate partner violence (IPV) in France. In total, five superordinate themes were identified: (a) "Setting the stage" describes how the complex dynamics preceding IPSV influence self-representation; (b) "Feeling like I'm nothing" describes the emotional experience of IPSV; (c) "Trying to get it, not getting it" describes how IPSV generates intense cognitive load; (d) "Looking back, developing a theory" describes how IPSV is interpreted retrospectively after breaking up with a violent partner; and (e) "Today: living with it" describes how IPSV affects the present. This study highlights how emotional distress and cognitive uncertainty are present on the way to IPSV, through IPSV, and even after filing charges and separating from the violent partner. Additionally, it shows that survivors attribute IPSV to a sense of individual vulnerability related to romantic love, hope, and traumatic childhood history. This study presents unique findings as it is the first one to explore the lived experience of IPSV among a sample of French IPV survivors.

The Fragmented Experience of Male “Victims” of Intimate Partner Violence in Heterosexual Relationships

ABSTRACT This study deals with the experience of men coping with violence toward them in heterosexual relationships. The research was conducted using a qualitative paradigm. It was based on 12 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Israeli men. The analysis focused on the participants’ self-perception in the context of domestic violence toward them. The findings demonstrated the effect of internalizations of socially constructed structural gender expectations on the participants’ self-perception, as a men, spouses and parents. The participants’ narratives exhibited deferent degrees of dichotomist gender perceptions, de-legitimacy for emotional vulnerability, traditional male roles as responsible spouses and parents. These elements intensified frustration and emotional repression of their experience which engendered helplessness and hopelessness. The knowledge generated should serve service providers by enabling professionals to examine IPV in a more holistic and flexible way, and to tailor interventions with men and women, that consider their unique cross-gender characteristics and difficulties.

The Voice of Our Sister to the Frenemy among Us: Psalm 55

The violence and discord of contemporary experience find resonance in Psalm 55. Awareness of multiple voices in the psalm reveals nuances in the rhetoric of violence and discord as microaggressions and acts of more explicit violence and abuse, including murder. Psalm 55 includes the language of taunt and insolence, what we sometimes refer to in contemporary parlance as gaslighting. The language of the sword represents not only war but intimate violence and abuse. The careful reader of Psalm 55 finds multiple voices in the ancient past that prefigure and amplify multiple voices in the conflicted present.

Prevalence, Pattern and Effect of Intimate Partner Violence against Women in Abeokuta, South West Nigeria.

The world over, women are victims of violence in close and intimate relationships where they are expected to be safe and protected. Intimate partner violence (IPV) significantly impacts the physical and mental well-being of those affected. This study assessed the prevalence, pattern and effects of IPV amongst women in Abeokuta South Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun State, South West Nigeria. This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Abeokuta - South LGA in Ogun State. Data were collected from 339 women in intimate relationships using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Ethical approval (HPRS/381/471) was obtained from the Ogun State Ministry of Health Ethical Review Committee. Analysis was done using IBM® SPSS version 23, and results were presented in frequencies and proportions using tables and charts. About three-quarters (73.2%) of the 339 respondents had experienced one form of IPV. Psychological/emotional violence, 224 (66.1%), and physical violence, 161 (47.5%), were the study's most commonly reported forms of violence. Amongst those affected, 186 (54.9%) were 'insulted', 87 (25.7%) were 'embarrassed in public' and another 124 (36.6%) were slapped. The effects of IPV reported were bruises/lacerations, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and attempted suicide. The prevalence of IPV of all forms were high in the studied population. Therefore, the government needs to create more awareness of the problem and promote investments in women's empowerment to reverse this trend.

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.

People With Disabilities and Violent Victimization in the Heartland: Results from the First Phase of the West Virginia Community Quality of Life Survey

Studies of violent victimization in rural and remote parts of the U.S. are in short supply and the bulk of those done so far focus mainly on man-to-woman violence in intimate relationships among people without disabilities. There is, indeed, a major need to broaden the focus of rural victimological research to include violence against people with disabilities, which is the main objective of this article. Relying on original exploratory data generated by the first phase of the West Virginia Community Quality of Life Survey (WVCQLS), population estimates of four types of violent victimization are presented: stalking, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and hate and bias assaults. The results show that a large number of rural West Virginia residents with disabilities experience these forms of victimization. Directions for further empirical and theoretical work are discussed.

Gender-Based Violence and Sexism among Young Couples

This study aims to characterise the prevalence of violence in intimate relationships among young university students and the internalisation of ambivalent sexism. The method used was a quantitative, descriptive study of Primary Education and Early Childhood Education groups in Andalusia, Spain. The final sample consisted of 848 participants. As a data collection tool, we used the VIREPA questionnaire and the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory. The results show that the most frequent forms of violence in young couples’ relationships are emotional, followed by physical and sexual violence, and emotional violence, followed by physical and psychological violence, with sexual aggression being slightly lower. Concerning the variable sex, although the averages are very close, women have higher averages in terms of emotional, physical, and psychological abuse; personal devaluation; and sexual abuse, while men have higher averages in terms of social and economic control. In addition, low levels of sexism were found to be ambivalent in the sample, with the results being highly differentiated by gender, with men having higher arithmetic means than women. This led us to design educational strategies that avoid inequalities between men and women and that contribute to the eradication of sexism and, consequently, the perpetration of violence.