Technology-Facilitated Abuse in Intimate Relationships: A Scoping Review

Child-to-Parent Violence and Abuse: A Scoping Review

Child-to-parent violence and abuse (CPVA) is a pattern of behavior where a parent or carer is abused by a child they are caring for. The main body of work on CPVA is relatively recent and evolving at pace. This scoping review explores the characteristics of parents, carers, children, and young people in cases of CPVA, the characteristics of CPVA, and barriers to and facilitators of help-seeking in cases of CPVA. The scoping review did not exclude any studies on the basis of geographical location or date of the study. The databases Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Medline, and PubMed were searched in August 2023, along with hand searches of key journals. A total of 145 reports were included in the review, selected for their relevance to the scoping review questions. The main findings were: (a) the field of CPVA is rapidly growing, doubling in the last decade but with a predominance of quantitative studies; (b) there is no agreed universal definition; (c) children and young people with disabilities; who identify as trans or nonbinary gender, or who are adopted or fostered, are almost completely absent from the existing research; (d) there is very limited research focusing on protective factors or on help-seeking.

Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence and Abuse in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Technology-facilitated sexual violence and abuse (TFSVA) is a pervasive phenomenon and a global problem. TFSVA refers to any form of sexual violence, exploitation, or harassment enacted through the misuse of digital technologies. This includes, but is not limited to, image-based sexual abuse, online sexual exploitation and harassment, sextortion, and the non-consensual sharing of sexual images. It has significant and long-lasting psychological, social, financial, and health impacts. TFSVA is on the rise, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where there has been an explosion in digital technology overall. This scoping review aimed to identify studies on TFSVA in LMICs to examine its types, impacts, victim-survivor coping strategies, and help-seeking. To identify peer-reviewed literature, six databases were searched: Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, Star Plus-University of Sheffield library search, and Web of Science. The review included empirical studies published in English between 1996 and 2022, focusing on TFSVA among adults (aged 18+) in LMICs. A total of 14 peer-reviewed studies were included, highlighting that scant empirical research is available on TFSVA in LMICs. This review found several types of TFSVA and their wide-ranging impacts; traditional patriarchal societal norms and values largely shape TFSVA for women in LMICs. It also found more social impacts linked to sociocultural factors. Survivors adopted various coping mechanisms and help-seeking behaviors primarily through informal family support. Studies highlighted the need for effective legislation; pro-victim-survivor policing; strong family support; increasing victim-survivors' knowledge about reporting; and more research.

Characteristics and Dynamics of Cyberstalking Victimization Among Juveniles and Young Adults

Using the nationally representative Ipsos online KnowledgePanel, the sample included three hundred thirty-six 18- to 28-year-olds who retrospectively reported first cyberstalking incidents as juveniles (9- to 17-year-olds) or adults. Half of the sample first experienced cyberstalking as juveniles and half first experienced it as adults. Juveniles were more likely to have more than two perpetrators in the same episode, to experience more violent threats, and to avoid people because of what happened. Few reported the incident to the police, with juveniles less likely to report it to the police. Cyberstalking of juveniles appears just as or more serious than cyberstalking of adults.

Perpetrator Perceptions on the Emotions and Motivations Driving Technology-Facilitated Abuse in Relationships: A Story Completion Study

Technology-facilitated abuse in relationships (TAR) is a widespread social problem that has a significant impact on victim-survivors. Most contemporary evidence on TAR focuses on victim-survivor and practitioner perspectives rather than those of perpetrators who choose to enact this form of harm. Addressing this deficit, this study explored perpetrators' discourses on emotions and motivations associated with engaging in TAR. Using story completion method, 35 self-identified perpetrators of TAR completed story stems describing scenarios that may precede the use of abusive online behaviors. Reflexive thematic analysis generated three themes. Abusive behaviors and negative emotions speaks to maladaptive experiences of anger and/or sadness that can precede a decision to use TAR. A loss of trust, a desire for control describes potential motives for using TAR. Finally, inhibitors of abusive behavior investigates rationales perpetrators use for avoidance of TAR behaviors, suggesting avenues for working with perpetrators to refrain from using TAR. We conclude by discussing policy, practice, and research recommendations including strategies for technology designers and suggestions for primary prevention and response to TAR.

The Victim-Offender Overlap in Technology-Facilitated Abuse: Nationally Representative Findings Among U.S. Young Adults

There has been limited examination of the phenomenon of the victim-offender overlap in the field of technology-facilitated abuse (TFA). To design effective strategies to prevent TFA, it is important to understand which individuals are most at risk of victimization, perpetration, and to what extent a subset of people both experience victimization and engage in perpetration. This study drew on Cyber-Abuse Research Initiative (CARI) data, a nationally representative U.S. sample of adults ages 18-35. TFA measurement consisted of parallel scales for victimization and perpetration, each with 27 items assessing forms of technology-facilitated surveillance, monitoring/tracking, interference/communications, reputational harm, controlling/limiting access, and fraud. A bivariate probit of TFA perpetration and TFA victimization, as separate outcomes, was fit to allow for joint estimation of regression coefficients and robust standard errors. Analyses confirmed that TFA, similar to other forms of interpersonal aggression, is characterized by a substantial victim-offender overlap, with 30 percent of the sample reporting involvement both as a victim and as a perpetrator. Internet/social media use and social isolation did not distinguish victimization and perpetration. However, positive and negative affect as well as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Asexual, or other sexual orientation (LGBQA+) were positively correlated with victimization, whereas female gender and having postsecondary education were positively associated with perpetration. These results may be used to design interventions and anticipate service needs. TFA, as a new topic of research, should capitalize on the theoretical and empirical article related to other forms of the victim-offender overlap.

Experiences of Technology-Facilitated Abuse Among Sexual and Gender Minorities

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) against sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults is a serious though understudied issue. Few studies have examined the types, extent, and perpetrators of TFA against SGMs, and those that have analyzed any of these phenomena have mostly done so with samples of youths. This article offers results of a nationally representative survey on experiences of TFA among a sample of 2,752 U.S. adults aged 18 to 35 years, including 504 SGMs. The prevalence and types of TFA against SGMs were examined using a 27-item inventory capturing six general types of TFA, including surveillance, cyber-interference/communications, reputational harm, monitoring/tracking, fraud, and controlling/limiting access. Respondents could also indicate their relationship to the perpetrator. Results revealed significant differences in the prevalence, types, and perpetrators of TFA against SMGs (compared to non-SGMs), such that SGMs experienced greater levels of TFA victimization, were more likely to be victimized by perpetrators who were not intimate or ex-intimate partners, and were more likely to experience all forms of TFA, except for monitoring/tracking. No significant differences were found for general experiences of TFA victimization between cisgender and non-cisgender individuals or between sexual minority males and sexual minority females. Results thus show that although SGMs and non-SGMs experience similar types of TFA, SGMs experience TFA at higher rates. These findings provide a vital foundation for future work on TFA victimization among SGMs and offer insights for policy and practice, particularly for practitioners and clinicians working with SGMs. Findings indicate a potential need for greater access to health care, victim services, technological support, and legal aid for SGMs due to their increased risk of TFA victimization.