Mental and Physical Health and Intimate Partner Violence against Women: A Review of the Literature

Narcissism and Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This review aimed to examine the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and trait narcissism, and whether the strength of this relationship differs depending on narcissism type (grandiose or vulnerable), the type of violence perpetrated, or the perpetrator's gender. Scopus, Medline, PsycInfo, and Academic Search Complete databases were searched on August 11, 2022. Studies were included if they were in English, measured IPV perpetration and trait narcissism, and examined the relationship between trait narcissism and IPV perpetration. Studies were excluded if they were review papers, conference extracts, book chapters, or if the data was not specific to trait narcissism. The AXIS tool was used to assess the quality and risk of bias of the studies. Twenty-two studies (N = 11,520 participants) were included in the random effects meta-analysis revealing a significant, weak, positive relationship between trait narcissism and IPV perpetration, r = .15. Subgroup analyses revealed physical IPV perpetration was not significantly related to trait narcissism while cyber and psychological IPV perpetration were significantly, positively, weakly related to trait narcissism. No significant difference in the strength of the relationship with IPV perpetration was found between males and females. The relationship between trait narcissism and IPV perpetration was significantly greater for vulnerable narcissism than grandiose narcissism. Overall, the quality of the included studies was high, and risk of bias was low. All measures were self-report and underreporting could be present given both narcissistic traits and IPV perpetration are considered socially undesirable. Future research examining these relationships should specify IPV and narcissism types.

Water, sanitation, and intimate partner violence: Insights from Kibra Slums, Nairobi

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses significant health and social challenges for women, particularly in slums characterised by limited access to basic amenities like water and sanitation facilities. This study aimed to investigate the association between accessibility of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and IPV among women in Kibra, Nairobi county, Kenya.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design utilising a modified Demographic Health and Survey questionnaire was conducted among women aged 15-49 in Kibra slums. Data on water and sanitation accessibility and IPV experiences were collected from 1068 participants. Quantitative analysis by use of logistic regression, was conducted to assess associations between WASH accessibility and IPV.

Results

Among the participants, 64.0% reported experiences of IPV. Women who had access to water inside household; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.44 (95% CI = 0.31-0.64) and sanitation AOR = 0.57 (95% CI = 0.37-0.88) had decreased odds of experiencing IPV whereas reliance on external water sources such as outside pipes AOR = 18.18 (95% CI = 8.62-38.33) or vendors AOR = 14.42 (95% CI = 6.88-30.24) had heightened IPV vulnerability.

Conclusions

Access to clean water and sanitation is associated with reduced likelihood of women experiencing IPV in slums whereas access to water outside household is associated with increased likelihood of experiencing IPV. Connecting households with water to improve access and construction of adequate sanitation facilities may protect women against intimate partner violence in slums.

Identifying best practices for substance-related intimate partner violence screening and referral: a narrative review

Introduction

Substance use is strongly associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) and is a modifiable risk factor for IPV. However, lack of comprehensive screening and referral for co-occurring IPV and substance use, along with their psychiatric sequalae, limits the identification and implementation of effective interventions for substance-related IPV. This narrative review (1) investigates the literature on screening and referral practices for IPV, and if these include screening for substance use or other psychiatric comorbidities, (2) provides recommendations for current best practices, and (3) suggests future directions for research and practice aimed at identifying and reducing substance-related IPV.

Methods

A narrative literature review examined studies investigating IPV screening and referral programs in clinics. Selected studies were reviewed for: (1) effectiveness, (2) barriers to implementation and sustainability, and (3) responsivity to psychiatric comorbidity, including substance use and substance use disorders (SUD).

Results

Findings suggest that effective IPV screening and referral programs have been developed, but disparities in IPV screening exist and many programs only screen for IPV victimization. Barriers to the implementation and sustainability of IPV screening programs include lack of ongoing provider training, funding or institutional support, and direct connection to referral services. Further, many IPV screening programs lack assessment of and referral for comorbid psychiatric conditions, including substance use, and tend not to be routinely implemented in SUD clinics.

Discussion

Additional systematic work is needed to develop universal and comprehensive screening and referral programs for substance-related IPV and address issues of long-term sustainability, particularly within SUD treatment settings.

Characterizing Intimate Partner Violence-Caused Brain Injury in a Sample of Survivors in the Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning Community

Research in the field of intimate partner violence-caused brain injury (IPV-BI) has predominantly focused on heterosexual women, ignoring the unique needs of the Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (2S/LGBTQ) community. The purpose of this exploratory research was to better understand the prevalence of IPV and IPV-BI in 2S/LGBTQ relationships where IPV was defined as physical, psychological, financial, sexual, and/or identity-based abuse from a current of former intimate partner. This study used a cross sectional internet-based survey that ran from September to December of 2022. In addition to descriptive statistics, prevalence rates and their corresponding Wilson Score confidence intervals are reported to estimate the proportion of individuals who experienced IPV and IPV-BI. Finally, for both gender identity and sexual orientation, we tested whether participants with each identity had differing levels of brain injury severity compared to participants who did not hold that identity using Mann-Whitney U tests. In total, 170 2S/LGBTQ+ adults responded to the survey. Among the respondents, 54% identified as Two-Spirit, 24% identified as gay, 17% identified as queer, 14% identified as bisexual, and 8% identified as lesbian or pansexual, respectively. Respondents were predominantly multiracial, post-secondary educated, full-time employed, cisgender women (35%) or cisgender men (19%). The overwhelming majority reported lifetime prevalence of IPV at 98% (n = 166, 95% CI [94.11, 99.08]). Additionally, 68% (n = 115, 95% CI [60.29, 74.22]) of participants reported symptoms consistent with an IPV-BI. These results are consistent with the findings that the 2S/LGBTQ community are at heightened risk of experiencing physical IPV. These findings are the first to our knowledge to report a high rate of symptoms consistent with an IPV-BI in the 2S/LGBTQ population.

Readiness of Exercise Physiologists, Physiotherapists and Other Allied Health Professionals to Respond to Gender-Based Violence: A Mixed-Methods Study

Experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) is associated with health conditions that are common indications for referral to exercise physiologists, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals (AHPs). The readiness of AHPs to identify and respond to GBV is currently unknown. This study aimed to determine the readiness of AHPs to respond to a person who had experienced GBV. Participants completed the modified Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence Survey (PREMIS) and/or an interview. The AHPs felt underprepared, had low perceived knowledge and lacked confidence to respond to and support people who have experienced GBV, despite recognition of the importance and agreement of the relevance to AHPs' practice.

Intimate partner violence, depression, hazardous alcohol use, and social support among people with HIV initiating HIV care in Cameroon

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been associated with poor mental health among people with HIV (PWH) globally. Social support may be a strategy to foster mental health among PWH. Little is known about whether the relationship between IPV and mental health differs by IPV type or level of social support. Interviews were conducted with 426 PWH initiating HIV care in Cameroon. Log binomial regression analyses were used to estimate the association between four types of IPV (controlling behavior and emotional, physical, and sexual IPV) and symptoms of depression or hazardous alcohol use, separately by IPV type and level of social support. Over half (54.8%) of respondents experienced moderate/high levels of controlling behavior, 42.0% experienced emotional IPV, 28.2% experienced physical IPV and 23.7% experienced sexual IPV. Controlling behavior was associated with greater prevalence of depressive symptoms. This relationship did not vary meaningfully by level of social support (low: aPR 2.4 [95% CI 1.2, 4.9]; high: 1.7 [95% CI 1.0, 2.7]). Emotional and physical IPV were associated with greater prevalence of depressive symptoms among those with low social support (emotional IPV: aPR 1.9 [95% CI 1.0, 3.4]; physical IPV: aPR 1.8 [95% CI 1.2, 2.8]), but not among those with high social support (emotional IPV: aPR 1.0 [95% CI 0.7, 1.6]; physical IPV: aPR 1.0 [95% CI 0.6, 1.6]). Controlling behavior, emotional IPV, and physical IPV were associated with a greater prevalence of hazardous alcohol use, with moderately larger effect estimates among those with high compared to low social support. Sexual IPV was not associated with depressive symptoms or hazardous alcohol use. Services to screen and care for people experiencing IPV are urgently needed among PWH in Cameroon. Future research to identify barriers, feasibility, acceptability, and organizational readiness to integrate IPV and mental health services into HIV care settings is needed.

Institutional Betrayal in the Criminal and Civil Legal Systems: Exploratory Factor Analysis with a Sample of Black and Hispanic Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Institutional betrayal (IB) is well-documented among survivors of gender-based violence seeking help and/or reporting incidents of violence in various settings, including college campuses and health care settings. Two of the most common institutions from which survivors seek help are the criminal and civil legal systems; however, less is known about the experiences of IB among survivors interfacing with those systems. Previous studies exploring IB have implemented the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire (IBQ) and its various adaptations, but this scale has not yet been analyzed in the criminal or civil legal context, nor has it been analyzed among racially marginalized survivors. This paper explores the potential for utilizing the IBQ-Health among a sample of 199 Black and Hispanic survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) who sought help from the criminal and/or civil legal system(s). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to explore the fit of the measure to the data. Results suggest that the measure as it has previously been used does not demonstrate strong reliability or fit with this population or institution. Possible explanations and future directions are explored, including support for developing and piloting a new measure to assess IB among Black and Hispanic survivors of interpersonal violence who are seeking help from criminal and civil legal institutions.

The Relations Among Childhood Maltreatment and Later Intimate Partner Violence Victimization With and Without a Weapon in a Sample of Pregnant Black Individuals

Black pregnant and postpartum individuals are at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), and those with a history of childhood maltreatment and IPV are even more likely to be re-victimized during pregnancy. However, it is unknown if specific types of child maltreatment predict later IPV with and without a weapon better than others. The current study sought to (i) document the prevalence of childhood maltreatment and IPV and (ii) examine the relations among types of childhood maltreatment and later IPV with and without a weapon within a sample of Black individuals seeking prenatal care at a large public hospital in the southeastern United States. Participants (n = 186; mean age = 27.2 years, SD = 5.3) completed measures assessing childhood maltreatment and IPV with and without a weapon. Approximately 68.5% of participants (n = 124) endorsed experiencing childhood maltreatment, while 42.6% (n = 78) endorsed experiencing IPV. The bivariate relations among five childhood maltreatment types (i.e., sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, physical and emotional neglect) and IPV with and without a weapon were assessed. All childhood maltreatment subtype scores-except childhood physical neglect-were significantly higher among participants who reported a history of IPV with or without a weapon compared to participants who denied a history of IPV with or without a weapon. Logistic regression models revealed childhood sexual abuse emerged as the only significant predictor of experiencing IPV with a weapon (B = 0.10, p = .003) and IPV without a weapon (B = 0.11, p = .001). For every point increase in childhood sexual abuse subtype score, the odds of experiencing IPV with and without a weapon increased by 10% (OR = 1.10, 95%CI [1.04, 1.18]) and 12% (OR = 1.12, [1.05, 1.20]), respectively. Findings suggest that screening for childhood sexual abuse may provide a critical opportunity for maternity care providers to identify individuals at increased risk for IPV victimization with and without a weapon.

Health-Related Costs of Intimate Partner Violence: Using Linked Police and Health Registers

This study aims to estimate direct health-related costs for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) using nationwide linked data based on police reports and two healthcare registers in Finland from 2015 to 2020 (N = 21,073). We used a unique register dataset to identify IPV victims from the data based on police reports and estimated the attributable costs by applying econometric models to individual-level data. We used exact matching to create a reference group who had not been exposed to IPV. The mean, unadjusted, attributable healthcare cost for victims of IPV was €6,910 per individual over the 5-year period after being first identified as a victim. When adjusting for gender, age, education, occupation, and mental-health- and pregnancy-related diagnoses, the mean attributable health-related cost for the 5 years was €3,280. The annual attributable costs of the victims were consistently higher than those for nonvictims during the entire study period. Thus, our results suggest that the adverse health consequences of IPV persist and are associated with excess health service use for 5 years after exposure to IPV. Most victims of IPV were women, but men were also exposed to IPV, although the estimates were statistically significant only for female victims. Victims of IPV were over-represented among individuals outside the labor force and lower among those who were educated. The total healthcare costs of victims of IPV varied according to the socioeconomic factors. This study highlights the need for using linked register data to understand the characteristics of IPV and to assess its healthcare costs. The study results suggest that there is a significant socioeconomic gradient in victimization, which could also be useful to address future IPV prevention and resource allocation.

Validation of a new assessment of hostile attribution bias in romantic relationships: The Hostile Attributions in Romantic Relationships Test

While hostile attributional bias (a tendency to interpret others' behaviors as intentionally hostile) is associated with negative outcomes in romantic relationships, no measure has been developed specifically for this context. Here, we describe the development and validation of a self-report questionnaire across three studies, named Hostile Attribution in Romantic Relationships Test. Study 1 introduces the development and preliminary validation (N = 152). Study 2 tests the validity and test-retest stability of the modified version revised based on findings in Study 1 (N = 151). Study 3 reports the translation and validation of a Chinese version (N = 630). The final 9-vignette scale is the first to specifically measure hostile attribution bias in romantic relationships, with good internal reliability, test-retest stability, and convergent validity. Factor analysis reveals a three-factor structure reflecting direct hostile attribution, indirect hostile attribution, and benign attribution to partners' behaviors. Implications regarding couple dynamics and clinical therapeutic interventions are discussed.

Associations between different forms of intimate partner violence and posttraumatic stress among women who use drugs and alcohol in Kyrgyzstan

Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) have an increased risk of experiencing posttraumatic stress, and the subsequently associated symptoms can vary by form of IPV exposure (i.e., physical, sexual, or psychological IPV). Related research among socially marginalized populations, however, is limited, including among women who use and misuse substances. Drawing on baseline data from a pilot study conducted among 213 women in Kyrgyzstan who reported using drugs or engaging in hazardous alcohol use, we examined the associations between different forms of IPV and severe posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The vast majority of participants reported lifetime (93.9%, n = 200) and past 3-month (65.3%, n = 139) IPV, and two thirds of participants (65.3%, n = 139) reported experiencing PTSS in the prior month. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated statistically significant associations between only some forms of IPV and PTSS, including physical IPV, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.15, 9.14], and injurious IPV, aOR = 2.71, 95% CI [1.10, 6.65]. Additionally, experiencing any form of IPV was associated with 4.95 higher odds of reporting PTSS, 95% CI [1.16, 21.15]; no other results were significant. These results not only underscore the need for future research on the mechanisms that might explain the unique associations between different forms of IPV and posttraumatic stress, but also highlight an urgent need for trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial support interventions for women who use drugs and alcohol.

Global burden of diseases attributable to intimate partner violence: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

PURPOSE

Our study aims to evaluate the global burden of disease attributable to IPV from 1990 to 2019 at global, regional, national, and socio-demographic index (SDI) levels. Our research question is: What is the global burden of disease attributable to intimate partner violence (IPV) from 1990 to 2019, and how does it vary at global, regional, national, and socio-demographic index (SDI) levels?

METHODS

Data parameters for the number of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-standardized rate were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. We calculated the percentage change and population attributable fraction with 95% uncertainty intervals.

RESULTS

IPV directly accounted for 0.14% [95% UI 0.09%, 0.21%] and 0.32% [95% UI 0.17%, 0.49%] of global all-cause deaths and DALYs in 2019, respectively. The age-standardized deaths and DALYs rates of IPV increased by 12.83% and 4.00% respectively from 1990 to 2019. Women aged 35-39 and 30-34 had the highest deaths and DALYs rate respectively. The highest age-standardized rates of IPV-related deaths and DALYs were observed in Southern Sub-Saharan. Both of deaths and DALYs were high in low-socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher level of deaths and DALYs attributable to IPV were reported in younger women, in the early 2000s, in Southern Sub-Saharan regions and in low SDI regions. Our study provides policymakers with up-to-date and comprehensive information.

"…He's not beating me"-Socio-cultural construction of intimate partner violence and traditional birth attendants: implications for maternal & child health in rural communities in Hohoe, Ghana

Introduction

Most research on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) focuses on the physical, sexual and psychological abuse, with less focus on the financial abuse. This study explores nursing mothers' experiences and perceptions of financial and material support from their significant others and traditional birth attendants' (TBA) observations of support to nursing mothers in their communities.

Methods

Using purposive sampling, focus groups and interviews were conducted primarily in Ewe language among nursing mothers and TBAs in rural communities in Hohoe, Volta region, Ghana. All discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. Thematic analysis guided by the social constructivist framework was used in data analysis.

Results

Twenty-seven women participated in the study, ranging in ages from 19 to 82 (20 nursing mothers; 7 TBAs). Most participants were married (19) and about 65% reported working outside the home (10 nursing mothers; 7 TBAs). Two themes emerged from the data analysis: Lack of support from partners for housekeeping chores and finances; and TBAs as mediators. Nursing mothers who reported lack of financial support did not perceive it as abuse, rather as hinderance to their efforts to care for their children. TBAs act as mediators interceding on behalf of nursing mothers with their husbands and fathers of their children, while also seeking resources to support them.

Discussion

Understanding the perceptions and socio-cultural meanings women attached to IPV experience is essential for effective intervention to reduce IPV. In addition, TBAs can be a resource in intervening to alleviate IPV in their communities, thereby improving maternal and child health.

Impact of the minimum wage increase on intimate partner violence (IPV): a quasi-experimental study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Poverty is associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), but whether exogenous increases in wage could reduce IPV among low-income women is still unclear. We examined whether the 2018 minimum wage hike led to a reduction in IPV risk among women.

METHODS

Using the 2015-2019 Korean Welfare Panel Study, we employed a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to assess the effect of the minimum wage hike on IPV. The analysis focused on married women aged 19 or older. We categorised participants into a target group (likely affected by the minimum wage increase) and a comparison group based on their hourly wage. Three IPV outcomes were examined: verbal abuse, physical threat and physical assault. We conducted DID analyses with two-way fixed-effects models.

RESULTS

The increase in minimum wage was correlated with a 3.2% decrease in the likelihood of experiencing physical threat among low-income female workers (95% CI: -6.2% to -0.1%). However, the policy change did not significantly influence the risk of verbal abuse, physical assault or a combined IPV outcome. The study also highlights a higher incidence of all IPV outcomes in the target group compared with the comparison group.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2018 minimum wage increase in Korea was associated with a modest reduction in physical threat among low-income female workers. While economic empowerment through minimum wage policies may contribute to IPV prevention, additional measures should be explored. Further research is needed to understand the intricate relationship between minimum wage policies and IPV, and evidence-based prevention strategies are crucial to address IPV risk.

Resilience and Challenges Among Women With Histories of Addiction and Victimization Newly Admitted to a Sober Living Home: A Brief Report

This study examined strengths (i.e., empowerment, purpose) and challenges (i.e., depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology, financial and housing worries) experienced by women (N = 44) with histories of addiction and victimization newly admitted to a sober living home (SLH). Women had moderate to high levels of both strengths and challenges. In general, strengths and challenges were inversely related (e.g., higher purpose was related to lower depression), and challenges were positively related (e.g., higher financial worries were related to higher posttraumatic stress symptoms). The findings remind us that women entering SLHs have myriad needs and that comprehensive services drawing upon women's resilience are needed.

The status of intimate partner violence against pregnant women in contemporary China: a scoping review

PURPOSE

This review explored the status of publications on intimate partner violence (IPV) against pregnant women in contemporary China.

METHODS

The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases were searched using the terms "IPV," "pregnant woman," "Chinese," and synonyms in English, along with related keywords for Chinese publications. All literature pertaining to IPV during pregnancy, conducted in China, and published between 1987 and September 2023 was included.

RESULTS

A total of 37 articles from 30 studies were selected. The prevalence of IPV during pregnancy ranged from 2.5% to 31.3%, with psychological violence being the most common form. Frequently identified risk factors included unintended pregnancy, poor family economic conditions, male partners engaging in health risk behaviors, poor employment status of women or their partners, low education levels among women, physical or mental health issues, strained couple relationships, and in-law conflicts. IPV during pregnancy primarily led to mental health problems for the victims and could result in adverse obstetric outcomes, as well as negative effects on the temperament and development of the offspring. Victims in China demonstrated a low willingness to seek help from professionals. Furthermore, relevant research in mainland China is scarce, with a limited number of studies and non-standardized research methodologies.

CONCLUSION

Future research should investigate IPV in pregnancy from various perspectives, identify factors unique to IPV during pregnancy, and focus on high-risk groups. Considering the conditions in China, there is a pressing need to increase public awareness of IPV and to investigate interventions aimed at addressing this issue.

Screening for Intimate Partner Violence

More than a decade has passed since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) required screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) and related counseling with no co-payment and eliminated insurers' ability to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions, including IPV. While screening for IPV and coverage of services became more feasible after implementation of the ACA, in theory, gaps remain. Nearly half of women in the United States report that they have experienced IPV in their lifetime, but the true number is likely even higher. In this column, I review screening recommendations for IPV and related policies, gaps in research on groups at higher risk, systems-level approaches to increase screening, and recommendations from professional organizations on screening and supporting IPV survivors.

Experiences of childhood, intimate partner, non-partner, and hate crime-related violence among a sample of people living with HIV in the epicenter of the U.S. HIV epidemic

Introduction

Experiences of violence among people living with HIV (PLWH) are thought to be highly prevalent but remain inadequately captured. As a first step toward acceptable, trauma informed practices that improve engagement and retention in care for PLWH, we must acquire more comprehensive understanding of violence experiences. We examined experiences of various forms of lifetime violence: adverse childhood experiences (ACES), intimate partner violence (IPV), non-partner violence (NPV), and hate crimes among diverse sample of PLWH in Atlanta, Georgia.

Methods

Cross sectional data collected from in- and out-of-care PLWH (N = 285) receiving care/support from Ryan White Clinics (RWCs), AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs), or large safety-net hospital, February 2021-December 2022. As part of larger study, participants completed interviewer-administered survey and reported on experiences of violence, both lifetime and past year. Participant characteristics and select HIV-related variables were collected to further describe the sample. Univariate and bivariate analyses assessed participant characteristics across types of violence.

Results

High prevalence of past violence experiences across all types (ACES: 100%, IPV: 88.7%, NPV: 97.5%, lifetime hate crimes 93.2%). People assigned male at birth who identified as men experienced more violence than women, with exception of non-partner forced sex. Participants identifying as gay men were more likely to have experienced violence.

Conclusion

Among our sample of PLWH at the epicenter of the United States HIV epidemic, histories of interpersonal and community violence are common. Findings emphasize need for RWCs, ASOs, and hospital systems to be universally trained in trauma-informed approaches and have integrated onsite mental health and social support services.

Intimate partner violence in the lives of Indigenous and Black women in the upper Midwest of the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods protocol examining help-seeking behaviours and experiences

Violent behaviour perpetrated against women has long-lasting negative physical and mental health consequences for women, their children, their families, and their communities. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with many adverse physical, psychological, and emotional consequences. Structural racism and historical trauma affect women's trust and further hinder the ability of Indigenous and Black women to seek help after experiencing IPV. The availability of IPV support services, which can include shelter, food, group therapy, legal assistance, and advocacy, can be inaccessible to women due to the inability to access often limited resources in urban environments and reasons compounded by potential geographic distance if living in rural areas or living in community. Understanding the unique reasons why Indigenous and Black women do not seek help, and the barriers they experience when seeking help after IPV, is critical. Pandemics have the potential to create further complexities on how IPV is experienced. Black and Indigenous women experiencing IPV were therefore at even greater risk for IPV-related harm because of state and local "stay at home" measures put in place to minimise the spread COVID-19. The purpose of this manuscript is to explicate the methods for a large R01 study in the Upper Midwest.

Underestimation of potentially traumatic events resulting from underreporting of physical and sexual violence among people entering care for HIV in Cameroon

OBJECTIVE

Measures ascertaining exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) frequently ask respondents about experienced physical and sexual violence. However, little is known about the performance of physical and sexual violence questions on PTE assessments and its effect on PTE classification overall. We estimated underreporting of physical and sexual violence on a PTE assessment among individuals entering HIV care in Cameroon.

METHOD

We compared reports of physical and sexual violence captured via a behaviorally specific measure of intimate partner violence (IPV; Demographic and Health Survey [DHS] domestic violence module = referent) to those captured via two single-item questions that assessed exposure to physical and sexual PTEs during one's adult life to determine the degree of underreporting on the single-item PTE assessment questions. We explored correlates of underreporting on the PTE assessment using Pearson's chi-squared tests.

RESULTS

Overall, 99 (23%) and 113 (27%) of 426 total participants reported instances of sexual and physical violence in their most recent partnership on the behaviorally specific DHS IPV module, respectively. Of those reporting sexual and physical IPV on the DHS module, just 6% (n = 6) and 52% (n = 59) reported sexual and physical violence as an adult on the single-item PTE assessment questions, respectively. Underreporting of physical violence on the PTE assessment was associated with lower educational attainment (p < .05) and reporting being punched (p < .01) or having one's hair pulled or arm twisted (p < .05) by one's most recent partner.

CONCLUSIONS

PTE assessment tools should assess exposure to behaviorally specific acts of violence to ensure appropriate referral to services among survivors of IPV. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Police-reported family violence victimisation or perpetration and mental health-related emergency department presentations: an Australian data-linkage study

BACKGROUND

Family violence is a leading social determinant of mental ill-health but its link to mental health-related emergency department presentations is poorly understood. Existing research has largely used retrospective designs with a focus on victimisation, typically among women. We examined whether police-reported family violence victimisation and perpetration were prospectively associated with mental health emergency department presentations in women and men. We also identified family violence risk and vulnerability characteristics associated with such presentations.

METHODS

Demographics, prior police involvement, and individual and relationship vulnerabilities were provided by Victoria Police for 1520 affected family members (i.e., primary victims) and 1470 respondents (i.e., persons alleged to have perpetrated family violence) from family violence reports in 2016-17. Emergency mental health presentations 22-30 months post-family-violence report were determined through linkage with the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset and compared to statewide presentations.

RESULTS

Emergency mental health presentations during follow-up were identified in 14.3% of the family violence sample, with 1.9% presenting for self-harm. Mental health presentation rates per 1,000 people were markedly higher among affected family members and respondents of both sexes and all ages than in the general population, except for male affected family members aged 45 + . Adjusting for age and sex, the mental health presentation rate was 6 and 11 times higher among affected family members and respondents, respectively, than in the general population. Individual vulnerabilities were more closely related to risk of emergency mental health presentations than relationship characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Police-recorded family violence is associated with increased mental health-related emergency department presentations over the short-to-medium term. Strengthened cross-sector collaboration is needed to identify, address, and refer individuals with overlapping family violence and mental health needs and to improve victims' and perpetrators' access to community mental health and related services. This should help prevent individuals from reaching a crisis point in their mental health.

Global Prevalence and Mental Health Outcomes of Intimate Partner Violence Among Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the magnitude of the association between types of intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health outcomes and shed light on the large variation in IPV prevalence rates between low- to middle-income countries and high-income countries. The study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. The following databases were searched for this study: Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts. The inclusion criteria for this study are as follows: quantitative studies published from 2012 to 2020 on IPV exposure in women aged 16+, using validated measures. Random effects meta-analyses and subgroup analysis exploring heterogeneity across population groups in different economic contexts are used in this study. In all, 201 studies were included with 250,599 women, primarily from high-income countries. Higher prevalence rates were reported for women's lifetime IPV than past year IPV. Lifetime psychological violence was the most prevalent form of IPV. Women in the community reported the highest prevalence for physical, psychological, and sexual violence in the past year compared to clinical groups. Perinatal women were most likely to have experienced lifetime physical IPV. Prevalence rates differed significantly (p = .037 to <.001) for "any IPV" and all subtypes by income country level. Meta-analysis suggested increased odds for all mental health outcomes associated with IPV including depression (odds ratio [OR] = 2.04-3.14), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (OR = 2.15-2.66), and suicidality (OR = 2.17-5.52). Clinical and community populations were exposed to high prevalence of IPV and increased likelihood of depression, PTSD, and suicidality. Future research should seek to understand women's perspectives on service/support responses to IPV to address their mental health needs. Work with IPV survivors should be carried out to develop bespoke services to reduce IPV in groups most at risk such as pregnant and/or help-seeking women.

A protocol for the safe recruitment of Indigenous and Black women experiencing intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 pandemic into a large mixed methods study: The Sisters by Choice Study

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex and pervasive public health problem disproportionately affecting Indigenous and Black women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, IPV became more complicated for advocates because social distancing, quarantine, and isolation measures further endangered women experiencing IPV. This manuscript is based on an ongoing community-engaged study in an upper Midwestern state. Our primary goal for this study is to generate urgently needed knowledge on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indigenous and Black women's help-seeking behaviours following IPV by systematically documenting barriers women faced during the pandemic. Engaging women in a large study that seeks to garner information about their experiences of violence is complex and challenging and requires significant planning, especially for ensuring participants' safety. In this write-up, we detail the safety planning protocol developed for the purposes of recruiting and engaging women in rural and urban areas in an upper Midwestern state in the United States. Our goal is to provide scholars conducting research in the area of violence with practical considerations for safely conducting a study of this nature.

Intimate Partner Violence Survivors' Perspectives on Coping With Family Court Processes

Although intimate partner violence (IPV)-exposed mothers report distress during family court proceedings, no known research examines what helps them cope. We analyzed qualitative responses from 214 IPV-exposed mothers to the question of who/what helped during family court. Participants described (a) receiving social support, (b) accessing tools and resources, (c) modifying actions, thoughts, and emotions to adapt to a system that is not trauma-informed, (d) being believed/validated, and (e) managing post-separation family life as helpful. Participants also reported (f) barriers to navigating family law proceedings; a few expressed nothing helped. Findings support a trauma-informed, network-oriented approach to supporting family court-involved survivor mothers.

Systematic review and data synthesis on the treatment of sexual violence victimization by an intimate partner

This study aims to conduct a systematic review and synthesis on the treatment of sexual violence victimization by an intimate partner evaluating specifically the impact of treatment on mental health outcomes of female sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors. We followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systemic Reviews of Interventions guidelines for the process of conducting systematic reviews. We were unable to conduct meta-analyses due to the substantial heterogeneity of the interventions for IPV. A qualitative summary of 6 controlled studies identified no benefit to the treatment of sexual coercion, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety for female sexual IPV survivors. However, we are limited by a paucity of data for each outcome on this subject. In conclusion, sexual coercion is a complex issue that has adverse effects on mental health and the well-being of the survivors. More research is needed that investigates what kind of interventions are effective for this specific population.

"If He Were a Terrorist, You Would Have Caught Him Already": The Experience of Divorce Denial Among Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

This study aimed to advance knowledge about separation abuse-and, specifically, divorce denial-and its implications for the well-being of survivors, by applying the conservation of resources (COR) theory. Data were collected from 15 Israeli female survivors of intimate partner violence who were denied divorce over a period lasting between 1 and 12 years. The findings revealed the participants' perceived detrimental effects of divorce denial on their well-being through multiple losses-in terms of autonomy, spiritual and relational, institutional, and financial resources. These findings suggest the need to assess and address the effects of resource loss in separation abuse interventions.

The role of resilience in the relationship between intimate partner violence severity and ICD-11 CPTSD severity

Background: Resilience is a modulating factor in the development of PTSD and CPTSD after exposure to traumatic events. However, the relationship between resilience and ICD-11 CPTSD is not adequately understood in survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).Objective: The aim of this study is to determine whether resilience has a mediating role in the relationship between severity of violence and severity of CPTSD symptoms.Method: A sample of 202 women IPV survivors completed self-rated questionnaires to assess CPTSD, severity of violence and resilience.Results: Mediation analyses indicated that there was a direct relationship between the severity of violence and the severity of CPTSD symptoms (β = .113, p < .001) and that there was a significantly inverse relationship between levels of resilience and the severity of CPTSD symptoms (β = -.248, p < .001). At the same time, there was no significant relationship between the severity of violence and resilience (β = -.061, p = .254).Conclusions: These findings suggest that resilience does not mediate the relationship between violence severity and CPTSD severity. Directions for future research are discussed.

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence, Gender, and Psychological Distress Among Northern Irish University Students

While substantial prevalence rates of intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) have been found among university students for decades in North America, there is a specific gap in published studies on this issue in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The present analysis used data from a larger survey study of students in one Northern Irish university. The analyses reported here were used to examine relationships among IPSV victims, gender (males and females only), unhealthy alcohol use, and psychological distress among university students (n = 654) since the age of 16 and during the previous year. The results of this study are consistent with previous research indicating that women (n = 248) experience IPSV more often than men (n = 37; 50% vs. 23%, respectively). Nonetheless, IPSV is experienced by both men and women with statistically significant associations with alcohol use, posttraumatic stress, depression, and generalized anxiety compared with those who did not report any IPSV experience.

Hope as a Moderator of Intimate Partner Violence and Suicide Risk Behaviors Among Latinas

The current study investigated the role of hope in the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and suicide risk behaviors among a community sample of Latinas (N = 180). Moderation analyses revealed significant interaction effects demonstrating that both aspects of hope-agency and pathways-were associated with suicide risk behaviors at high levels of IPV. Results suggest hope may be helpful when IPV is at low levels, but it may exacerbate suicide risk when high levels of IPV are experienced among Latinas. Future directions and implications are discussed, including the importance of understanding the unique cultural context in which Latina survivors exist.

Partner Cooperation, Conflict, Maternal Mental Health, and Parenting Behaviors in Rural Kenya: Towards a Two-Generational Understanding of Gender Transformation Benefits

Increasing partner cooperation is an established approach to reducing intimate partner violence. This strategy, known in the literature as "gender transformation," benefits mental and physical health of women and men. Less is known about the potential for gender transformation strategies to improve the nurturing context for children. We hypothesize that increasing partner cooperation, a common benefit of community-based empowerment programs, would decrease child maltreatment through reducing intimate partner conflict and improving maternal mental health. This study utilizes cohort data from women (n = 400) participating in a combined group-based microfinance program to assess potential mechanisms by which partner cooperation at T1 (June 2018) predicts less children maltreatment at T2 (June 2019). As hypothesized, partner cooperation predicts less subsequent child maltreatment-frequency of neglect, corporal punishment, physical assault, and psychological abuse in the past month. This association is mediated completely by subsequent more partner cooperation and less intimate partner conflict, maternal loneliness, and depression. Implications of this study include potential for combining multiple development areas-women's empowerment, intimate partner cooperation, mental health, and child nurturing contexts. Future study should assess these pathways in a cluster-based randomized trial, and explore how findings may inform policy and practice where these domains are less integrated.

Different Types of Intimate Partner Violence Among Latinx Women: A Call for Expanded Measurement, Screening, and Safety Planning

Despite increased attention on intimate partner violence (IPV) among Latinx women in the United States, measurement often overlooks economic abuse, reproductive coercion, institution-related threats, and technology-facilitated abuse. Using a broad range of measures, this paper examines prevalence and correlations between different types of IPV among a sample of 38 Latinx women enrolled into a pilot study. Results indicate consistently high prevalence of IPV types and significant correlations between several types of abuse (including sexual abuse, technology-facilitated abuse, and institution-related threats). Findings emphasize the need for comprehensive IPV measurement, screening, expanded safety planning, and research on the impact of these types of abuse.

Pathways to reduced physical intimate partner violence among women in north-western Tanzania: Evidence from two cluster randomised trials of the MAISHA intervention

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects over one-in-four women globally. Combined economic and social empowerment interventions are a promising IPV prevention model. However, questions remain on the mechanisms through which such interventions prevent IPV, and whether standalone social empowerment interventions can work in the absence of an economic component. This secondary analysis of MAISHA Study data (north-western Tanzania) explores pathways through which a group-based gender-training intervention, delivered to women standalone or alongside microfinance, may impact on physical IPV risk. Two cluster-randomised trials (CRT) assessed the impact of the MAISHA intervention on women's IPV risk; CRT01 among women in 66 pre-existing microfinance groups (n = 919), and CRT02 among 66 newly-formed groups not receiving microfinance (n = 1125). Women were surveyed at baseline and 29 months follow-up. Sub-group analyses explored whether intervention effects on past-year experience of physical IPV varied by participant characteristics. Mediators of intervention effect on physical IPV were explored using mixed-effects logistic regression (disaggregated by trial). In CRT01, MAISHA was associated with reduced past-year physical IPV (adjusted-OR 0.63, 95%CI 0.41-0.98), with stronger effects among those younger, more financially independent, and without prior physical IPV. CRT02 showed no impact on physical IPV, overall or among sub-groups. In CRT01, individual-level reduced acceptability of IPV and group-level confidence to intervene against IPV emerged as potential mediators of intervention effect, while relationship-level indicators of communication were not impacted. In CRT02, positive impacts on individual-level attitudes did not translate into reduced IPV risk. In CRT02, arguments with partners over perceived transgressions of gender roles increased in the intervention-arm. Neither trial resulted in increased separations. Findings illustrate the importance of addressing poverty and women's economic dependence on men, structural factors that may impede the success of socially oriented violence prevention programming. Programming with men is also crucial to ameliorate risks of backlash against attitudinal/behavioural change among women. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02592252.

Factors and consequences associated with intimate partner violence against women in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global public health issue, with notably high prevalence rates observed within Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This systematic review aimed to examine the risk factors and consequences associated with IPV against women in LMICs. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review using three databases: Web of Science, ProQuest Central, and Scopus, covering the period from January 2010 to January 2022. The study included only peer-reviewed journal articles in English that investigated IPV against women in LMICs. Out of 167 articles screened, 30 met the inclusion criteria, comprising both quantitative and mixed-method studies. Risk factors of IPV were categorised as: demographic risk factors (23 studies), family risk factors (9 studies), community-level factors (1 studies), and behavioural risk factors (14 studies), while consequences of IPV were categorised as mental health impacts (13 studies), physical impacts (5 studies), and societal impacts (4 studies). In this study, several risk factors were identified including lower levels of education, marriage at a young age, poor wealth indices, rural residential areas, and acceptance of gender norms that contribute to the prevalence of IPV in LMICs. It is essential to address these factors through effective preventive policies and programs. Moreover, this review highlights the necessity of large-scale, high-quality policy-driven research to further examine risk factors and consequences, ultimately guiding the development of interventions aimed at preventing IPV against women in LMICs.

Depression as a mediator between intimate partner violence (IPV) and CD4 cell count among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV in China

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adverse mental and physical outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. Few studies focus on psychological IPV, such as verbal threats. This study examined the associations between different forms of IPV and depression and CD4+ cell count, with depression as a mediator for the association between IPV and CD4+ cell count. Data for these analyses were derived from a larger cross-sectional study on HIV-HCV co-infection among MSM in Shanghai, China (N = 1623). We estimated the average causal mediation effects (ACME) and average direct effects (ADE) through three steps. About 16% of participants experienced IPV, with forced sex (7%), verbal threats (5%), and thrown objects (4%) being most common. Verbal threats showed the strongest link with depression and low CD4+ cell count. Depression fully mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and low CD4+ cell count, suggesting it as a potential pathway between psychological IPV and poorer HIV-related health outcomes. More research on psychological IPV is warranted to examine its health impacts. Mental health could be a potential focus of intervention to enhance HIV-related health outcomes among MSM with IPV experience.

A comparative study of machine learning algorithms for predicting domestic violence vulnerability in Liberian women

Domestic violence against women is a prevalent in Liberia, with nearly half of women reporting physical violence. However, research on the biosocial factors contributing to this issue remains limited. This study aims to predict women's vulnerability to domestic violence using a machine learning approach, leveraging data from the Liberian Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS) conducted in 2019-2020. We employed seven machine learning algorithms to achieve this goal, including ANN, KNN, RF, DT, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost. Our analysis revealed that the LightGBM and RF models achieved the highest accuracy in predicting women's vulnerability to domestic violence in Liberia, with 81% and 82% accuracy rates, respectively. One of the key features identified across multiple algorithms was the number of people who had experienced emotional violence. These findings offer important insights into the underlying characteristics and risk factors associated with domestic violence against women in Liberia. By utilizing machine learning techniques, we can better predict and understand this complex issue, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies.

Violence Victimization, Homelessness, and Severe Mental Illness Among People Who Use Opioids in Three U.S. Cities

This study examined the associations between violence victimization, homelessness, and severe mental illness (SMI) among people who use opioids (PWUOs) in three U.S. cities. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey conducted from May 2019 to February 2020 across three study sites: Los Angeles, CA; Las Vegas, NV; and Atlanta, GA. We used multivariable regressions to examine how multiple victimizations and housing situation are associated with SMI. Based on K-6 scale, nearly half (44.2%) were screened positive for SMI. Meanwhile, 69.7% of the participants reported experiencing some kind of violence in their lifetime, and more than half (51.9%) reported experiencing recent violence (in the past 6 months). The most common form of lifetime violence was emotional (59.5%), followed by physical and intimate partner violence (IPV) (56.1 and 34.9%, respectively), and 34.9% of all participants reported experiencing multiple forms of victimization in the past 6 months. Participants who reported homelessness were more likely to report having experienced recent violence victimization (p < .001). In multivariable models, experiencing recent victimization was significantly associated with SMI (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.46, 2.38]), as was homelessness (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI [1.15, 2.14]), after adjusting for study covariates. Among those with moderate and SMI (n = 927), only 22% were currently receiving mental health services, and those who reported having experienced any forms of violence in the past 6 months were more likely to utilize mental health services than those who had not experienced any recent violence victimization (25 vs. 17.9%, p < .05). To improve mental health and wellness among this high priority population, mental health facilities and syringe service programs may consider screening for experiences of violence and using trauma-informed mental health approaches. Harm reduction interventions must be responsive to the diverse individual and structural-level needs of PWUOs, especially those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Holistic strategies and services are needed to meet the social and structural needs of this population.

An evidence-based primary health care intervention to address domestic violence against women in Brazil: a mixed method evaluation

BACKGROUND

Health systems have a critical role in a multi-sectoral response to domestic violence against women (DVAW). However, the evidence on interventions is skewed towards high income countries, and evidence based interventions are not easily transferred to low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) where significant social, cultural and economic differences exist. We evaluated feasibility and acceptability of implementation of an intervention (HERA-Healthcare Responding to Violence and Abuse) to improve the response to DVAW in two primary health care clinics (PHC) in Brazil.

METHODS

The study design is a mixed method process and outcome evaluation, based on training attendance records, semi-structured interviews (with 13 Primary Health Care (PHC) providers, two clinic directors and two women who disclosed domestic violence), and identification and referral data from the Brazilian Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAN).

RESULTS

HERA was feasible and acceptable to women and PHC providers, increased providers' readiness to identify DVAW and diversified referrals outside the health system. The training enhanced the confidence and skills of PHC providers to ask directly about violence and respond to women's disclosures using a women centred, gender and human rights perspective. PHC providers felt safe and supported when dealing with DVAW because HERA emphasised clear roles and collective action within the clinical team. A number of challenges affected implementation including: differential managerial support for the Núcleo de Prevenção da Violência (Violence Prevention Nucleus-NPV) relating to the allocation of resources, monitoring progress and giving feedback; a lack of higher level institutional endorsement prioritising DVAW work; staff turnover; a lack of feedback from external support services to PHC clinics regarding DVAW cases; and inconsistent practices regarding documentation of DVAW.

CONCLUSION

Training should be accompanied by system-wide institutional change including active (as opposed to passive) management support, allocation of resources to support roles within the NPV, locally adapted protocols and guidelines, monitoring progress and feedback. Communication and coordination with external support services and documentation systems are crucial and need improvement. DVAW should be prioritised within leadership and governance structures, for example, by including DVAW work as a specific commissioning goal.

Responsivity to Interviewer during Interview-Based Assessment of Physical Intimate Partner Violence

Objective

Interview assessments of intimate partner violence (IPV) may provide more accurate behavior frequency estimates than self-report questionnaires. However, concerns have been raised about whether participants underreport IPV during interviews due to an emotional response to the interviewer.

Method

Participants were 42 mixed gender community couples (83 individuals) in which at least one partner endorsed physical IPV perpetration or victimization in their relationship. We examined whether participants were emotionally responsive to the interviewer during an interview about physical IPV. Responsivity was defined as the extent to which participants' emotional arousal, indexed by vocal fundamental frequency (f0), was predicted by interviewers' emotional arousal at the previous talk turn on a moment-by-moment basis. We then examined whether participants' responsivity predicted interview-based reporting of IPV relative to their own self-report on an IPV measure and to the highest other available report (including partner report).

Results

Repeated measures actor-partner interdependence models conducted in a multi-level modeling framework indicated that, on average, participants were responsive to interviewers' emotional arousal, even when controlling for responsivity to their own arousal, and that responsivity varied across participants. However, participants' responsivity to interviewer arousal did not significantly predict reporting of IPV perpetration or victimization during the interview relative to their own self-report or to the highest other available report.

Conclusions

Participants are emotionally responsive to interviewer arousal, but this responsivity does not appear to reduce interview-based reporting of IPV relative to self-report, supporting the utility of IPV interviews in clinical and research settings.

Intimate Partner Violence, Economic Insecurity, and Health Outcomes Among American Indian and Alaska Native Men and Women: Findings From a National Sample

Limited data are available on experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV) and health outcomes among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations. This study explores the relationship between IPV and SV, food insecurity, housing insecurity, healthcare access, and self-reported physical and mental health status in a nationally representative sample of AIAN adults (N = 3,634). IPV and SV were associated with poorer physical and mental health at the bivariate level, but not in multivariate analyses. Economic inequalities are a salient predictor of health and may be compounded by demographic and geographic contexts.

Intimate Partner Violence, Child Custody, and Financial Issues Among Female Suicide Decedents With Known Intimate Partner Problems: National Violent Death Reporting System, 2018

BACKGROUND

Hardships such as custody issues and financial stress may increase suicide risk for individuals experiencing intimate partner problems, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV). The objective of this study was to examine associations among custody issues, financial strain, and IPV among female suicide decedents with known intimate partner problems using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS).

METHODS

NVDRS data from 2018, which comes from 41 U.S. states, was used to examine the nature and frequency of custody and financial strain and IPV among a sample of 1,567 female suicide decedents with known intimate partner problems (e.g., divorce, breakup, argument). Case narratives were used to extract detailed information about these situations.

RESULTS

IPV was documented in 22.14% of cases. Compared with those without documented IPV, cases with documented IPV were more likely to include custody issues (3.44% vs. 6.34%). Controlling for demographic characteristics and mental health, documented child custody issues were associated with greater odds of IPV (odds ratio = 1.80; 95% confidence interval = 1.03-3.16). Financial strain was not statistically significantly associated with child custody issues or IPV among this sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Child custody issues can contribute to suicide among women with known intimate partner problems and are positively associated with IPV. Suicide prevention and intervention efforts should recognize child custody issues as a risk factor, particularly when coupled with IPV. There is also a need to promote policies and services that improve the financial and civil legal circumstances of IPV survivors.

Neurological Complications Secondary to Intimate Partner Violence: A Brief Review and Case of Posterior Cerebral Artery Cerebrovascular Accident Following Domestic Abuse

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a growing public health concern, with millions of individuals experiencing IPV each year. Consequences of IPV include psychological disturbances, changes in physical health, and in extreme cases, severe disablement or death. Here, we describe a case of a patient who experienced IPV, leading to a variety of neurological symptoms, and was diagnosed with a posterior cerebral artery (PCA) cerebrovascular accident (CVA) 10 days later. While cases of traumatic brain injury leading to CVA, or stroke, have been documented, there is currently limited reported literature on the neurological complications, specifically stroke, secondary to IPV in adults. Due to this limited reporting, future studies on IPV will be needed to fully understand the long-term neurological complications that may occur.

Evidence of Gender Asymmetry in Intimate Partner Violence Experience at the Population-Level

Claims of "gender symmetry" in intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence are contested, with resolution of the issue complicated by methodological and measurement challenges. This study explores gendered differences in the distribution of IPV exposure at the population-level, considering multiple types of IPV exposure. The subjects comprised of 1,431 ever-partnered women and 1,355 ever-partnered men. Data from a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional survey were used to compare men and women's IPV experiences. Twenty-three IPV acts were assessed across IPV types (moderate physical, severe physical, sexual, psychological, controlling behaviors, economic). Proportions were presented by gender for the number of individual IPV acts experienced per IPV type, and the frequency of these acts (none, once, few times, or many times). A composite exposure score was developed to assess the number of acts and their frequency within types by comparing scores in tertiles and across types by correlations. Women reported greater overall prevalence of 20 of the 23 individual IPV acts assessed. Across all assessed acts, women comprised a substantially greater proportion of those who reported experiencing individual acts "many times." Women experienced more severe and more frequent IPV than men based on self-reported experience of IPV acts, and by the frequency with which acts were experienced. Significant differences between men and women's exposure scores were observed for all six assessed types, with greater proportions of women scoring in the upper tertiles. This study provides evidence of gender asymmetry in experiences of IPV at the population level. While men do experience IPV victimization, there remains need for directed and substantial resource allocation for intervention and therapeutic responses to women's exposure to IPV, and for primary prevention with men. Going forward, IPV measurement tools that consider frequency, severity, or co-occurring types of IPV are needed.

Study on the types of abuse in young couples as a function of sex

This study analyses the types of violence that can occur in intimate partner relationships among young people and their self-perception of abuse. For this purpose, we have used a survey-type methodology, with a quantitative approach. Participants were selected by means of non-probabilistic convenience and consisted of students enrolled in different degree and postgraduate courses in the Faculty of Education Sciences of the University of Granada (Spain). The sample consisted of 323 students, with a mean age of 23.8 years (SD = 5.2). Statistical and inferential tests were carried out with the data obtained using the SPSS V26 data analysis programme. The results show that the type of maltreatment most suffered, at some time by the sample participants, is emotional maltreatment, physical maltreatment, and psychological maltreatment. By comparing the means obtained, we can conclude that sex did not influence the violence suffered by young couples, which gives it a bidirectional character.

Intimate Partner Violence among women living in families with children under the poverty line and its association with common mental disorders during COVID-19 pandemics in Ceará, Brazil

BACKGROUND

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health issue that affects millions of women worldwide. Women living below the poverty line experience higher rates of violence and fewer resources to escape or cope with the abuse, and the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted women's economic well-being worldwide. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Ceará, Brazil, on women in families with children living below the poverty line at the peak of the second wave of COVID to assess the prevalence of IPV and its association with common mental disorders(CMD).

METHODS

The study population comprised families with children up to six years of age who participated in the cash transfer program "Mais Infância". The families selected to participate in this program must meet a poverty criterion: families must live in rural areas, in addition to a monthly per capita income of less than US$16.50 per month. We applied specific instruments to evaluate IPV and CMD. To access IPV, we used the Partner Violence Screen (PVS). The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to assess CMD. To verify the association between IPV and the other evaluated factors with CMD, simple and hierarchical multiple logistic models were used.

RESULTS

Of the 479 participant women, 22% were positively screened for IPV (95% CI 18.2-26.2). After multivariate adjustment, the chances of CMD are 2.32 higher in women exposed to IPV than in those not exposed to IPV ((95%CI 1.30-4.13), p value = 0.004). CMD was also associated with job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic (ORa 2.13 (95% CI 1.09-4.35), p-value 0.029). In addition to these, separate or single marital status, as well as non-presence of the father at home and food insecurity were associated with CMD.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the prevalence of intimate partner violence in families with children up to six years of age living below the poverty line in Ceará is high and is associated with greater chances of common mental disorders in mothers. Also, job loss and reduced access to food caused by the Covid 19 pandemic exacerbated both phenomena, constituting a double burden generator factor on mothers.

Perceived Barriers and Benefits of Exercise Among Women Survivors of Sexual Violence by Physical Activity Level and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Status

An online, cross-sectional survey of women survivors of sexual violence (SV; N = 355) gathered information on perceived barriers and benefits of exercise, along with exercise level and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study reports exercise perceptions and provides comparisons by exercise level and PTSD status. Differences by exercise level were found in life enhancement, physical performance, psychological outlook, and social interaction (ps < 0.05; rs = -0.04-0.25). Differences were found by PTSD status in physical performance, social interaction, and preventative health and exercise milieu, time expenditure, and family discouragement (ps < 0.05; rs = -0.39-0.21). Findings provide new information relevant for promoting exercise among women survivors of SV.

An ecological approach to understanding the impact of sexual violence: a systematic meta-review

Aim

A systematic meta-review was conducted to examine (1) the broad range of negative and positive individual and interpersonal changes following adult sexual violence, as well as (2) the risk/protective factors at multiple levels of the social ecology (e.g., individual, assault, and micro/meso/exo/macro/chronosystem factors)-influencing the impact of sexual violence.

Methods

Searches of Web of Science, Pubmed, and ProQuest resulted in inclusion of 46 systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Review findings were extracted for summary and a deductive thematic analysis was conducted.

Results

Experiencing sexual violence is associated with many negative individual and sexual difficulties as well as revictimization risk. Only a limited number of reviews reported on interpersonal and positive changes. Factors at multiple levels of the social ecology play a role in the intensity of these changes. Reviews including macrolevel factors were non-existent, however.

Conclusion

Reviews on sexual violence are fragmented in nature. Although the use of an ecological approach is often lacking, adopting such a perspective in research is necessary for a fuller understanding of the multiple influences on survivor outcomes. Future research should evaluate the occurrence of social and positive changes following sexual violence, as well as the role of macrolevel factors in influencing post-assault outcomes.

The effects of exposure to physical and emotional violence from partners on psychological resilience, forgiveness, happiness, life satisfaction, and depression level in Turkish women

The data of this descriptive and correlational study were collected from 583 women between October 2021 and December 2021 with information form, Brief Resilience Scale, Oxford Happiness Scale-Short Form, Epidemiological Research Center Depression Scale, Heartland Forgiveness Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale. There is a statistically significant difference between the resilience, happiness, and life satisfaction levels of women exposed to physical violence from their partners and the presence of depression (p < .001). A statistically significant difference was found between the presence of depression and resilience, happiness, and life satisfaction (p < .001) and forgiveness (p = .004) in women who were exposed to emotional violence from their partners. While resilience, happiness, and life satisfaction levels decreased in women who were exposed to physical violence from their partners, the incidence of depression increased. While the presence of depression increased in women who were exposed to emotional violence from their partners, the level of resilience, happiness, life satisfaction, and forgiveness decreased.

Systematic Investigation of Meta-Analysis Data on Treatment Effectiveness for Physical, Psychological, and Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

Intimate partner violence can lead to physical, economical, mental, and sexual well-being issues, and even death, and it is most commonly experienced by women. There exist a number of treatment models for the prevention and treatment of intimate partner violence (IPV). In this study, we provided a comprehensive meta-regression analysis of the effectiveness of batterer treatment programs, with a view to characterizing the interplay between different forms of IPV (physical, psychological, and sexual). Using meta-regression, we explore the effect sizes and whether IPV treatment methods have distinct impacts on the outcomes. We use the difference normalized by pretreatment mean and variance foldchange to uncover the relationship between different violence subtypes and how they drive each other. Specifically, our study found that studies with more pre-treatment psychological and/or sexual violence, lead to less favorable outcomes while the studies that start with more physical violence are able to demonstrate their effects more effectively. Results of this study can be used to help the clinician effectively select the treatment for the perpetrator based on the violence type and severity of violence in order to more effectively treat the needs for each specific relationship.

Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence, Partner Interference, and Family Supportive Supervision on Victims' Work Withdrawal

This study investigates the link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and work withdrawal (including absence frequency, partial absenteeism, and turnover intentions) in the context of partners' interference with victims at work and family supportive supervision of victims at work. Using the work-home resources model, we propose that (1) partner interference with victims at work will worsen the relationship between IPV and work withdrawal, and (2) family supportive supervision of victims at work will alleviate this relationship. Our analysis of a sample of 249 female employees found a three-way interaction between IPV, partner interference, and family supportive supervision on victims' absence frequency: IPV victims whose partners interfered with their work had lower absence frequency when they received high (compared to low) levels of family supportive supervision at work. Importantly, family supportive supervision was only related to lower absence frequency when both IPV and partner interference were present. This suggests that organizations have a unique opportunity to reduce the negative effects of IPV and partner interference not only for the victim but also for other employees who are indirectly affected. Our findings have significant implications for organizations, which have ethical, legal, and practical responsibilities to create a safe working environment for all employees.

A Laboratory Test of Alcohol-Related Intimate Partner Aggression: Expectancies Are Not to Blame

Background: The role of alcohol expectancies and evaluations (i.e., perceived outcomes of drinking and whether these outcomes are desirable) in alcohol-related intimate partner aggression (IPA) has been debated, with some researchers arguing that expectancies fully account for the alcohol-IPA relationship and others suggesting they play a minimal if any role in alcohol-related IPA. In the current study, we examine the impact of expectancies and evaluations on alcohol-related IPA observed in the lab, in order to clarify what impact, if any, alcohol expectancies have on alcohol-related IPA. Consistent with findings from laboratory studies examining general aggression, we expected that individuals who were intoxicated would display greater IPA than individuals who were sober, but that alcohol expectancies and evaluations would be unrelated to in vivo IPA. Method: Participants were 69 dating couples (total N = 138), randomly assigned to consume either an alcohol or placebo beverage. IPA was measured with an in vivo aggression task based on the Taylor Aggression Paradigm. Results: As expected, alcohol intoxication predicted in vivo IPA following provocation (p < .03), whereas alcohol expectancies and evaluations were not related to IPA. Conclusions: These findings provide further support that alcohol expectancies and evaluations play little if any role in alcohol-related IPA. Rather, intoxication likely increases risk for IPA through its physiological effects on perception and thought. Further, treatments targeting alcohol use, rather than beliefs about outcomes of drinking, may have a greater impact on alcohol-related IPA.