Survival of intimate partner violence as experienced by women

Professional's Views on the 'Nordic Paradox' in a Low Intimate Partner Violence Prevalence Country

The apparently contradictory co-existence of high levels of gender equality and intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) found in Nordic countries has been termed the Nordic Paradox. The aim of this study was to examine how the Nordic Paradox is discussed and explained by Spanish professionals working in the IPVAW field. Five focus groups (n = 19) and interviews with key informants (n = 10) were conducted. Four main categories of possible explanations for the Nordic Paradox were identified: Macro-micro disconnect (i.e., discordance between individual beliefs and behaviors and macro-social norms of gender equality), IPVAW as multicausal (i.e., IPVAW defined as a multicausal phenomenon that does not necessarily have to be associated with gender equality), cultural patterns of social relationships (i.e., the role of social relationships and the way people relate to each other in the Nordic countries), and backlash effect (i.e., men's reaction to greater equality for women). Although this study does not provide a final explanation for the Nordic paradox, its results provide us with a better understanding of the phenomenon and can help to advance research in this field.

Stories of Backlash in Interviews With Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Sweden

Despite high gender equality ratings, Sweden shows a high prevalence of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW). Suggested factors underlying this apparent paradox include backlash effects against women's empowerment. This study explores stories of backlash in interviews with 23 IPVAW survivors in Sweden. Thematic analysis identified categories of narrative segments referring to phenomena provoking violence; the victims' resources, agency, breaking with gender norms and resistance, and the partner's feelings of subordination, while case-centered narrative analysis pointed to divergences between how these categories appear in the stories. The study underscores the complexity of links between gender (in)equality and IPVAW in Sweden.

Social network responses to victims of potentially traumatic events: A systematic review using qualitative evidence synthesis

Background

A substantial number of qualitative studies examined how adult victims of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) experienced support provided by family members, friends, colleagues, and other significant others in the informal network. Importantly, the large majority of qualitative studies focused on the perceived support of victims of specific events such as sexual offences, partner violence, homicide, accidents and disasters. Although it is likely that across specific PTEs there are similarities as well as differences in experienced support from the informal network, to date no systematic review synthesized the results of qualitative studies on support from the informal network following various types of PTEs. The aim of the present systematic review is to fill this gap in the scientific knowledge, which is also highly relevant for victim services, policymakers, and the informal network.

Methods

A literature search of qualitative studies was conducted using the electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Psych INFO, Scopus, Criminal Justice Abstracts and Picarta. The quality of the identified studies was assessed with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist, followed by analysis of the results of the identified studies using Qualitative Evidence Synthesis.

Findings

Seventy-five papers were included in the synthesis, involving 2799 victims of PTEs such as accidents, disasters, homicide, intimate partner violence (IPV), and sexual offences. Saturation was only achieved for IPV. Overall, four major categories of perceived social support were identified, namely, support perceived as supportive, supportive but insufficient, unsupportive, and absent from informal support providers, which included friends, family, neighbors, (if applicable) offender’s family, religious group members, work/school colleagues, fellow victims, the local community, and the social network in general. Across the PTE groups, there were similarities in experiencing positive forms of support (particularly empathy and sharing experiences) as well as negative forms of support (abandonment, avoidance, lack of empathy, and not experiencing support despite victim’s request for help). There were also differences across PTE groups, in particular, victims of sexual and intimate partner violence mentioned a number of other supportive (mobilizing support, no unsupportive responses) and non-supportive (e.g., justification or normalization of violence and minimizing responses) responses.

Conclusions

The review showed that different actors within the social informal network can play an important role in providing support after victims experience violence, homicide, accidents, and disasters. However, the review revealed that the large majority of qualitative studies were aimed at victims of IPV, and only for this type of PTE was saturation achieved. This indicates that, although this synthesis identified several similarities and differences, it is still too early to draw more definitive conclusions on similarities and differences in experienced social support after various PTEs and that future qualitative studies focusing on other PTEs are much needed.

Life loaded with threat and vulnerability: a qualitative inquiry into the experiences of HIV negative married women in serodiscordant heterosexual relationships

Background

Violence against women is a major, complex, multidimensional and widespread public health concern worldwide. The current qualitative study was conducted to understand the experience of violence among HIV negative married women in heterosexual serodiscordant relationships.

Methods

A qualitative description (QD) was conducted from October 2018 to January 2020 in Mashhad, Iran. The participants were 15 HIV negative women, who married and lived with HIV positive men, through purposive sampling method. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Data analyzed using conventional content analysis adopted by Graneheim and Lundman.

Results

The main overarching theme emerged entitled: life loaded with threat and vulnerability. This theme consisted of four categories of self-directed violence, intimate partner violence, cultural violence and structural violence. The violence began soon after awareness of husband's infection with acts such as suicide attempts and a sense of abhorrence for living with an infected person, and continued with confrontation with various types of violence in the family and society, which put women in constant threat and vulnerability.

Conclusions

This study provided an insight into different aspects of violence in Iranian women in HIV serodiscordant relationships. Considering the role of men in the occurrence of violence, policymakers must create and execute family-centered interventions to address attitudes and behaviors that lead to marital conflicts and spousal abuse in order to prevent violence. Health care professionals should also be trained to screen women for violence and refer those who require care to specialists to reduce vulnerability.

Protective Factors Associated With Fewer Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms Among Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has received minimal empirical attention in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). Furthermore, factors related to lower levels of GAD symptoms in this population have received limited focus. This study evaluated the protective role of four forms of support, spiritual, family, friend, and community, in predicting levels of generalized anxiety among women who have experienced recent IPV. Participants included 116 women who were recruited from local agencies serving IPV-exposed individuals. Participants completed measures of IPV, GAD, stressful life events, spiritual support, social support, and community support during a 1-hr interview. Findings from a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that after accounting for age, income, mental health service utilization, stressful life events, and severity of IPV, lower GAD symptoms were only associated with higher spiritual support (β = -0.20, p = .02) and community support (β = -0.25, p = .01), not friend or family support, F(9, 114) = 5.10; p < .001; R² = .30. These findings indicate that alternative sources of support (i.e., spiritual and community) may be more accessible for IPV-exposed women, contributing to their association with reduced GAD symptomatology. The current study highlights the potential for spiritual and community support to serve a beneficial role above and beyond standard social support proffered by friends and family on symptoms of GAD. Results reinforce the examination of a broad range of multiple supports among women experiencing IPV. This thorough examination of different support systems may provide further insight into novel resources that can be strengthened among IPV-exposed populations.

10-Year Study of Christian Church Support for Domestic Violence Victims: 2005-2015

Religious beliefs play a significant role in the lives of victims of domestic violence. Victims find strength in their faith and would rather endure the violence at all costs to keep a family or a marriage together, than to compromise their faith by leaving. This 10 -year study explored the climate of support for victims of domestic violence among Christian clergy and church members between 2005 and 2015. Using a convenience sample, surveys were sent out to congregations in the Upper Midwest in 2005 and 2015. The survey included demographics; two items measuring perception of domestic violence in the congregation and community; six Likert Scale items regarding agreement with statements concerning leaving an abusive marriage; four "Yes-No" items regarding the impact of faith in leaving, support of the congregation, community resources, and clergy as counselors. The clergy's survey had the same questions plus open-ended questions about their skills in counseling victims, their congregation's support for victims, community resources, and beliefs that could impact a victim's choice in leaving. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple frequencies, and bivariate correlations. Narrative data were analyzed using content analysis. The results of this study indicated that change is slow. Members want their clergy to become more educated in counseling and in speaking about domestic violence from the pulpit. Clergy felt comfortable in making referrals for professional counseling, while the majority of members would prefer counseling with their pastor if they were in a violent relationship. Both clergy and members want to create a safe and supportive environment for victims/survivors of violent relationships. Findings from this study exemplify the need for pastors to remove the silence about domestic violence in their congregations and address the misunderstood social religious beliefs that may bind a victim to the violence.

10-Year Study of Christian Church Support for Domestic Violence Victims: 2005-2015

PURPOSE

This 10 -year study explored the climate of support for victims of domestic violence among Christian clergy and church members between 2005 and 2015.

METHOD

Using a convenience sample, surveys were sent out to congregations in the Upper Midwest in 2005 and 2015. The survey included demographics; two items measuring perception of domestic violence in the congregation andcommunity; six Likert Scale items regarding agreement with statements concerning leaving an abusive marriage; four 'Yes-No' items regarding the impact of faith in leaving, support of the congregation, community resources,and clergy as counselors. The clergy's survey had the same questions, plus open-ended questions about their skills in counseling victims, their congregation's support for victims, community resources, and beliefs that could impact a victim's choice in leaving.

ANALYSIS

Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple frequencies, and bivariate correlations. Narrative data were analyzed using content analysis.

RESULTS

The results of this study indicated that change is slow. Members want their clergy to become more educated in counseling and in speaking about domestic violence from the pulpit. Clergy felt comfortable in making referrals for professional counseling, while the majority of members would prefer counseling with their pastor if they were in a violent relationship. Both clergy and members want to create a safe and supportive environment for victims/survivors of violent relationships. Findings from this study exemplify the need for pastors to remove the silence about domestic violence in their congregations and address the misunderstood social religious beliefs that may bind a victim to the violence.

"Walking Between the Raindrops": Intimate Partner Violence in the Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel From Social Workers' Perspective

Intimate partner violence (IPV) in faith-based communities has unique characteristics that social workers should consider. This qualitative study examines how social workers describe their encounter with abused Jewish ultra-Orthodox women. In-depth interviews were conducted among 24 social workers (one man, 23 women: four were ultra-Orthodox, 19 were modern Orthodox, and one was secular); all respondents worked in the public sector, welfare offices, and non-profit organizations in ultra-Orthodox communities. Three major themes emerged: (a) "There is no guardian against unchastity": Is there no safe haven when it comes to domestic violence?; (b) "I'm not religious enough, not disciplined enough": describing the experience of violence in the therapeutic encounter; and (c) "walking between the raindrops": culturally sensitive social work in the context of IPV. Findings and implications are discussed in the context of cultural sensitivity.

In Their Own Voices

This study qualitatively examines the intersections of risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV infection in South Africa. Eighteen women seeking services for relationship violence were asked semistructured questions regarding their abusive experiences and HIV risk. Participants had experienced myriad forms of abuse, which reinforced each other to create a climate that sustained abuse and multiplied HIV risk. Male partners having multiple concurrent sexual relationships, and poor relationship communication compounded female vulnerability to HIV and abuse. A social environment of silence, male power, and economic constraints enabled abuse to continue. “Breaking the silence” and women's empowerment were suggested solutions.

Abused women's vulnerability in daily life and in contact with psychiatric care: In the light of a caring science perspective

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study is to deepen the understanding of abused women's vulnerability in relation to how the abuse and encounters with health care professionals affect life. A further aim is to highlight abused women's vulnerability with a caring science perspective.

BACKGROUND

Experience of abuse has consequences for the mental health of women and girls. Abused women may experience health care as unsupportive, and as a result, often chose not to disclose their experiences of abuse.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The results of two qualitative empirical studies were analysed along with a phenomenological meaning analysis in accordance with the methodological principles of Reflective Lifeworld Research.

FINDINGS

Living one's life with experiences of abuse implies vulnerability, which can prevent abused women from achieving good health. This vulnerability results from insecurity regarding identity, along with the sense that one could have been a different individual if it were not for the abuse and thereby have a more fair chance in life. Being cared for within general psychiatric care could further increase this vulnerability. The healthcare professional's ability to care for the women who have experienced abuse leads to either an encounter of trust or else further suffering for the women.

CONCLUSION

A lifeworld-oriented caring science perspective as a foundation for care can contribute to care for abused women which reaches the existential dimensions of their vulnerability and vulnerable life situation.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

It is evident that healthcare professionals should deepen their understanding of how abused women live, within a general psychiatric context. This study enables a deeper understanding of abused women's vulnerability in relation to how the abuse and encounters with healthcare professionals affect life.

Incident-level analysis of 703 retrospective self-reports of ordinary violence recalled by 334 Swedes aged 6 to 45 years

There is wide variation in how exposure to violence is conceptualized. Perceptions of ordinary violence are linked to people's actual experiences, which may be direct, indirect, observed, or vicarious, and all through filters of gender, class, community, and culture. Event-recall interviews were conducted among a convenience sample of Swedish males (n = 132) and females (n = 202) aged 6 to 45 years. Respondents spontaneously recalled 703 events (averaging 2.3 events for males, 2.1 for females). For men, 93% of events were male(s)-on-male(s), 2% female-on-female, and 2% male(s)-on-female(s). For women, 42% of events were male(s)-on-male(s), 19% female(s)-on-female(s), 24% male(s)-on-females, and 10% female(s)-on-male(s). Interviewee's roles differed. Of males, 17% were aggressors, 40% victims, and 43% observers. Of females, 12% were aggressors, 30% victims, and 58% observers. For males, there was a significant increase in degree of seriousness of events from junior-, to high school, to college. For females, events became more serious as interviewees progressed from aggressor to victim to observer. For males, violent events between strangers were significantly more serious than all other combinations of acquaintanceship. Most recently recalled events were the most serious for males (no effect for females). Participation in sports was linked to seriousness of events recalled by females, events being described as more serious by females who participated in sports, this effect being stronger for those females who participated in contact/collision and self-defense sports. The significant correlation between trauma and seriousness is nearly twice as strong for females which might be taken as an indication of stronger moral pathos.

Sexual assault: where are mid-life women in the research?

PURPOSE

There is extensive literature related to the experience of sexual assault of women with a majority focused on younger women, college-aged women, or older women. There is little research about the experience of sexual assault of mid-life women.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This paper synthesizes the current literature associated with sexual assault by describing the increased number of single women in the population, defining terms associated with sexual assault, examining rape myths, characteristics of the victim, describing the relationship of victim to assailant, extent of victimization experienced by women, common physical injuries, age-related physiological changes, psychological considerations, and post-traumatic stress disorder specific to mid-life women.

FINDINGS

The population of single women has increased across the life span. Current studies utilize varying definitions of sexual assault, examine results across variable age groups, and include the responses of single women with married women. Characteristics of victims demonstrate similarities by age group, relationship type, living conditions, and physical or mental capabilities that affect the occurrence of sexual assault.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

There are few studies that examine the sexual assault experiences of single mid-life women. Further research into the experiences of single mid-life women is warranted to provide direction for nursing education programs and clinical practice.

The Lived Experience of Domestic Violence in Iranian HIV-Infected Women

Domestic violence is one of the most prevalent problems linked to HIV. Domestic violence in HIV-infected women has not been sufficiently explored, particularly in developing countries including Iran. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of domestic violence in Iranian HIV-infected women. A qualitative approach was used to conduct the study. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with ten HIV-infected women and were analyzed using content analysis. During the data analysis, four main themes emerged including, "regretful past", "disappointing future", "loneliness", and "no other option", which refer to the condition that the participants experienced in their lives due to challenges that mainly stem from the experience of HIV-related domestic violence. HIV infection can be a risk factor for domestic violence. Health care providers need to address domestic violence during the assessment of HIV-infected women and make appropriate referrals for abused women.

Iranian Women's Experiences with Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Violence against women has been identified as a public health problem, which has fundamental consequences on women's physical, mental, and reproductive health. To understand abused women and provide support for them, it is necessary to enter the world in which the victims of intimate partner violence live. This study was designed to investigate experiences of abused Iranian women of intimate partner violence.

METHODS

Content analysis approach was used to design this qualitative study. Participants were 11 married women, selected from two health centers and one park located in the south of Tehran, Iran. Purposive sampling method was applied to recruit the study participants and continued until data saturation was reached. Semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data.

RESULTS

During the data analysis, 650 initial codes were clustered in six subcategories and two categories. "Neglect or covert violence" and "overt violence" were two categories emerged through data analysis, both having physical, sexual, and emotional dimensions. Emotional violence was the most prevalent in both cases and had more significance for the women. Neglect was much more common than overt violence. It was the precursor for overt violence.

CONCLUSION

Although participants had experienced both neglect and overt violence, the major part of experienced violence was neglect. This type of violence usually is not addressed or recognized and is difficult to identify, but it is damaging to women. Knowledge of women‟s experiences of intimate partner violence makes the health staff provide better care for abused women.

The duality of suffering and trust: abused women's experiences of general psychiatric care--an interview study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To elucidate how women subjected to physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse experience the care provided at a general psychiatric clinic after the disclosure of abuse.

BACKGROUND

Violence against women is a major global public health issue, which has an impact on women's lives and mental health as well as generating frequent hospital admission.

DESIGN

Qualitative design with an inductive approach.

METHODS

Interviews with nine women who were recipients of general psychiatric care and had disclosed experiences of abuse to a member of staff were conducted. Qualitative inductive content analysis was used.

RESULTS

The overall theme emerging from the narratives, 'dependency as a reality containing a duality of suffering and trust,' links the categories together. Each subcategory is presented in relation to the categories 'being belittled,' 'being misinterpreted' and 'being cared for.' Experiences of care as caring and noncaring were found in the narratives. Caring could include situations experienced as the women being acknowledged and listened to, situations where staff approached and supported the women in a sensitive way. Experiences of noncaring were when the abuse was disregarded, and when the women were not believed in, were left with burdens of guilt and were offended. A noncaring environment focused primarily on the diagnosis, and the experienced abuse was seen as secondary.

CONCLUSIONS

Abused women are subjected to psychiatric environments where staff are divided into groups of those who believed in and supported the abused women and those who regarded experiences of abuse as a secondary issue and focused on the mental disorder.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This study provides knowledge of how abused women experience the care provided at a general psychiatric clinic after the disclosure of abuse.

Ethical issues in family violence research in healthcare settings

Research ethics is always important. However, it is especially crucial with sensitive research topics such as family violence. The aim of this article is to describe and discuss some crucial issues regarding intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, based on the authors’ own research experiences. We focus on and discuss examples concerning the definition of family violence, research design, ethical approval, participant recruitment and safety and data collection and processing. During the research process, the significance of teamwork is emphasized. Support provided by the participants to each other and support given by experienced researchers within the team is very important for high ethical standards.

Women's well-being and reproductive health in Indian mining community: need for empowerment

This paper is a qualitative study of women’s well-being and reproductive health status among married women in mining communities in India. An exploratory qualitative research design was conducted using purposive sampling among 40 selected married women in a rural Indian mining community. Ethical permission was obtained from Goa University. A semi-structured indepth interview guide was used to gather women’s experiences and perceptions regarding well-being and reproductive health in 2010. These interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, verified, coded and then analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Early marriage, increased fertility, less birth intervals, son preference and lack of decision-making regarding reproductive health choices were found to affect women’s reproductive health. Domestic violence, gender preference, husbands drinking behaviors, and low spousal communication were common experiences considered by women as factors leading to poor quality of marital relationship. Four main themes in confronting women’s well-being are poor literacy and mobility, low employment and income generating opportunities, poor reproductive health choices and preferences and poor quality of martial relationships and communication. These determinants of physical, psychological and cultural well-being should be an essential part of nursing assessment in the primary care settings for informed actions. Nursing interventions should be directed towards participatory approach, informed decision making and empowering women towards better health and well-being in the mining community.

The lived experience of women victims of intimate partner violence

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study aims to gain a better understanding of the lived experience of female victims of intimate partner violence. Background.  Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex and prevalent social problem associated with significant impairment in the physical and psychological health of victims.

DESIGN

Exploratory, qualitative design.

METHODS

Face-to-face interviews were conducted among nine IPV female victims who presented themselves at an emergency department of a regional hospital. Data were subject to thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Victims are often ashamed to disclose their situation and reluctant to seek help, afraid of being ridiculed or ignored. Violent experiences also lead to low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal ideas. They are ambivalent about staying in an abusive relationship and endure violent incidents in silence until they cannot tolerate any more and seek help at an emergency department. They have negative experiences in help-seeking: other family members and health professionals coloured by cultural restraints generally ignore their complaints and need for help.

CONCLUSIONS

Provided a preliminary understanding of the experience of Chinese women in Hong Kong. In support of these women's help-seeking behaviours, continuing education programmes are needed to better prepare health professionals for caring for these women.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Health professionals should be astute in identifying IPV victims with whom they come into contact at work. They should assess the immediate physical and emotional needs of these women, be empathetic, show acceptance, extend a helping hand and assess home safety before discharge.

Emergency healthcare experiences of women living with intimate partner violence

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

To explore healthcare experiences of Australian women living with intimate partner violence (IPV) and consider how these influence their understanding of IPV and sense of self.

BACKGROUND

Despite international campaigns condemning violence against women, IPV remains a worldwide problem and recent Australian community attitudes demonstrate ongoing beliefs condemning women in abusive relationships. Women experiencing IPV are over-represented in healthcare-seeking populations; however, they are rarely identified as experiencing abuse and are often not provided care directed towards achieving ongoing safety. While women seek empathetic healthcare, disclosure of abuse often results in being judged negatively or blamed.

DESIGN

A grounded theory study drawing on Clarke's (Sage Publications, London, 2005) analytic approach of situational analysis.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews conducted with seven women. Data was analysed using NVIVO 8 software within a Situational Analysis framework.

RESULTS

Four major categories were identified: Accessing healthcare: challenges and barriers; Care women need vs. care women receive; Discourses of IPV and constructions of self; and Acknowledging IPV: moving on and re-constructing self. Women faced significant challenges in accessing emergency healthcare and healthcare then often lacked empathy. Women created an understanding of self from a world dominated by an abusive partner and needed assistance re-labelling their experiences as IPV. Healthcare professionals who provided empathetic care were instrumental in assisting this process, enhancing women's abilities to explore options for limiting abuse and assisting them to enhance their self-efficacy and reconstruct a positive sense of self.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare is one of the few avenues women living with IPV have to receive emotional and physical support. Healthcare that ignores psychosocial issues further damages women's sense of self.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Women require timely information and empathetic support from healthcare professionals to assist them in understanding and labelling their experiences as IPV. This enhances women's ability to feel deserving of, and ideally achieve, a life without violence.

Developing an empirical profile for elder abuse research in Canada

The aging population of Canada and the associated caregiving demands highlight the need for elder abuse research. The objectives of this article are to provide a review of literature while identifying recommendations and directions for future research. Significant gaps in the knowledge base are identified that preclude the development of effective programming and policies. Future research directions include prevalence studies in community and institutional settings; studies on correlates, risk, and protective factors; research to clarify definitional issues and to develop psychometrically sound measurements; qualitative studies; and the need to support elder abuse research through capacity building and appropriate resource strategies.

Hispanic women's experiences with substance abuse, intimate partner violence, and risk for HIV

Hispanic females are disproportionately affected by substance abuse, intimate partner violence, and HIV. Despite these disparities, research describing the cultural and gender-specific experiences of Hispanic women with regard to these conditions is lacking.

THE PURPOSE

Transplantadas en otro mundo (Uprooted in another world), El criador de abuso (The breeding ground of abuse), and Rompiendo el silencio (Breaking the silence). This study supports the importance of addressing substance abuse, violence, and risk for HIV in an integrated manner and stresses the importance of addressing associated cultural factors (e.g., acculturation, machismo ) in interventions targeting Hispanics.

Understanding feminism: considerations for nurses working to end violence against women

Violence against women is a pervasive and serious human rights and public health problem worldwide. As interdisciplinary research teams try to address the effects of this health problem of which the effects transcend all women, nurses are at the forefront. Using a feminist philosophy and methodology to explore violence against women is one way to uncover new knowledge to address this health epidemic. In this paper, we will review the basic concepts of feminism and provide examples of viewing violence research and forensic nursing practice through this theoretical lens. These perspectives provide a foundation for understanding feminism and facilitating nurses' awareness as they consider careers in research and practice. Through this lens, nurses who are helping to ease the burden of violence in our global society may affect change in women's lives.

Feeling shame: Insights on intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious health issue; however, many healthcare providers do not routinely ask about IPV or administer screening. Due to the high incidence of this problem, providers must be aware of risk factors, screening methods, and appropriate interventions, and screen all female patients for abuse.

Family nursing research for practice: the Finnish perspective

This article summarizes the efforts of the Department of Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Finland, to advance knowledge about family nursing over the past 15 years. Definitions of family, family nursing, and family nursing science are offered. Programs of research include families' experiences of care received in health care settings, family violence and child maltreatment, and the psychometric development of instruments to assess family functioning and family health. Research is currently examining the effectiveness of family nursing interventions. Recommendations are offered to strengthen collaboration between family nursing researchers, educators, and practitioners at the local level and initiate greater collaboration between family researchers at the interdisciplinary and international levels.

The experiences of Taiwanese women who have experienced domestic violence

BACKGROUND

Domestic violence has a history that stretches back before recorded time. It frequently has a lasting and traumatic impact on victims, families, and communities. According to the official statistics of many countries, most domestic violence victims are women who were assaulted by intimate male partners. This issue is gaining increasing attention in Taiwan's current society.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to gain an empathic understanding of domestic violent abuse experienced by women in southern Taiwan. Perspectives were provided through the personal descriptions and views of the women interviewed.

METHODS

P.F. Colaizzi's (1976) descriptive phenomenological method was applied to conduct this study. A total of eight abused women from the southern Taiwan Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Center participated in this study and associated in-depth interviews, which were tape-recorded, transcribed, and reviewed for accuracy by the interviewee. Verbatim manuscript transcriptions were then analyzed. Finally, major themes from extracted data were summarized.

RESULTS

The following four themes emerged: feeling sorry about their marriage, living in an unsafe environment, economic difficulties, and enduring unhappy lives.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS

These results may help health professionals understand the assault experiences and the nature of domestic violence from victims' viewpoints. This may also help health professionals obtain a comprehensive assessment and develop appropriate interventions for these abused women.

Spiritual Abuse: An Additional Dimension of Abuse Experienced by Abused Haredi (Ultraorthodox) Jewish Wives

This article aims to conceptualize spiritual abuse as an additional dimension to physical, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse. Growing out of an interpretivist participatory action research study in a therapeutic Haredi (Jewish ultraorthodox) group of eight abused women, spiritual abuse has been defined as any attempt to impair the woman’s spiritual life, spiritual self, or spiritual well-being, with three levels of intensity: (a) belittling her spiritual worth, beliefs, or deeds; (b) preventing her from performing spiritual acts; and (c) causing her to transgress spiritual obligations or prohibitions. The concept and its typology are illustrated by means of examples from the women’s abusive experiences and may be of theoretical and therapeutic worldwide relevance.

Implementation of a government policy programme on Operation Kvinnofrid

Today, intimate partner violence is addressed by most government authorities, including the government of Aland. In Aland the government required the official organizations to implement an Operation Kvinnofrid Programme. In this study, a descriptive case study design was used to explore the impact of the government's recommendations to the organizations to implement the programme. The organizations responses were limited. They used a top-down approach and almost no resources were allocated to the issue.

Violent behavior of men in their intimate relationships, as they experience it

Violence against women has been extensively studied in various disciplines, whereas less attention has been paid to the experiences of men. Even the violent behavior of men in their intimate relationships has been mostly studied as experienced by women. This study follows Husserlian descriptive phenomenology. Twenty open-ended interviews were conducted with 10 Finnish men with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV). The data were analyzed by the method developed by Colaizzi. Findings suggested that men considered communication and dynamics of the relationship important. Fundamentally, these abusive men had a need to be respected as men, and they sought to experience human dignity. It is necessary to readjust the framework on interpersonal violence, listen to the voice of men, and develop prevention, early identification, and supportive intervention strategies for men, couples, and families. Research on IPV should be expanded to include the experiences of both genders.

On a life-saving mission: Nurses' willingness to encounter with intimate partner abuse

The main purpose of this qualitative study was to explore in depth selected expert nurses' experiences of the phenomenon of violence against women and the nurses' roles as health care providers to those women. The authors adopted a grounded theory method and produced an emerging theory comprising two key themes: nurses' personal perceptions toward intimate partner violence and nurses' feeling equipped to intervene. The findings showed that violence against women existed in a small local community and raised pitfalls caused by nurses' knowing the inhabitants. Furthermore, the findings indicate the devotion of nurses and the importance of their role in the care of battered women and the sharing of knowledge. Thus, the nurses compensate for a lack of training through personal maturity and security within the social context.

Meaning of INSIGHT participation among women who have experienced intimate partner violence

This phenomenological study explored the meaning that women with violent partners found in participating in a 20-week group cognitive therapy program called INSIGHT. Through a two-step interview process, ten women who had experienced intimate partner violence described what it meant to them to decide to participate in INSIGHT; what was meaningful about the program; and what influence the program had on their lives. Findings indicated an overarching theme that described a process of Rescuing Self. This study adds support for the utility of interventions, such as INSIGHT, that nurture self-emergence among women who have experienced intimate partner violence.