Risk Of Violence Research Articles

The downstream effects of COVID-19 on adolescent girls in the Peruvian Amazon: qualitative findings on how the pandemic affected education and reproductive health

Due to COVID-19, schools were closed to mitigate disease spread. Past studies have shown that disruptions in education have unintended consequences for adolescents, including increasing their risk of school dropout,...

Women’s economic empowerment and maternal mental health: A qualitative study in Rural Kenya

IntroductionBackground: Maternal mental health is increasingly becoming a public health concern in developing countries because of predominant health and socio-economic inequalities. Mental well-being is essential for a woman to cope with daily life stresses and contribute positively to her community. Initiatives that empower women can enhance their well-being and improve the health of their families. However, limited evidence shows how women’s empowerment affects maternal well-being in a rural setting.ObjectivesThis paper explores the perspective of women’s economic empowerment in a rural Kenyan community and its effect on women’s mental well-being.Methods We purposively sampled women and men from the rural community who met the eligibility criteria (women who were pregnant and or with a child less than two years old and married men and residents in the community. We conducted two focus group discussions with the men and women separately, 11 key informant interviews with community stakeholders, and a four-month participant observation of 20 women participants who were pregnant and or with a child less than one year old.Results The study found that economically empowered women had greater decision-making power and self-efficacy. However, cultural expectations and barriers that dictated the role of women prevented them from accessing and controlling resources and participating in important decisions such as land and property ownership. Women faced domestic violence (physical, verbal, and denial of basic needs) and inadequate support (emotional, physical, and financial) from spouses and other family members. These challenges and barriers increased their mental stress. To cope, women engaged in economic activities individually or in groups to meet the basic needs of their families.ConclusionsWomen’s economic empowerment can positively and negatively affect their overall well-being. Positively, women gain greater access to resources, improved decision-making, and the ability to plan and achieve their goals. Negatively, empowerment can lead to reduced spousal and kin support and an increased risk of domestic violence. Furthermore, these negative consequences can also affect women’s mental well-being. To ensure the well-being of mothers, it is crucial to engage men in empowerment programs and raise awareness in communities to address socio-cultural norms that impede women’s economic empowerment and negatively affect the well-being of women. Additionally, mental health support should be incorporated into these empowerment programs to mitigate the negative effects of women’s empowerment and improve resilience.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Petitions for Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Second Amendment Sanctuary Status in Colorado

ImportanceExtreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) temporarily bar individuals adjudicated as being at risk of violence (including suicide) from buying or possessing firearms. In protest, many US jurisdictions have declared themselves “Second Amendment sanctuaries” (2A sanctuaries). Many 2A sanctuaries continue to use ERPOs in low numbers, suggesting a poorly defined risk threshold at which they are acceptable.ObjectiveTo characterize circumstances under which ERPOs are used in 2A sanctuaries, highlighting their most broadly acceptable applications.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study of civil court documents analyzed petitions for ERPOs filed in Colorado from January 2020 to December 2022. All petitions during the study period were included following de-duplication. These include petitions filed by law enforcement and family members against adults allegedly at risk of firearm violence across the state. Data were analyzed on a rolling basis between January 2020 and June 2023.ExposureERPO petition filed in Colorado.Main Outcomes and MeasuresSeventy-seven data elements defined a priori were abstracted from all petitions and case files, including respondent demographics, petitioner types (family or law enforcement), types of threats (self, other, mass violence, combination), violence risk factors, and case outcomes (granted, denied).ResultsOf a total 338 ERPOs filed in Colorado, 126 (37.3%) occurred in 2A sanctuaries. Sixty-one of these 2A petitions were granted emergency orders, and 40 were full 1-year ERPOs after a hearing. Forty ERPOs (31.7%) were petitioned for by law enforcement. Petitions in non-2A counties were more likely to have been filed by law enforcement (138 of 227 [64.9%] vs 40 of 126 [31.7%]; P < .001) and to have had an emergency order granted (177 of 227 [78.0%] vs 61 of 126 [48.4%]; P < .001) than in 2A sanctuaries. Qualitative analysis of cases in 2A sanctuaries revealed common aggravating risk characteristics, including respondents experiencing hallucinations, histories of police interaction, and substance misuse. ERPOs have been granted in 2A sanctuaries against individuals threatening all forms of violence we abstracted for (themselves, others, and mass violence).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this examination of ERPO petitions across Colorado, more than a third of filings occurred in 2A sanctuaries. Nonetheless, law enforcement represent proportionately fewer petitions in these areas, and petitions are less likely to be granted. Serious mental illness, substance misuse, and prior interactions with law enforcement featured prominently in 2A sanctuary petitions. These case circumstances highlight dangerous situations in which ERPOs are an acceptable risk-prevention tool, even in areas politically predisposed to opposing them.

Gendered Vulnerabilities in Disaster Responses: A Case Study of Majuli Island, Assam

This study employs a qualitative research methodology to study the gender disparities in disaster responses, focusing on the case study of Majuli Island in Assam, India, to provide nuanced insights into the distinct vulnerabilities experienced by women, particularly in the context of floods. Through an in-depth exploration of social norms, behavioural restrictions, and resource allocation practices, the research elucidates how women’s roles as caregivers and providers constrain their mobility and exacerbate their susceptibility to harm. The gendered ramifications of disasters on health, encompassing reproductive health issues and malnutrition, are underscored, alongside the psychological and physiological impacts that precipitate enduring mental anguish and heightened risks of violence and abuse. The findings underscore the imperative for gender-sensitive approaches to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, advocating for comprehensive strategies that foreground women’s safety, well-being, and empowerment. By adopting a qualitative research methodology grounded in descriptive investigation, the study delves deeply into the lived experiences of communities grappling with disaster risks, offering invaluable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and communities striving to foster inclusive and resilient societies.

Risky Sexual Behaviours and Knowledge on Contraceptive Use and Family Planning Among Women Who Use Drugs (WWUDs) in Malaysia

Women who use drugs (WWUDs) face elevated risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) and unsafe sexual behaviours. This prevalence study, involving 200 WWUDs in a mandated drug rehabilitation program, examined risky sexual behaviours, family planning knowledge among IPV victims, and barriers to contraceptives or condoms use. The majority were Malays (86%, n = 171/200), averaging 32.3 years of age (SD = 8.61). Over half had experienced IPV in their lifetime (53%, n = 105/200). IPV victims had higher odds of unwanted pregnancies, prior abortions, concurrent drug use with partners, drug use before sex, and cohabitation with male partners who used drugs. Sixty percent were uninformed of female condoms, and most disliked using male condoms due to performance concerns. Despite better family planning knowledge among IPV victims, WWUDs had limited awareness of contraceptive use. Interventions should prioritize empowering and educating WWUDs, particularly IPV victims, on IPV prevention and the risks associated with unsafe sexual behaviour during rehabilitation.

From Harmful Practices and Instrumentalisation, towards Legislative Protections and Community-Owned Healthcare Services: The Context and Goals of the Intersex Movement in Australia

People with innate variations of sex characteristics (also known as intersex traits or disorders or differences of sex development) have any of a wide range of innate physical traits that differ from medical and social norms for female and male bodies. Responses to these physical differences create experiences and risks of stigmatisation, discrimination, violence, and harmful medical practices intended to promote social and familial integration and conformity with gender stereotypes. As is evident globally, the Australian policy response to the existence and needs of people with innate variations of sex characteristics has been largely incoherent, variously framing the population as having disordered sex development in need of “fixing”, and a third sex/gender identity group in need of recognition, with only recent engagement by intersex community-controlled civil society organisations. This paper presents an overview of the context and goals of the intersex human rights movement in Australia. Australian intersex community organisations have sought to apply human rights norms and develop new infrastructure to address key health and human rights issues, and necessitating new ways of resolving policy incoherence. Together with human rights, mental health, and public health institutions, they have called for significant changes to medical models of care and reform to research and classification systems. Intersex community organising and resourcing have made a tangible difference. The Australian Capital Territory is the first jurisdiction in the country to move ahead with reforms to clinical practice, including a legislative prohibition of certain practices without personal informed consent, oversight of clinical decision-making, and investment in psychosocial support. A national community-controlled psychosocial support service has also commenced.

The violence profile of male mentally disordered offenders in a high secure unit in Turkiye

Our knowledge of the severity and reoffending is limited for mentally disordered offenders, and studies generally evaluate without separation between different diagnostic groups. It was aimed to determine the general profile of mentally disordered offenders who are inpatients in a high secure psychiatry unit from Turkiye and to evaluate the factors associated with violence profiles among different diagnostic groups. According to the results the schizophrenia patients committed the most severe crimes, and intellectual disability patients had some different features from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients. History of substance misuse in the intellectual disability group (p = 0,045) and comorbid antisocial personality disorder in the bipolar disorder group (p = 0,015) were associated with increased crime severity. Substance misuse history, history of substance use during the crime, and the existence of comorbid antisocial personality disorder were associated with increased offenses in each of the three diagnosis groups. Living alone (p = 0,004) and having a suicide history (p= 0,052) were associated with the high number of offenses in the schizophrenia group. This study is the first study that compares three diagnostic groups to involve a large patient group. We believe that clinicians must evaluate these parameters for the violence risk assessment of patients.

A Second Proof of Concept Investigation of Strengths Using the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth Tool With Justice-Involved Youth: Item Level Risk-Based Effects and Interactions.

Despite efforts to incorporate protective factors or 'strengths' in applied risk assessments for criminal reoffending, there has been limited progress towards a consensus regarding what is meant by such terms, what effects predictors can exert, or how to describe such effects. This proof of concept study was undertaken to address those issues. A structured professional judgment tool was used to create lower and higher historical/static risk groups with a sample of 273 justice-involved male youth with sexual offenses followed over a fixed 3-year period. Using risk and protective poles to create pairs of dichotomous variables from trichotomously rated risk and protective items, risk-based exacerbation and risk-based protective effects were found. These varied in terms of whether the effect on the outcome of a new violent (including sexual) offense was larger, smaller, or absent for youth at higher or lower historical/static risk. Some of these potentially dynamic dichotomous variables were shown to have a protective (or risk) effect after controlling for both historical/static risk and that same item's risk (or protective) effect. Some moderated the association between historical/static risk and recidivism, strengthening or reducing it. Terms for these effects and implications of incorporating strengths in research and applied practice were considered.

A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Coercive Control and COVID-19 Stress Among Black Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During times of crises, women are at elevated risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), but extant discourse fails to consider how this landscape amplifies disparities for Black women. This study examined the prevalence and associations of COVID-19 pandemic-specific coercive control and COVID-19-related stress among Black women experiencing IPV. Fifty-five Black women reporting past-year IPV participated in a prospective cohort study in 2020 and completed surveys on pandemic-specific coercive control, COVID-19-related stress, and sociodemographic characteristics. A subset of 15 participants completed semi-structured interviews in 2021. We conducted multivariable regression analyses to examine associations between coercive control and stress. We used interpretive phenomenological analysis to contextualize women's experiences of coercive control and stress during the pandemic. In the past 3 months, 76% (42 of 55) of women had a partner blame them for exposing them to COVID-19, 74% (41 of 55) had a partner minimize their pandemic concerns, and 52% (29 of 55) had a partner prevent them from getting a COVID-19 test. A higher average of pandemic-specific coercive control was associated with greater severity of COVID-19-related traumatic stress (b [SE] = 0.033 [0.009]; P = .001) and socioeconomic consequences related to COVID-19 (b [SE] = 0.019 [0.008]; P = .03). We identified 3 superordinate themes that illustrated Black women's experiences: (1) coercive control, (2) pandemic-driven shifts in relational context, and (3) women's structural and psychosocial stressors. Experiencing coercive control during the pandemic interfered with Black women's engagement in preventive behaviors, which exacerbated distress. Intersectional public health efforts should address sociostructural and relational factors to prevent coercive control and stress among Black women experiencing IPV.

Investigating racial disparities in violence risk assessment using the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide-Version 3 (SARA-V3): Structured professional judgment ratings and recidivism among Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals.

Racial disparities in criminal justice outcomes are widely observed. In Canada, such disparities are particularly evident between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons. The role of formal risk assessment in contributing to such disparities remains a topic of interest to many, but critical analysis has almost exclusively focused on actuarial or statistical risk measures. Recent research suggests that ratings from other common tools, based on the structured professional judgment model, can also demonstrate racial disparities. This study examined risk assessments produced using a widely used structured professional judgment tool, the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide-Version 3, among a sample of 190 individuals with histories of intimate partner violence. We examined the relationships among race, risk factors, summary risk ratings, and recidivism while also investigating whether participants' racial identity influenced the likelihood of incurring formal sanctions for reported violence. Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide-Version 3 risk factor totals and summary risk ratings were associated with new violent charges. Indigenous individuals were assessed as demonstrating more risk factors and were more likely to be rated as high risk, even after controlling for summed risk factor totals and prior convictions. They were also more likely to recidivate and to have a history of at least one reported act of violence that did not result in formal sanctions. The results suggest that structured professional judgment guidelines can produce disparate results across racial groups. The disparities observed may reflect genuine differences in the likelihood of recidivism, driven by psychologically meaningful risk factors which have origins in deep-rooted systemic and contextual factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Trade-offs? The Impact of WTO Accession on Intimate Partner Violence in Cambodia

Abstract We study the impact of trade-induced changes in labor market conditions on violence within the household. We exploit the local labor demand shocks generated by Cambodia’s WTO accession to assess how changes in the employment of women relative to men affected the risk of intimate partner violence. We document that men in districts facing larger tariff reductions experienced a significant decline in paid employment, whereas women in harder-hit districts increased their entry into the labor force. These changes in employment patterns triggered backlash effects by increasing intimate partner violence, without changes in marriage, fertility, psychological distress, or household consumption.

Remedial, institutional or radical? Explaining community responses to violence against women in an NGO programme to prevent violence in Mumbai, India

Despite ambitions in development and global health policy to transform communities into supportive environments for women facing risks of violence, our understanding of how to best engage communities remains incomplete. In particular, there is little evidence on the types of strategies that communities employ to address violence against women (VAW). We aimed to describe and analyse the processes involved in community responses to incidents of VAW in a non-governmental organisation (NGO) violence prevention programme in Mumbai, India. We conducted a grounded theory study involving 30 focus group discussions and 36 semi-structured interviews with 113 community members and 9 NGO staff, as well as over 170 h of field observation. Informed by comparative case study methods, we compared community actions across six informal settlement neighbourhoods. We found considerable variation in the type of action taken across neighbourhoods. This variation was not arbitrary, but reflected systematic cost-benefit considerations in heterogeneous environments, accounting for factors such as trust in neighbours, violent (armed or gang-related) crime, and corruption in state institutions. We found that institutional action was only favoured in neighbourhoods with strong state capacity and high social capital, whilst remedial action—resolving violence through ‘private’ talks in the family and community—and radical action involving extra-judicial violence—became favourable under conditions of weak social capital or low state capacity. Institutional action was, however, sometimes as violent as radical action, as police were reported, sometimes even relied upon, by residents to use force against perpetrators of VAW. We argue that these contextual features oblige policymakers and prevention researchers to grapple with contentious issues such as the legitimate use of force by the state. We caution against maximising community action without a clear vision of the type of action hoped for.

Too sensitive or not sensitive enough? Sensitivity to context and justice-involved youths' response to violence exposure.

With high rates of violence exposure among justice-involved youth, it is critical to identify factors that might impact the likelihood of youth engaging in violence themselves. One such factor is sensitivity to context, which describes how sensitive youth are to experiences in their environment. Using an ethnically diverse sample of justice-involved male adolescents (47% Latino, 38% Black/African American, 15% White) aged 13-17 at the time of their first arrest, the results of this study indicate that exposure to violence was related to increased violent behavior six months later, and this effect was strongest among youth who were low in sensitivity to context. These findings may help practitioners identify which youth are at greatest risk for violence in a policy-relevant population.

Intervening factors between risk of violence and aggressive behaviours among forensic inpatients: a scoping review

BackgroundRisk of violence is closely associated with aggression propensity. However, there is a lack of research to explain the mechanisms behind this association, especially among the patients of forensic secure facilities. This review aimed to identify and synthesize the available literature concerning the intervening factors (mediating or moderating factors) in the relationship between the risk of violence and aggressive behavior in forensic secure facilities.MethodsTwo electronic academic databases were searched: Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) using specific keywords as search terms derived from the PCC framework with no specific time limit. The search strategy was developed based on the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and utilised the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Data on the risk of violence, intervening factors, and aggressive behavior were extracted from the included studies. Further analysis was performed whereby similar data were grouped and synthesised together.ResultsThe initial search produced 342 studies. However, only nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The nine studies included 1,068 adult forensic inpatients from various psychiatric hospitals. Only mediation studies reported significant mechanisms of influence between the risk of violence and aggressive behavior. It is postulated that the human agency factor may be the underlying factor that influences a person’s functioning and the subsequent series of events between the risk of violence and aggression.ConclusionsIn light of the paucity of evidence in this area, a generalised conclusion cannot be established. More studies are warranted to address the gaps before conclusive recommendations can be proposed to the relevant stakeholders.

Mathematical Modeling of Intra-Communal Violence and Risk-Level Analysis. Case Study: Obiaruku Community in Delta State, Nigeria

This paper aims to capture the dynamics of intra-communal violence in a deterministic model of ordinary differential equations, accordingly, the Authors found some interesting results. Lack of quality education, insecurity, bad roads, drugs and alcoholism, unequal representation in government and religious decay have been identified as key factors supporting intra-communal violence over the years. In this research work we built all these factors into a deterministic model describing intra-communal violence and performed some basic mathematical analysis such as positivity of solutions, existence of invariant region, violence-free equilibrium, violence-persistent equilibrium, basic reproduction number, sensitivity analysis, stability analysis and bifurcation analysis. It was revealed that the violence-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. The model exhibits a forward bifurcation. The sensitivity analysis revealed that injustice and insecurity are highly sensitive parameters of the basic reproduction number. We also designed a questionnaire to ascertain the violence risk level of Obiaruku community in Delta State, Nigeria and the analysis revealed that the community is at the medium high risk level and thus violence may occur in most cases in the community. The results of the stability analysis and the sensitivity analysis showed that under certain conditions, a community can be brought to the maximum low risk level and the maximum high peace level.

The Risk Screener Violence (RS-V): retrospective prediction of violent and aggressive incidents within the prison setting.

Physical and verbal violence toward staff or other detained individuals is a reoccurring problem within correctional facilities. Screening for violence risk within the prison setting could provide a valuable first step in the prevention of institutional violence. The brief and compact Risk Screener Violence (RS-V) has shown to be an efficient new method for assessing concerns regarding post-release violent offending for incarcerated persons. This study aimed to find out whether the RS-V is also able to predict future violent and aggressive incidents during imprisonment. The predictive validity of the RS-V for future violent and aggressive incidents during a follow-up time of 4 months within prison was analyzed, using a file-based design. Violent incidents toward staff and other inmates (physical violence and violent threats), other aggressive incidents (aggression toward objects and verbal disruptive behavior), and both categories combined, were included as outcome measures based on disciplinary reports. The RS-V showed medium to large predictive values for both violent and aggressive behavior during prison stay. In particular, good predictive values of the RS-V were found for violence toward prison staff. This study shows that, besides post-release violent recidivism, the RS-V is able to accurately predict future violent and aggressive incidents during prison stay. By correctly differentiating between low concern and high concern individuals, the RS-V aims to contribute to more personalized interventions and risk management and, subsequently, to improved prison safety. Future studies using prospective prison practice data are needed to further support the validity of the RS-V regarding institutional violence.

‘They see us as an easy target’: discrimination and hate crime against Eastern European women living in the UK

Anti-immigration sentiment, discrimination and hate crime, against Eastern Europeans in the UK, has increased in recent years. Prior to Brexit, European Union (EU) citizens were afforded free movement, including rights to live and work in the UK, but in 2020, those without residency status, were subject to strict immigration laws and restrictions on living and working in the UK. Research shows that punitive immigration policies have a disproportionate impact on migrant women, increasing their risk of discrimination, exploitation, and gender-based violence. However, while in 2022 the UK government ratified the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, a treaty otherwise known as the ‘Istanbul Convention’, they opted out of Article 59, which specifically protects migrant women. Existing research into discrimination, exploitation, and gender-based violence against migrant women, in the UK, largely focuses on Black and minority ethnic (BME) women. This article reports on findings from a mixed-methods, descriptive study, on the specific experiences of Eastern European women, living in the UK. Findings explore the intersecting gendered and racial discrimination against Eastern European women, in the UK, providing a descriptive account of the distinct forms of gender-based discrimination and violence which they face.

Does time work its magic? The relationship between time in detention and risk of violence and aggression

ABSTRACT The present study intends to analyze if there are differences in scores of aggressiveness and violence between three groups of pre-trial detainees with different times of detention. Our analysis regarding the levels of aggressiveness and risk of violence showed a tendency for both measures to be higher in groups detained for less time, even when criminal variables are controlled. Our findings highlight the higher propensity for remanded prisoners to be violent and display aggressive behavior during the first period of confinement, which emphasizes the need to improve the mechanisms of adaptation to that environment.

Examining the Intersection of Disability Status, Sexual Identity, Gender Identity, and Victimization Among College Students

ABSTRACT Research often finds persons with a disability, persons who are transgender non-conforming (TGNC), or who are sexual minorities experience increased victimization risk. Less research has examined how these identities intersect to impact victimization risk. Thus, our study adds to the literature by examining how these identities intersect to influence risk of violent, sexual, and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among a national-level sample of college students. In doing so, we explore the interactions between having any disability and being TGNC and being a sexual minority on victimization risk. In addition, specific disability types are explored for their potential interactive effects. Findings show increased risk of sexual victimization and IPV victimization among those who identify as TGNC and have a disability. Specific disability types, speech and mobility, interacted with gender identity to impact risk. Our findings suggest the need for universities to implement inclusive and culturally competent prevention and intervention efforts.

Socio-Cultural Settings and The Meaning of Gun Ownership and Presence: Comparing Pilot Samples from The United States and Israel

Civilian gun ownership is hotly debated in societies around the world, especially in the United States. This study added to the discussion by comparing samples from two countries representing opposite extremes in terms of civilian gun access policy: the US where the right of civilians to own guns is Constitution-based and Israel where civilian access to guns is extremely limited and strictly supervised. One hundred and two American and 142 Israeli citizens completed a series of online measures of exposure to guns, attitudes, meaning attributed to gun ownership, and gun culture. Significant differences were found on all measures. The Israeli sample reported higher endorsement of civilian gun ownership, and Israelis associated gun ownership and presence in the civilian space with enhanced security. Gun culture was predominantly self-defense in both samples, but the US sample also showed higher prevalence of other cultures, such as hunting and sport. Gender played a major role in the results in both samples, with women reporting lower endorsement of gun ownership by civilians and attributing more risk and chance of violence to the presence of guns in their environment. The results are discussed in the socio-political and cultural context.