The Social and Individual Characteristics of Women Associated With Engagement With Multiple Intimate Violent Partners

Factors Associated with Revictimization in Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study conducted a meta-analysis to identify the primary risk and protective factors associated with the revictimization in intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW). Out of 2382 studies initially identified in eight databases, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria and provided the necessary data for calculating pooled effect sizes. The analysis focused on non-manipulative quantitative studies examining revictimization in heterosexual women of legal age. Separate statistical analyses were performed for prospective and retrospective studies, resulting in findings related to 14 variables. The Metafor package in RStudio was used with a random-effects model. The meta-analysis revealed that childhood abuse was the most strongly associated risk factor for revictimization, while belonging to a white ethnicity was the most prominent protective factor. Other significant risk factors included alcohol and drug use, recent physical violence, severity of violence, and PTSD symptomatology. The study also found that older age was a protective factor in prospective studies. The consistency of results across different study designs and sensitivity analyses further supported the robustness of the findings. It is important to note that the existing literature on revictimization in women facing intimate partner violence is limited and exhibits significant heterogeneity in terms of methodology and conceptual frameworks.

Criminal orders of protection for survivors of intimate partner violence, future system engagement, and well-being: Understanding the importance of prior abusive relationships

This study investigated women's court experiences, mental health, and willingness to engage the system in the future for intimate partner violence (IPV), with a primary focus on the role of prior abusive relationships. Among 298 women whose partners were arrested for IPV, chi-square analyses found that women who had (vs. did not have) a prior abusive relationship were less likely to have contact with a court-based victim advocate, but there were no differences in the criminal order of protection level of restriction they requested. Regression analyses indicated that women with (vs. without) prior abusive relationships reported greater depression symptoms and perceived stress, and less willingness to engage the system in the future. No differences emerged in PTSD symptoms. This study provides insight into the experiences women have in the court system following their partner's arrest for IPV, considers their past abusive experiences, and has implications for women's safety and well-being.

Vulnerabilidades de las víctimas de feminicidio en España

Determinadas características pueden hacer que las mujeres sean más vulnerables frente a la violencia de género. Esto significa que pueden presentar un mayor riesgo de ser victimizadas, pero, también, que pueden tener más dificultades para salir de relaciones violentas, que la violencia que sufren puede tener consecuencias más graves o que pueden existir circunstancias que impidan que denuncien episodios de violencia. Es por esto por lo que este trabajo pretende describir las vulnerabilidades presentes en una muestra de mujeres víctimas de feminicidio en España. En este estudio se han analizado 171 víctimas de feminicidio en España, cuyos casos tuvieron lugar entre los años 2006 y 2016, en las demarcaciones de Guardia Civil, Policía Nacional, Mossos d’Esquadra y Ertzaintza. Los análisis han mostrado que son comunes en las víctimas características como el tener a menores o familiares a su cargo, ser extranjera o depender económicamente del agresor, siendo poco común la presencia de enfermedad grave, discapacidad o el embarazo. Por su parte, situaciones de riesgo como el deseo de querer acabar con la relación o la existencia de violencia recíproca también han sido comunes entre los casos analizados, mientras que pocas víctimas pensaban que corrían riesgo mortal en su relación.

Mediating Roles of Intimate Partner Violence, Stress, and Social Support on Depressive Symptoms Among Thai Women

Prior research has shown that intimate partner violence (IPV), stress, and social support are associated with depressive symptoms. However, a possible mediating role of these variables linking depressive symptoms has not been fully investigated in Thailand. This study was conducted to assess the mediating roles of IPV, stress, and social support in the relationships between childhood abuse (CA), number of sexual partners (NSP), and depressive symptoms among 400 Thai women attending gynecology clinics. Results indicated that IPV was significantly positively correlated with stress and depressive symptoms but negatively correlated with social support. CA and NSP were significantly positively correlated with IPV, stress, and depressive symptoms, but negatively correlated with social support. Structural equation models (SEMs) showed that not only did IPV severity exhibit significantly indirect effect on depressive symptoms (β = .178; p < .05), but it also had a significant, positive total effect on depressive symptoms (β = .252; p < .05). In particular, IPV severity had the fully mediating effect on depressive symptoms through social support (β = -.204; p < .05) and stress (β = .158; p < .05). CA severity and NSP exhibited the significant indirect effect on depressive symptoms through IPV severity, stress, and social support. All the models analyzed showed that stress had an important mediator role (β = .583; p < .05) on depressive symptoms. The model fitted very well to the empirical data and explained 53% of variance. Findings affirmed the important role of these mediators as well as the need to design interventions for reducing stress or increasing support for women experiencing IPV. Utilizing an empowerment approach among female outpatients to decrease stress and depressive symptoms is recommended.

IPV Characteristics, Childhood Violence, and Adversities as Risk Factors for Being Victimized in Multiple IPV Relationships

Empirical knowledge regarding risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) from multiple partners (MP) is scarce and sought by clinicians and many women themselves for the prevention of future intimate partner violence relationships (IPVRs). Quantitative data were obtained through a structured interview with a stratified sample of help-seeking women (N = 154) with no (n = 48, 0IPVR), one (n = 55, 1IPVR), or multiple (n = 51, 2IPVR) IPVRs. This study investigated the association between (a) childhood family violence, (b) other childhood adversities, (c) victimization and perpetration of IPV in the last (index) relationship, and (d) controlling sociodemographic and contextual variables, and the following dependent variables: (a) women with 1IPVR and 2IPVR compared with 0IPVR and (b) women with 1IPVR compared with 2IPVR. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that, compared with nonvictimized women, IPV victimized women were nearly three times more likely to report childhood sexual abuse. They also reported a higher frequency of peer victimization and a higher likelihood of having an immigrant partner. In addition, the length of the index relationship was shorter for IPV victimized women. Compared with women with 1IPVR, women with IPV by MP were more likely to report childhood emotional abuse and less education, and they were less likely to be immigrants. The two groups of IPV victimized women were indistinguishable regarding characteristics of victimization and perpetration of IPV. This study indicated that there were other risk factors for IPV by MP than for IPV in general and highlighted the importance of addressing parenting and emotional care in IPV families.

Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization by Multiple Partners Over a Period of 8 Years

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive social issue with broad physical and mental health implications. Although 35%-56% of women report IPV victimization with more than one violent partner, few studies have identified factors that increase the risk of experiencing IPV across multiple partners (i.e., IPV reengagement). In the current study, multilevel modeling was used to examine the roles of trauma exposure, mental health, and sociodemographic factors in the risk for reengagement in a sample of women (N = 120) with IPV victimization. Participants were drawn from a randomized control trial of an intervention for mothers who had experienced IPV. The results revealed that more psychological but less sexual IPV was associated with increased reengagement. Higher degrees of posttraumatic reexperiencing symptoms were associated with less reengagement. Depressive symptoms were also significantly associated with reengagement such that lower levels of positive affect and increased somatic symptoms were associated with increased reengagement. Higher income levels and less housing instability were associated with more reengagement, β_range = -.13-.16. Finally, compared to the control condition, participation in the intervention program was significantly associated with lower levels of reengagement at 8-year follow-up, β = -.75, p = .001. These findings suggest that it is not what happened (i.e., experiences of abuse) but rather a woman's posttraumatic experience (i.e., posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms) that creates risk for reengagement. The findings support the long-term effectiveness of a brief intervention in reducing reengagement.

The Interplay Between Poly-Victimization and Sexual Assault in Late Life in the Context of Life Course Perspective

The aim of this article is to explore the interplay between poly-victimization and sexual assault against women in late life (SAWLL) according to the life-course perspective. Two themes emerged from qualitative interviews with 18 experienced welfare and health care professionals who intervened in cases of SAWLL: sexual assault by a spouse co-occurring with other types of abuse within marital relationships, and sexual assault and other types of abuse by two or more perpetrators along the life course. In many cases, SAWLL is an expression of a broader experience of poly-victimization, which relates to vulnerability in old age.

The Roles of Alcohol Use Severity and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms as Risk Factors for Women's Intimate Partner Violence Experiences

Background: To reduce women's risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), it is critical to elucidate malleable psychiatric and behavioral health risk factors. We aimed to identify if alcohol use problems moderate the associations between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and past-year IPV victimization experiences among female veterans, a population at high risk for IPV. Methods: Female veterans (N = 198) completed mail surveys assessing PTSD symptoms, alcohol use, and IPV at two time points between 2012 and 2013. Regression analyses were used to examine the associations between PTSD symptoms and alcohol use at Time 1 with past-year IPV at Time 2. Results: More than a third of women (36.9%) reported past-year IPV. Alcohol use severity significantly moderated the association between PTSD symptoms and past-year physical IPV. Specifically, there was a significant positive association between PTSD symptoms and past-year IPV at high levels of alcohol use severity, but not at low or average levels of alcohol use. Although both PTSD symptoms and alcohol use were independent risk factors for past-year sexual and psychological IPV, no moderating effect was found for these IPV types. Conclusions: Findings can inform tailored IPV, psychiatric, and behavioral health screening and counseling. Such practices may reduce psychiatric distress and IPV risk.

When Violence Can Appear With Different Male Partners: Identification of Resilient and Non-resilient Women in the European Union

Introduction: Little scholarly attention has been paid to the analysis of the history of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women with different male partners and how it could be related to levels of IPV with the current male partner. From this point of view, been a victim of IPV could increase the vulnerability of women and, therefore, exert a negative influence on the selection of partners over time, thus increasing the odds of potentially mating with abusive male partners. Alternatively, for some women victims of IPV in previous relationships, there may be additional resources that reduce their vulnerability to victimization by new partners.

Methodology: The present study analyzes levels of IPV in different partners of 2376 heterosexual women from the 28 countries of the European Union living together as a couple who had previously lived with a different male partner.

Analysis/Discussion: Multilevel regression results indicated that resilient women were younger, more satisfied with household income, and were involved in shorter relationships. As for their previous levels of victimization, they scored lower on child abuse and non-partner adult victimization. Also, their levels of victimization from previous partners were the same as those of the non-resilient women, with the exception of physical IPV victimization where resilient women scored higher than non-resilient women. Resilient women also informed the interviewer to have ended the abusive relationship because of the violence to a greater extent than non-resilient women and seemed to suffer fewer psychological difficulties due to previous violent relationships. Finally, countries scoring higher on human development index (HDI) showed a larger proportion of resilient women.

Conclusion: Resilient women are mostly characterized by fewer psychological difficulties and lower frequency of adverse situations (in childhood or in adulthood) when compared to non-resilient women. Although resilient women reported a higher physical IPV, they nevertheless show fewer psychological sequelae and a greater ability to end abusive relationships. In addition, the human development of the countries in which they live also seems to reinforce their resilience, which suggests combining intervention policies at the individual and contextual levels.

Coercive Control and the Stay-Leave Decision: The Role of Latent Tactics Among a Sample of Abused Pregnant Women

Prior research on intimate partner violence (IPV) and a survivor's decision whether to remain in or leave a violent relationship has often been framed by the question "why do they stay?" This study looks reframe the discussion and examine one facet of this stay-leave decision: abusers' use of coercive control tactics. Using a qualitative approach with a sample of pregnant women exposed to IPV, we sought to expand on the current knowledge by looking at coercive control more broadly via an open-ended assessment. Interview responses show that (a) coercive control was experienced by most of the women in this sample and (b) coercion most often took the form of "latent" or hidden control, including such tactics as providing incentives, showing remorse, and making promises. However, such latent coercive tactics are rarely assessed in IPV survivors and represent an important factor deserving of further research and recognition.