Women In Abusive Relationships Research Articles

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.

Empowerment Moderates the Relationship Between Partner Abuse and Suicidal Ideation for Immigrant Women.

Research shows strong associations between intimate partner violence (IPV) among women and suicidal ideation but this topic is understudied among immigrant women in abusive relationships in the United States. Empowerment may play a significant role in protecting abused immigrant women from suicidal ideation but has not been studied with quantitative data. The current study used convenience sampling. Immigrant women who experienced IPV were asked about IPV severity, empowerment, and where they were born. Bivariate associations among variables were assessed; empowerment was tested as a moderator of the relationship between IPV and suicidal ideation. The sample comprised 293 immigrant women, with 62.8% reporting suicidal ideation with a significantly greater proportion of women from South America than elsewhere reporting suicidal ideation. Empowerment buffered the effect of IPV on suicidal ideation. Prevalence of suicidal ideation among immigrant women experiencing IPV is concerning. Severity of IPV, region of the world where women were born, and empowerment were all related to suicidal ideation, showing directions for future research. Empowerment nursing interventions are needed to address IPV and resulting mental health problems among immigrant women. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(9), 19-28.].

‘We don’t get money in our own hands’: evidence from focus group discussions on economic abuse against women in two states of India

IntroductionViolence against women is a serious human rights violation. While much attention has been given to the prevalence and prevention of physical, sexual and emotional violence, one crucial dimension is...

Firearm-Related Risks and Consequences for Immigrant Women in Abusive Relationships: Barriers to Reporting Threats to Safety and Recommendations for Safety Planning

ABSTRACT Firearms are the leading cause of intimate partner violence-related murders of women in the US. This study aimed to understand differing consequences of partners’ firearm possession on abused women and barriers women face in reporting threats to safety due to the partners’ possession of a firearm. Additionally, the study explored participants’ perceptions of effective approaches to risk assessments and safety planning with women who are at-risk for being harmed by their partners’ possession of a firearm. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 17 service providers and 45 immigrant women survivors of intimate partner violence were conducted. Data were analyzed using a content analysis procedure. Participants shared that the partners’ possession of a firearm can increase risk for firearm-related injury or fatality in situations of escalation of violence. Abused women living with a partner with firearm possession live in constant fear or threat. The presence of a firearm can also be a trigger of unwanted memories of the past and can have legal and other consequences for survivors. Impediments to reporting threats to safety were barriers such as lack of knowledge of firearm-related risks and gender and social norms. The findings can be informative for safety planning with survivors of IPV whose partners own or have access to a firearm. Comprehensive assessment of risks and barriers can be used to develop individualized and tailored safety plans for survivors with a partner who possesses a firearm.

Vaccine Hesitancy Among Canadian Mothers: Differences in Attitudes Towards a Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Among Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence.

Vaccine hesitancy (VH) in maternal decision-making is important to understand to achieve community immunity targets and optimize pediatric COVID-19 vaccine adoption. COVID-19 is exacerbating the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) for women in abusive relationships, a known risk factor for maternal VH. This project aimed to: (1) determine if IPV impacts maternal VH in Canada; and (2) understand maternal attitudes towards routine childhood vaccines and a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine in Canada. As part of a cross-sectional, quantitative study, 129 women completed an online survey. IPV was assessed using the Abuse Assessment Screen and the revised, short-form Composite Abuse Scale. The Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines scale evaluated maternal attitudes towards routine vaccinations and a COVID-19 vaccine. Questions informed by the World Health Organization's Increasing Vaccination Model (IVM) evaluated perceived barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination. In total, 14.5% of mothers were hesitant towards routine childhood vaccines, while 97.0% were hesitant towards a COVID-19 vaccine. Experiencing IPV was significantly associated with maternal COVID-19 VH (W = 683, p < 0.05). Social processes were identified as instrumental barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination, meaning that social norms and information sharing among social networks are critical in maternal vaccination decision-making. This study providesnovel evidence of maternal IPV significantly impacting VH and the presence of strong maternal VH specific to a COVID-19 vaccine in the Canadian context. Further research is required to fully understand the factors that build confidence and mitigate hesitancy in mothers, especially mothers who have experienced IPV.

Using Mindfulness to Improve Mental Health Outcomes of Immigrant Women with Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence.

Immigrant women are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence (IPV), which poses risk for mental health problems, such as PTSD and depression. Post-migration barriers limit immigrant women’s access to supportive services, which can further debilitate their mental health symptoms and their safety. The Being safe, Healthy, and Positively Empowered (BSHAPE) digital intervention was designed to address physical safety and healthcare needs of immigrant women through a multi-component approach that integrated mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) practices. This paper reports qualitative feedback findings from eighteen Black immigrant women with recent IPV exposure and co-occurring mental health symptoms, who participated in the mindfulness sessions of BSHAPE. We identified elements of mindfulness that women perceived as beneficial in their healing. Women’s feedback indicated healing and empowerment through positive appraisals and coping strategies. The benefits were noted for mindfulness elements promoting self-compassion, self-actualization, intentionality of moving forward in life, and developing positivity or a sense of optimism. Other helpful elements were relaxation, self-care and reflection, self-awareness, self-control and focused thinking. Our findings show that incorporating mindfulness practices in interventions can be beneficial for promoting the healing and empowerment of immigrant women in abusive relationships.

Violence against Women in India: An Analysis of Correlates of Domestic Violence and Barriers and Facilitators of Access to Resources for Support

ABSTRACT Purpose Domestic violence (DV) is a significant public health problem in India, with women disproportionately impacted. This study a) identified risk and protective correlates of DV and, b) barriers and facilitators for seeking and receiving help for DV among women in India. Methods A systematic search of 5 databases was performed to identify correlates of DV in the quantitative literature. The search resulted in inclusion of 68 studies for synthesis. For qualitative exploration, data were collected from 27 women in India. Results While factors such as social norms and attitudes supportive of DV were both risk correlates and barriers to addressing DV, women's empowerment, financial independence and informal sources of support were both protective correlates of DV as well as facilitators in addressing DV. Conclusions Strong efforts in India are needed to reduce DV-related risk factors and strengthen protective factors and enhance access to care for women in abusive relationships.

Conducting Digital Intervention Research among Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: Methodological, Safety and Ethnical Considerations.

Intimate partner violence, described as a global pandemic by the United Nations, has been found to disproportionately affect immigrant women. Many immigrant survivors of IPV are unable or unwilling to attend in-person services due to barriers related to immigration status, transportation, and social isolation. By providing remote support to women in abusive relationships, digital interventions can help address these barriers and ensure their health and safety. Research on safe and ethical approaches to digital service delivery for immigrant IPV survivors is a necessary first step to meeting these women’s needs for remote support. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore considerations and challenges of conducting digital intervention research (online, phone and text) with diverse groups of immigrant women. Data was collected via 5 focus groups and 46 in-depth interviews with immigrant survivors of IPV from different countries of origin. In addition, data was collected via key informant interviews with 17 service providers. Participants shared safety, ethical and methodological challenges to accessing interventions, such as their abusive partner being at home or lack of safe access to technology. Further, participants shared strategies for safe data collection, such as scheduling a contact time when participants are afforded privacy and deleting evidence of the intervention to retain personal safety. The findings will be informative for researchers conducting digital intervention studies or practitioners engaging in remote intervention approaches with marginalized populations such as immigrant women at high risk of violence.

Universal credit, gender and structural abuse

Purpose This paper aims to explore Joint couple payments under Universal Credit which tend to privilege male partners. This may entrap women in abusive relationships, foster poverty which are indicative of gendered structural abuse. Design/methodology/approach Through a critical review of the literature and qualitative interviews with third sector support workers, the authors explore the impacts that Universal Credit has on women, especially those in abusive partnerships. Findings Current welfare processes reinforce patriarchal assumptions and are indicative of the structural abuse of women. This has increased during the lockdowns imposed to tackle COVID-19. Practical implications Changes are needed in the ways in which welfare benefits are disbursed. Gendered structural abuses should be explicitly considered when working with women who experience domestic violence and abuse. Originality/value This paper argues that there needs to be a wider a recognition of gender power relations and the concept of structural abuse in policy formation and implementation.

Correlates of Reproductive Coercion among College Women in Abusive Relationships

IntroductionReproductive coercion (RC) describes coercive and controlling behaviors that interfere with a woman's autonomous reproductive health decision‐making. College aged (18‐24 years) women are known to experience the highest prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence, and RC may be an important facet of such violence exposure, with significant impact on reproductive health and well‐being. The purpose of this study was to examine correlates of RC among a sample of college women in abusive relationships.MethodsThis study examines baseline data from a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an interactive safety decision aid app (myPlan) designed to assist IPV survivors. Three hundred and fifty‐four women‐identified college students aged 18 to 24 years in Oregon or Maryland who reported a recent history of IPV were enrolled. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, and frequencies) were used to describe the characteristics of the sample. Chi square and t‐tests were used to examine differences between those who had and had not experienced RC on risk factors and covariates. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the relationship between RC and depression.ResultsOne‐fourth (24.3%) of the sample reported RC. Associated factors included races other than white (P = .019), relationship instability (P = .022), missing class due to relationship problems (P = .001), IPV severity (P&lt;.001), technology abuse (P&lt;.001), traumatic brain injury‐associated events (P&lt;.001), and depression (P = 0.024).DiscussionRC may be an indicator that a young woman is experiencing more severe violence and is at risk for severe sequelae such as traumatic brain injury. RC remained a significant predictor of depression after adjusting for severity of IPV, which indicates that RC is independently associated with depression. This finding has important implications for midwives working with college‐aged women, regarding the need for depression screening and referral to mental health services concurrent with providing services related to IPV and RC. A larger proportion of women who experienced RC sought help from a health care provider for contraception, which indicates an important opportunity for midwives to intervene when women are experiencing RC.

Correlates of reproductive coercion among college women in abusive relationships: baseline data from the college safety study

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine correlates of reproductive coercion (RC) among a sample of college women in abusive relationships. Participants: 354 college students reporting a recent history of intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: This study examines baseline data from a randomized controlled trial testing effectiveness of an interactive safety decision aid (myPlan). Results: Almost a quarter (24.3%) of the sample reported RC. Associated factors included races other than White (p = 0.019), relationship instability (p = 0.022), missing class due to relationship problems (p = 0.001), IPV severity (p < 0.001), technology abuse (p < 0.001), traumatic brain injury-associated events (p < 0.001), and depression (p = 0.024). Conclusions: RC was a significant predictor of depression, with implications for providers working with abused college women regarding the need for mental health services concurrent with IPV/RC services. A larger proportion of women who experienced RC sought help from a healthcare provider for contraception, which suggests intervention opportunities for college health providers.

Adapting the myPlan safety app to respond to intimate partner violence for women in low and middle income country settings: app tailoring and randomized controlled trial protocol

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a leading threat to women’s health and safety globally. Women in abusive relationships make critical decisions about safety and harm reduction while weighing multiple competing priorities, such as safety of children, housing and employment. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), IPV prevention and response services are limited and women lack access to safety planning resources. In high-resource settings, an interactive safety decision aid app (myPlan) has been found valuable in reducing decisional conflict and empowering women to take action in accordance with their safety priorities. This paper describes 1) the community-participatory formative process used to adapt the myPlan app content, interface, and implementation for the Kenya context, and 2) the randomized clinical trial study protocol for efficacy evaluation of myPlan Kenya.MethodsA community-participatory formative process engaged service providers and stakeholders, as well as IPV survivors for adaptation, followed by an in-depth pilot and final refinements. A randomized clinical trial design will then be used to determine efficacy of the myPlan Kenya app compared to standard care among women reporting IPV or fear of partner and living in an urban settlement. myPlan Kenya app provides and solicits information on a) relationship health; b) safety priorities; and c) severity of relationship violence. Based on the woman’s inputs, the evidence-based algorithm developed for myPlan Kenya generates a tailored safety plan. Outcome measures are assessed at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 3-month post-baseline. Difference-in-differences analysis compares primary (e.g. safety preparedness, safety behavior, IPV), and secondary outcomes (e.g. resilience, mental health, service utilization, self-blame) across timepoints by group.DiscussionFormative phase revealed high feasibility and acceptability of a technology-based intervention for safety planning in this LMIC setting. This phase generated essential refinements to myPlan Kenya app readability, content and implementation, including increased visualization of messaging, and implementation via community health volunteers (CHVs). The resulting trial will be the first to evaluate efficacy of a community-partnered technology-based IPV intervention in a LMIC. Our adaptation process and trial results will inform researchers and interventionists to integrate multiple data sources to adapt IPV intervention content and interface in settings where technology-based interventions for IPV are novel and literacy is limited.Trial registrationPan African Clinical Trial Registry approval received 25 April 2018 (PACTR201804003321122); retrospectively registered.

Occupational Deprivation Among Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Who Have Physical Disabilities.

Women with disabilities face a heightened risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared with those without disabilities. The damaging impact of IPV compromises the ability of survivors with disabilities to competently and independently engage in daily occupations. To examine the impact of occupational deprivation on survivors of IPV who have physical disabilities. The findings presented in this article are part of a larger qualitative study. Semistructured interviews were conducted over the course of 18 mo, primarily focusing on questions related to four areas: abuse experience and risk assessment, use and nonuse of self-protective strategies, necessary support services, and impact of disability in relation to these phenomena. A nonresidential domestic violence agency serving people with disabilities located in New York City. Twenty-five women with physical disabilities receiving services from a domestic violence agency that specializes in assisting people with disabilities. The findings reported here focus on educational, vocational, financial, and physical barriers to occupational engagement faced by IPV survivors with disabilities. The occupational deprivation experienced by IPV survivors with disabilities can entrap women in abusive relationships, preventing them from independently supporting themselves and their children. Occupational therapy practitioners can provide education and interventions that increase their ability to live independently. This article provides a novel consideration of how occupational therapy practitioners can help survivors with disabilities escape IPV through occupational engagement.

The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID‐19 on domestic violence

The pandemic paradox: The consequences of COVID‐19 on domestic violence

Help-seeking behaviors and practices among Fijian women who experience domestic violence: An exploration of the role of religiosity as a coping strategy

Domestic violence continues to be a persistent social problem, tragically affecting large numbers of women and children. Many religious women look to their faith community for guidance in the aftermath of domestic violence. This article focuses on help-seeking behaviors and practices among Fijian women. Help-seeking behaviors and practices of abused women in Fiji have hitherto received little or no attention and this study seeks to address this lacuna in knowledge and understanding. A qualitative method was employed in the form of in-depth one-on-one interviews with 18 abused women to explore the nature of women’s help-seeking in response to domestic violence. Women in abusive relationships utilized a variety of coping strategies to deal with and heal from the abuse. The findings in this study reveal that in their attempt to survive and heal from experiences of abuse, women turn to their faith in their search for solace, support, and strength. For the women in this study, their faith in God is integral to their healing. This article offers an analysis of how religious involvement also provides women with possibilities of enhanced social and cultural capital that can help to reduce social isolation and enhance support networks. Implications for practice are discussed.

How Race and Gender Stereotypes Influence Help-Seeking for Intimate Partner Violence.

This qualitative study investigated how stereotypes affect help-seeking behaviors for women in abusive relationships. It consisted of in-depth interviews of 15 female victims of intimate partner violence (IPV): five White and 10 African American women. It compared and contrasted the ways in which internalized stereotypes affected the IPV-related help-seeking of African American women and White women. The findings indicated that African American women were affected by the "strong Black woman" stereotype, did not utilize formal institutions for help, and instead, turned to close family and friends for support. White women were affected by stereotypes about IPV victims, felt less strain associated with utilizing formal support systems, and also utilized informal support networks. Results are interpreted and recommendations are developed through an intersectional Black feminist criminological theoretical framework.

Understanding the Landscape of Substance Use Management Practices in Domestic Violence Shelters across Ontario

Women in abusive relationships are five times more likely than other women to become dependent on substances. Despite evidence of the co-occurrence of substance use and domestic violence (DV), shelters have been hesitant to implement policies and practices to support women residents using substances while seeking shelter services. This research aimed to determine the current landscape of practices and policies to manage residents’ substance use within Ontario Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters. An anonymous web-based survey was distributed to Ontario VAW shelters (N = 96) governed by the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS). Results suggest that few shelters operate from an abstinence-based approach, and most have already implemented minimal and moderate-risk practices to manage substance use. Those shelters implementing more moderate and higher-risk substance use management practices tend to have more frontline and relief staff employed than shelters with lower staff levels. However, bed capacity at the shelter did not make a difference. Many shelters operate using lower-risk practices and policies, but self-reported that they operate using a harm reduction model. Nevertheless, it does not seem that all shelters use the same definition of harm reduction. The substance use management approaches and the early stage continuum of practices developed from this survey will provide a foundation for developing a better common understanding of harm reduction practices and a flexible framework to accommodate the unique needs of VAW shelters.

Association Between Intimate Partner Violence and Breastfeeding Duration: Results From the 2004-2014 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

Intimate partner violence is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects women. Current literature investigating the relationship between intimate partner violence and breastfeeding is inconsistent. Research aim: This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical intimate partner violence that occurs in the preconception or prenatal period and any breastfeeding duration. Data from the retrospective, cross-sectional 2004-2014 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System were analyzed ( N = 195,264). The outcome, breastfeeding duration, was categorized as never breastfed, breastfed 8 weeks or less, and breastfeed more than 8 weeks. Multinomial logistic regression was used to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Approximately 6% ( n = 11,766) of survey respondents reported preconception and/or prenatal intimate partner violence, and 36.3% ( n = 67,667) of women reported never breastfeeding. The odds of discontinuing breastfeeding before 8 weeks were 18% higher among women who reported experiencing abuse 12 months before pregnancy compared with women who did not report intimate partner violence (adjusted odds ratio = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [1.01, 1.37]). All other estimates showed an overlapping 95% confidence interval. Breastfeeding is essential in improving maternal and child health; however, women in abusive relationships may face additional barriers to breastfeeding. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of violence on breastfeeding behaviors to inform healthcare practices and interventions.

No Access to Services: The Struggle of Injection Drug Using Women in Abusive Relationships

Women who experience violence and are at risk for HIV/AIDS are a multiply marginalized population which the majority of service providers ignore or feel they do not have the resources to deal with. Furthermore, while the Canadian government issues reports on violence against women, it does not provide an analysis of the intersection between violence HIV/AIDS. Women who are at risk for HIV due to injection drug use are particularly vulnerable when in a violent relationship; most women’s shelters have zero tolerance policies for substance use leaving these women isolated. By examining how substance use increases HIV risk for women who experience violence, the high risk behaviors associated with violence, and the high risk behaviors associated with substance use, multiply marginalized women’s needs become clearer. Service providers for multiply marginalized women must always consider the ramifications of their policies, as well as the ideologies that their policies are based on so that they can effectively help their target population. To address the needs of multiply marginalized women, drastic changes need to be made to the current shelter system: shelters need to examine their ideological foundation and analyze what stigmas their current policies support. Coordinated efforts are needed between multiple service providers to address the challenges that these often forgotten women face.

Work and intimate partner violence: powerful role of work in the empowerment process for middle-class women in abusive relationships

ABSTRACTBecause middle-class women do not report intimate partner violence (IPV) due to social stigma, few interventions address their problems. In addition, there is a dearth of literature on the role of paid work in middle-class women’s lives, as prior studies have focused on several ways IPV hinders women’s work and job performance. This hermeneutic phenomenology study reveals that 10 middle-class women did not consciously enter into an empowerment process at work but experienced empowerment while performing job responsibilities. The paper explores how women contrast their IPV relationships with their work, in which they have access to resources, experience success, rediscover a sense of self and eventually make changes in their personal lives. Most importantly, this study argues that work plays a critical role in enabling these women to embark on the process of empowerment. Recognizing the interdependent nature of and positive spillover from work to personal issues can enable human resources practitioners and social workers to implement interventions with far-reaching benefits. Organizations need to increasingly focus on enabling a work culture that fosters empowerment, which has powerful social implications.