Intimate Violence Research Articles

Abusive relationships and their repercussions from the perspective of undergraduate healthcare students

in several dimensions. Abusive relationships reflect patriarchal society, and perpetuate abuse of power and gender inequality. Existing literature focuses on marital relationships, pointing out a need for further investigation into violence in dating relationships and among young people. The goal was to analyze the perspective of health students on abusive relationships and their repercussions. This is a qualitative study, carried out in a private Higher Education Institution (IES), in 2023, with female students, over 18 years old. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and analyzed and interpreted through Minayo content analysis. The research was approved by the IES ethics committee. The interviewees highlighted violence and possessiveness in abusive relationships, highlighting impacts on victims' mental health and the importance of information and positive representation of women in the media for prevention. The study emphasizes the urgency of understanding abusive relationships and disseminating information to promote more equitable and safe relationships.

IN DUBIO PRO REO: Analysis of criminal liability in borderline personality disorder in domestic violence

This work aims to analyze volition and behavior in Criminal Law and its application in cases of domestic violence, identifying how forms of domestic violence can affect the characteristics of the person with borderline personality disorder along with volition, which can affect the assessment of criminal liability in cases of domestic violence in accordance with the principle of in dubio pro reo. A qualitative literary review was used in the databases Periódicos CAPES, Google Scholar, Scielo (dated from 2000 to 2023); in specialized literature and on the official Planalto website. The emotional instability of the person with BPD along with aspects of affective relationships can lead to aggressive situations within the domestic environment, such as psychological and physical violence that can be marked by impulsivity, as well as intentional, which lead to doubts regarding their judgment, of so that they must be evaluated in the concrete. Therefore, when in doubt about imputability, semi-imputability applies; doubt about semi-imputability, non-imputability applies. It is noted that psychological violence has the nature of semi-imputability, due to the intentional aspects of relational maintenance and physical violence may contain the assumption of non-imputability, linked to impulsiveness and intense anger.

Developing A Mobile Application to Determine the Psychological Wellness of University Students

of university students. Material and Methods: Using an innovative and interdisciplinary approach, this study follows a rigorous methodology from September 2022 to June 2023. The development of the mobile application followed a systematic and structured process to ensure functionality, usability, and reliability. Throughout all stages of development, professional support was sought from information technology to ensure the technical robustness, reliability, and effectiveness of the application. The study embraces four developmental stages including needs identification, technical development, intervention design, and promotion. These stages ensure a student-centered approach, while the application itself offers insights into depression, anxiety, stress, relationship violence attitudes, addiction, Internet addiction, sleep quality, and eating disorders. Results: A unique and all-inclusive mobile application was created to assess and enhance the psychological well-being of university students. With the real-time emotion monitoring feature of the application, students may keep an eye on their present emotional states and develop self-awareness. If long-term negative emotions are detected, the early warning system is activated and implemented. It provides uninterrupted referrals to qualified professionals for immediate response and support in emergency situations and an enhanced feedback mechanism for user complaints and suggestions. It also provides sensitive evaluation and triage processes by creating an anonymous system record to provide instant support, when necessary. The application also includes stress management guidance for students. Conclusion: This application provides real-time data that offers mental health professionals a comprehensive overview of students' psychological states.

Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex relationships: a call for research-to-action partnerships in higher education settings

Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex relationships: a call for research-to-action partnerships in higher education settings

"Being My Own Pillar of Support": How Palestinian-Arab Women Citizens of Israel Cope With IPV.

Studies on the ways in which women implement coping strategies to recover from intimate partner violence have primarily focused on Western, non-collectivistic societies. To contribute to the scant literature on coping strategies among women in traditional-collectivistic societies, the current study applied the principles of Clinical Ethnographic Narrative Interview to analyze the experiences of 15 Palestinian-Arab citizens of Israel as these women confronted violence within marriage. This exploration is situated within the backdrop of entrenched collectivistic traditional norms and the broader context of the enduring Israeli-Arab conflict. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis revealed three themes that translated into a transformative three-phase coping model. The first theme covers navigating violent relationships through avoidance, emotional encapsulation, and cognitive reframing. The second theme describes strategies to mitigate violence and its consequences, including escapist and immediate departure, sustained fulfillment of duties, and maintaining hope amid adversity. The third theme characterizes strategies aimed at achieving self-care and self-empowerment. The findings highlight the importance of acknowledging women's definition of coping and recovery within their cultural constraints as they chart their coping trajectories.

Exploration of Black/African American College Survivors of IPV During COVID-19 Utilizing Descriptive Analysis.

The last few decades have ushered in an increase in scholarship focused on campus-based violence, specifically sexual violence, sexual assault, and unwanted sexual experiences. This rise in sexual violence scholarship has promoted the examination of current campus-based interventions, resources, and response systems. However, there exists a dearth of research exploring the experience of intimate partner violence for college students within college/university settings. In this descriptive analysis, we capture the prevalence of intimate partner violence for a nationwide sample of 1,035 college students across diverse college and university campuses within the United States. Researchers utilized a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Intimate Partner Violence Screening Questionnaire to capture and measure college students' experiences of intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. To analyze the data, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 28) was used. Univariate analyses and cross-tabulation analyses were conducted to examine the data. Specifically, due to the majority of research focusing on cisgender, White heterosexual women respondents, we focus our analysis on the experiences of Black and/or African American survivors of intimate partner violence on college campuses, in hopes of capturing the prevalence of intimate and relationship violence for Black/African American college students across colleges and universities. Results of this study revealed the prevalence of all types of intimate partner violence and abuse such as emotional/psychological, physical, and sexual violence within Black/African American college students. Findings from this database study produce implications for college/university campuses to consider capacity to address enduring psychological concerns and outcomes tied to intimate partner violence within college/university campuses, while also considering culturally responsive prevention and intervention efforts.

To Care and to Control? Lights and Shadows in Empowerment Processes with Women in Violent Relationships

To Care and to Control? Lights and Shadows in Empowerment Processes with Women in Violent Relationships

DV in International Households in Japan: Interview and Questionary Survey Results on Cases of Sexual Violence

This study investigates instances of sexual violence within international households in Japan consisting of one Japanese and one non-Japanese citizen. By applying two classifications such as relationship violence (i.e., intimate partner mistreatment) and type of maltreatment (in the case of this study, it is sexual violence), the research explores intimate partner violence and sexual coercion and abuse. The reliable data was collected from 83 survey participants and 18 interviewees, revealing that most respondents either did not experience or were unwilling to disclose incidents of sexual mistreatment. According to the OEQ, three participants reported instances of sexual abuse. With the consent of two female respondents, their experiences were analyzed using inductive coding and case study methods and illustrated in this manuscript. The findings highlight significant obstacles, including the lack of research and statistical data on domestic violence in international households in Japan. Despite these challenges, the study elucidates the nature of sexual domestic violence and abuse faced by migrants. It underscores how environments of fear and male dominance affect women's control over their fertility and sexual freedom. The case studies illustrate different forms of reproductive control and forced sex, suggesting a need for further research on sexual abuse as a risk factor for sexual coercion, fertility control issues, and the potential spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in international households.

The Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Recognizing and Practicing Healthy Relationship and Consensual Behaviors

Sexual assault and relationship violence are a public health issue on college campuses. In order to prevent gender-based violence, it is important to understand the multiple protective factors that could be utilized in university prevention programming. Self-efficacy has not been thoroughly explored as a factor that could influence whether people recognize healthy romantic and sex relationship behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine whether self-efficacy has a significant relationship with recognizing consent and healthy relationships and whether it impacts a person’s likelihood to practice active consent. The results of this study demonstrated that self-efficacy has a significant relationship with a person’s confidence in their ability to recognize consent behaviors, practice consent behaviors, and recognize when they are in a healthy relationship. Future research should further explore how self-efficacy can be a protective factor in preventing sex and relationship violence.

Assessing risk for severe domestic violence and related homicides perpetrated by partners and in-laws: adapted danger assessments for women in abusive relationships in India

Despite domestic violence and related homicides perpetrated by partners and/or in-laws being a significant public health problem in India, there are no reliable and valid instruments to identify and intervene with women in domestic violence relationships. Continued domestic violence can escalate to severe, near-lethal, or lethal violence or homicide. The Danger Assessment (DA) is a risk assessment instrument designed to assess the likelihood of severe, near-lethal, or lethal violence in abusive relationships. However, the DA is not designed to determine the risk of future severe, near-lethal, or lethal violence by in-laws. In-law abuse plays a significant role in domestic violence-related homicides in India and other countries with similar cultural norms. This study addressed this gap by developing the Danger Assessment for in-laws (DA-L) to assess risk from in-laws, alongside the Danger Assessment for Women in India (DA-WI) to assess risk from partners. The study also examined the psychometric properties of the DA-L and DA-WI. Longitudinal data from 150 women in India were used to measure the reliability and validity of the two versions of the DA. The original DA items and additional risk items were examined using relative risk ratios for their relationship with severe violence at three-month follow-ups. Predictive validity was tested with the receiver operating characteristic curve. The study resulted in reliable and valid measures (11 items DA-L and 26-items DA-WI) of risk. The versions of the DA can be useful for practitioners in India and those working with Indian women in the US and other countries. The DAs can be used for identifying women in domestic violence relationships who are at risk for future severe domestic violence and guide the provision of tailored safety plans.

Analysis of the Crime of Sexual Violence in the Study of National Criminal Law Indonesia

Criminal acts of sexual violence that occur in adolescent relationships can be said to be a form of unhealthy relationship. Not a few teenagers make unhealthy relationships as an outlet for emotions that are not channeled properly, and can also be a psychological trauma that encourages a teenager to take retaliatory actions against others. Sexual violence against women and children is an essence in the form of violence by showing the vulnerability of the position of women or children to sexual interests that occur in men. The identification of acts committed by a perpetrator of sexual violence is sexual desire and power that cannot be restrained and most women are always used as object. The issues raised in this writing are What are the forms of sexual violence in unhealthy relationships and Analysis of Toxic Relationship crimes. This research method uses normative juridical methods with a statutory approach and a case approach. Based on this study, the spread of sexual violence that occurs in unhealthy relationships usually attacks victims, especially women who are trapped in a relationship with the perpetrator. The government and law enforcement officials have a role to punish and sanction perpetrators of toxic relationship crimes.

Gender-Based Dating Violence and Social Media among Spanish Young People: A Qualitative Study.

(1) Gender-based dating violence is common among adolescents. This violence has global repercussions and can have immediate and delayed consequences on health. Also, cases of dating violence and sexual abuse using technology are increasing. The aim of this research is to describe and understand the perceptions and experiences of Spanish university students aged 18 to 22, about gender-based dating violence and its perpetuation through social media. (2) A qualitative descriptive study was used, following the five consolidated criteria for reporting and publishing COREQ qualitative research. (3) The inductive analysis of the data obtained in the focus group session and the individual interviews of the twelve participants was organised into three major themes: the concept of gender violence that Spanish youth have, the education they have received on gender-based violence and whether they consider that social media are a way to exercise this type of violence. (4) Spanish youth have a broad vision of the attitudes and behaviours that make up gender-based dating violence in an affective relationship. The education received at home is of vital importance for young people, but not all receive it. Social media are frequent tools through which many young people perpetuate controlling partner violence and normalise aspects and situations of gender violence, making it necessary to stress them in prevention programs.

Powerful and Vulnerable: Workplace Violence Against Swedish Social Workers, Teachers, and Journalists

This article compares Swedish social workers, teachers, and journalists’ experiences of workplace violence. It addresses similarities and differences between the three professional groups in terms of who exposed them to workplace violence, what it was about, and what triggered it. The article is based on an online survey study, and the findings suggest that consumer-related violence from target groups was the most common among all three professional groups. Looking at worker-on-worker relationship violence, the teachers were the most exposed, followed by social workers and journalists, and such violence suggests bullying in the workplace. Most respondents stated that the hate, threats, and harassment were about their professional competence. While all of these professional groups have a position of power in society, they also perceive that it is often in the situations in which they exercise their power (e.g., making a decision for social workers and teachers or when journalists publish) that they become targets for workplace violence.

The Meaning of Toxic Relationship Communication for Teenagers

This research is motivated by the phenomenon of the rise of toxic relationships in romantic relationships among teenagers. This results in depression, suicide attempts due to excessive pressure from the perpetrator. Komnas Perempuan's annual records for 2022 contain 3,528 data on cases of violence in romantic relationships. The aim of this research is to explain the motives, experiences and meaning of toxic relationship communication in romantic relationships for teenagers in Garut Regency. The research method used is a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. Phenomenological theory becomes the scalpel in this research to obtain an explanation for the phenomenon of toxic relationships. Data collection techniques through participant observation, in-depth interviews, literature study and documentation. The data analysis techniques in this research are data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions. The research results show that the motives for toxic relationships in romantic relationships vary, starting from internal factors such as obsession, narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), excessive disclosure and external factors such as the surrounding environment and the presence of an ex-lover in a new relationship. The experiences of toxic relationships that many people experience are verbal and nonverbal violence, mild depression to severe depression, trauma, hampered personal development and loss of confidence in having new relationships with other people. The communication meaning of a toxic relationship is one-way communication, a relationship that hurts each other, does not have good expectations from the romantic relationship that is being carried out and the relationship is dominated by only one party.

A Brief Online Motivational Tool to Promote Early Help-Seeking in Men Using Abuse and Violence in Relationships: A Feasibility Trial.

Men's use of domestic violence is a major public health issue globally. However, the potential for technology to address this issue has been limited within research and practice. This study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of an online healthy relationship tool (BETTER MAN) for men who have used domestic violence to encourage help-seeking. A pre- and postsurvey with a 3-month follow-up was used. One hundred and forty men enrolled, with retention rates of 79% (111) immediately after BETTER MAN and 62% (86) at 3 months. Participants were diverse men (mean age of 32 years, 33% born outside Australia, 19% in same-sex relationships, and 2% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander). The majority (70%, 58) of men reported behaviors classified as moderate risk (e.g., checked partner's phone, picked on partner, and controlled money) and 24% (20) as high-risk behaviors (e.g., scared partner, physical force, and unwanted sexual activities). Post BETTER MAN, there was a significant increase in mean intention to contact counseling service (baseline 5.8, immediately 6.7, and 3-month follow-up 7.2) and mean confidence in the ability to seek help (baseline 3.7, immediately 5.1, and 3-month follow-up 7.2). Men's readiness to make changes in behavior median score significantly moved from baseline (5.9-I am not ready to take action), immediately (6.7-I am ready to make some changes), and 3-month follow-up (7.2-I have begun to change my behavior). At 3-month follow-up, 55% (47/86) of men reported accessing counseling services compared with 34% (46/140) of men at baseline. Findings suggest that it is feasible that BETTER MAN might work to engage men to seek help and is acceptable to men using domestic violence. However, a large-scale randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the effectiveness of BETTER MAN on help-seeking behaviors for men's use of domestic violence.

Digitala plattformar för att motverka våld i nära relationer

Digital platforms to counter violence in close relationships - Women’s shelters digitising their functions during the Covid-19 pandemic This study focuses on how women’s shelters in Sweden came to use digital platforms to reshape their social work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through short telephone interviews with 14 managers of women’s shelters on several occasions during 2020 and 2021, this study highlights how their extended use of digital platforms left them with both possibilities and thresholds in their work to reach and stay in contact with abused women and children. Women’s shelters made use of both mobile and wireless platforms (such as text messages in mobile phones) and web-based platforms (such as chat groups on the Internet). The results of the study are presented in four different themes. The first theme concerns how women and youth came into contact with the women’s shelters and what platforms they used. The next theme focuses on how the digital contact was created and maintained. An important finding is that the number of contacts from young people increased, while the overall number of adult women decreased. The third theme highlights those thresholds that risk creating weak networks between the women making contact and the women’s shelters. This is also discussed in relation to the last theme, which focuses on the women’s shelters’ work with the platforms. An important result is that the digital platforms made it possible for women to come into contact with the women’s shelters during the Covid-19-pandemic; nevertheless, there are also thresholds that need to be made visible.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence in Emerging Adulthood: Exploring Sexual Consent Attitudes as a Target for Sexual Coercion Prevention.

While intimate partner violence is now recognized as a major societal and international issue, sexual violence between partners remains understudied despite its significant prevalence rates and the specific contexts in which it occurs. The aim of this study was to analyze the links between different dimensions of sexual consent and sexual coercion experienced within intimate relationships in order to identify targets for prevention campaigns. The study was carried out during a time of transition in the sociopolitical and legislative context in Belgium linked to the implementation of a reform to the sexual criminal law, which has made the expression of sexual consent central to the qualification of sexual offenses. A total of 431 young adults (88.40% female; Mage = 22.19 years; SDage = 1.79) were recruited from the general population through an online survey to analyze the links between attitudes and beliefs toward sexual consent, attachment style, mental health, and sexual victimization between partners. Results showed that a lack of perceived behavioral control over establishing sexual consent, as well as the avoidance of intimacy, predicted sexual victimization. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed and potential public policy responses for prevention and awareness are suggested. Future research should further investigate and conceptualize sexual consent as it relates to sexual coercion in a more representative sample from an intersectional perspective.

Women at crossroads: a qualitative study of induced abortion and violence in a Ghanaian region

Unsafe abortions contribute significantly to maternal mortality and morbidity in Ghana. To reduce this, in 1982 abortion laws in Ghana underwent reform to broaden the conditions under which abortion is accessed. Although, evidence in other contexts highlights the contribution of violence to women’s experience of unwanted pregnancy and abortion, such evidence is limited within the Ghanaian abortion literature. This study aims to fill that gap. Informed by phenomenology, interviews were conducted with 10 women who had experienced various forms of violence leading to unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortions. Participants were recruited between June 2017 and March 2018 in the Ashanti region of Ghana where they sought hospital care for unsafe abortion related complications. Participants mentioned intimate partners as the main perpetrators of violence. Financial challenges were also identified as important in increasing women’s vulnerability to violence. Verbal abuse from health workers contributed to denying women access to safe abortion. This paper advances dialogue about the ways in which women’s experience of violence from intimate/non-intimate partners and healthcare workers impacts their overall abortion experience. It advocates the empowerment of women to enable them to leave violent relationships, and the retraining of health workers to enable them to adopt respectful and empathetic care practices.

Predictors of concerned others' mental health and quality of life over 12 months following adults' entry into treatment for an alcohol use disorder

IntroductionPeople in treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) can negatively impact their Concerned Others (COs). This longitudinal study examined patient and CO characteristics associated with CO outcomes. MethodParticipants were 279 dyads of patients entering residential treatment and their CO. Outcomes were COs' mental health and quality of life. The study collected patient and CO predictors and CO outcomes at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups as part of a randomized controlled trial. In the first set of models, the analytic approach identified baseline patient predictors associated with COs' outcomes measured at baseline and follow-ups. In the second set of models, we examined whether those effects remained after adding baseline CO characteristics. ResultsIn the first set of models, COs of older age and whose patient reported less CO-patient relationship stress had better mental health. Also, married COs and those with higher income and whose patient reported no violence in the CO-patient relationship had better quality of life. In the second set of models, COs whose patient entered treatment due to criminal justice involvement, with more social support, less reported stigma, and less use of avoidance coping had better mental health. Also, married COs, those with higher income, and less reported discrimination stigma had better quality of life. ConclusionsUnderstanding patient and CO characteristics that are associated with COs' outcomes may inform AUD treatment programs' efforts to help COs. Identifying modifiable determinants of CO outcomes is important to clinical practice regardless of whether the patient chooses to obtain treatment.

Intimate Violence: Alcohol and Drug Use, and Mental Health during COVID-19 among Young Mexican Adults

Intimate Violence: Alcohol and Drug Use, and Mental Health during COVID-19 among Young Mexican Adults