Journal of Family Violence最新文献

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) can have detrimental consequences, including later IPV victimization for children exposed to IPV.

Purpose

This study, using a dyadic design, investigates the mediating role of emerging adults’ childhood exposure to IPV in the association between their mothers’ childhood exposure to IPV and their own experience of physical injury in intimate relationships, as well as the moderating role of mother’s psychological distress in these associations.

Methods

Mothers (36–66 y.o.) and emerging adults (18–25 y.o.) completed online questionnaires (N = 186 dyads).

Results

Results showed that maternal exposure to IPV in childhood was indirectly associated with emerging adults’ experiences of physical injury in intimate relationships through emerging adults’ childhood exposure to IPV, and that the association between mothers’ and emerging adults’ childhood exposures to IPV was only significant at high levels of maternal distress.

Conclusions

Accessible services to support the mental health of survivors of childhood exposure to IPV may be promising in breaking intergenerational cycles of IPV.

Purpose

To evaluate a cutoff score for the Healing after Gender-based Violence Scale (GBV-Heal)—an instrument to assess recovery progress for survivors of GBV.

Methods

We surveyed 321 women-identifying GBV survivors living in the Midwestern United States from April to December 2022 to evaluate their mental health symptom burden, trauma coping self-efficacy, sense of meaning, healing progress, and recovery stage. We used Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis to determine the best cutoff score for the GBV-Heal.

Results

We found a cutoff point of 64 for the GBV-Heal. Those above this cutoff point were found to have significantly lower PTSD and depression symptoms and significantly higher trauma coping self-efficacy and sense of meaning compared to those below the cutoff point.

Conclusions

The GBV-Heal cutoff score can help practitioners recognize survivors needing additional support or resources as they navigate their healing journey. The use of this scale can promote tailored care for survivors seeking healing support in a variety of public health sectors.

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of awareness, cognitive flexibility, positive attitude towards the future, and social support in the relationship between perceived abuse and resilience in women.

Method

The researchers used structural equation modelling to test whether internal protective factors such as mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, positive attitudes towards the future, and external protective factors such as perceived social support from family and friends play a role as protective factors in the effect of abuse women perceive in their romantic relationships on their resilience. Within the scope of this research, data were collected by purposive sampling method from 818 women aged 18 and over who are currently in a romantic relationship.

Results

The findings of this study revealed that the hypothetical model established based on the literature was not rejected [χ² / df = 4,400; RMSEA = 0.065; SRMR: 057; CFI = 0.951; NFI =, 938; TLI / NNFI = 0.925; GFI = 0.964; AGFI = 0.935]. Besides, it has been found that internal and external protective factors together explain 52% of the change in resilience.

Conclusions

The mediating role of the internal and external protective factors in the model revealed that they play a crucial role in the process of developing resilience among women. The findings obtained from the research were discussed within the scope of the related literature and suggestions were presented to researchers and those working in the practice field for further studies.

Purpose

Given the danger that guns pose in the context of domestic violence, significant attention has been given to interventions that mitigate risk for lethality. To better understand the implementation of domestic violence gun laws and perceived dynamics of these laws, we conducted in-depth interviews with key stakeholders in two states that differ in culture, politics, and legislation.

Method

Using a key informant approach, we interviewed a sample of Texas professionals (n = 27) about their perceptions of the traditional domestic violence protective order (DVPO) gun law and a sample of New Jersey professionals (n = 8) about their perceptions of an extreme risk protective order (ERPO) that prohibits “high risk” respondents from purchasing or owning guns. We analyzed the content of the 35 interviews using conventional content analysis.

Results

The perceived efficacy of both gun laws was tied to the amount and strength of other existing legislation in each state. Additionally, in the absence of strong state legislation and political will to enforce DVPO gun laws, local communities must develop strategies to overcome barriers of nonenforcement such as compliance hearings and ensuring DVPO respondents fully comprehend the gun prohibition. Finally, the relevance and potential unintended negative consequences of ERPO laws in the context of domestic violence need further empirical investigation.

Conclusions

These results may inform states and communities in their efforts to develop polices to enforce gun restrictions for abusers and increase public safety given the intersection of domestic violence and mass shootings. Further, high risk teams may act as a natural catalyst to discuss domestic violence gun prohibitions in resistant communities.

Purpose

Having individuals with lived experience as co-researchers collaborate in research has increasingly become recognized as empowering for those involved and necessary for translational research. However, there has been limited exploration of how lived experience involvement as co-researchers in design, implementation and dissemination is experienced by those undertaking these influential roles. This study aimed to explore victim-survivors’ (of domestic, family and sexual violence) motivations for joining a lived experience research group and understand their experiences of taking part in setting the research agenda.

Methods

Seven in-depth face-to-face interviews took place with women from a lived experience group based at a university. Reflective thematic analysis led to development of four main themes.

Results

The first theme, making a difference, speaks to personal reasons that empowered participants to become a part of the new co-researcher group. Having that collective experience explains the benefits victim-survivors experienced from joining the group and shows to the importance of feeling supported by others with similar experiences. Wounds that are still very raw describes the emotional challenges that could arise when committing to the work of a lived experience group and the potential for re-traumatization. Finally, the theme there’s no blueprint for this addresses the innovative work victim-survivors engaged in to build a meaningful, research-active group. Motivation to participate in a lived experience group was influenced by their own past experiences. While having their voices heard was important for some, the stronger desire was to create meaningful change for other victim-survivors.

Conclusions

Future research should focus on how to support and meaningfully engage victim-survivors to undertake co-researcher roles, acknowledging the potential for re-traumatization. Future guidelines for establishing lived experience research groups are necessary.

Purpose

Domestic violence (DV) during pregnancy is associated with a higher incidence of obstetric complications. This study aimed to identify the injury profile and outcomes of pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) presenting after DV. We hypothesize that PTPs presenting after DV have a higher rate of fetal delivery (FD) and adverse maternal outcomes, compared to propensity-matched PTPs sustaining non-DV trauma.

Methods

PTPs ≥ 18 years old were included in this post-hoc analysis of a multicenter retrospective (2016–2021) study at 12 Level-I/II trauma centers. An unmatched and a 1:2 propensity-matched analyses of PTPs presenting with mechanisms involving and not involving DV were performed.

Results

From 950 patients, 70 (7.4%) PTPs presented after DV. The median age of PTPs presenting after DV was 26 years, the most common ethnicity was Hispanic (40%), and the most common mechanism and injury type were assault (85.7%) and abdominal injury (11.4%). PTPs presenting after DV had a higher rate of head injury (10% vs. 4.2%, p = 0.026). There was no difference in maternal complications and rate of FD (p > 0.05). These results did not change in the 1:2 propensity-matched analysis.

Conclusion

Our study found a higher rate of head injuries among PTPs presenting after DV compared to similarly matched PTPs presenting after non-DV trauma. However, no significant differences were observed in the rate of FD or maternal and fetal complications. Examining the effectiveness of universal screening for DV in the trauma setting and prenatal care may help optimize care delivery and support services for affected PTPs.

Purpose

Experiencing sexual violence is associated with a significantly increased risk of adolescent pregnancy. The Green Dot bystander intervention training reduced sexual violence (SV) perpetration and victimization in a large high school-based randomized control trial (RCT). The purpose of this paper was to investigate the efficacy of Green Dot training in reducing pregnancy rates among female and male students participating in this RCT.

Methods

Across the four years of the bystander intervention, 63,320 students completed annual surveys. Students’ reports of being or causing pregnancy in the past 12 months (4.0%; n = 2,560) were significantly times higher, 5 to 7-fold, for those disclosing SV victimization or perpetration, respectively. The effect of bystander intervention training was analyzed ‘as randomized’ and ‘as reported’ with self-reported, 12-month pregnancy rates as the primary outcome.

Results

When Green Dot was fully implemented in the last two years of the RCT, this intervention was associated with a modest yet not significant reduction in pregnancy rates (aRR = 0.89; 95% CI:0.77–1.03; ‘as randomized analyses’). Reported receipt of Green Dot training was associated with a 33% reduction in pregnancy rates (aRR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.64–0.91; p = .01) and this pattern was more pronounced in the latter two years of the RCT (aRR = 0.68; 95%CI: 0.54–0.86).

Conclusions

Green Dot training did reduce sexual violence perpetration and victimization, and this training appears to additionally reduce pregnancy rates over time.

Purpose

To develop a socio-ecological understanding of the immediate and long-term effects on, and the needs of, children and young people (CYP) in the UK and Ireland bereaved by parental intimate partner homicide (IPH).

Method

The study draws on in-depth interviews from three different informants: those with lived experience (LE) (10); caregivers (12); and professionals (10). In addition to the 10 interviews with those bereaved by maternal IPH, experiences discussed include a further 23 cases of bereavement due to IPH during childhood (when aged under 18). We used thematic analysis to code and extracted themes into the relevant five dimensions of the socio-ecological model.

Results

The circumstances in which the homicide/suicide took place, were crucial in shaping children’s life trajectory. We identified circumstantial predictors in branching of trajectories: witnessing the murder; relatedness to perpetrator; and assumptions on biological relatedness. We found the need for life-long access to therapeutic care to support CYP essential during various developmental stages and life transitions. We recognized that both kinship and foster carers, required support in dealing with the complexity of grieving children. For kinship care, carers require help in managing their own grief, in addition to financial support to account for the new caring responsibilities. We also observed that children’s voice was rarely elicited, with no opportunities to exercise their agency.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the importance of contextual circumstances for tailored support and the identification of appropriate carers and supporting them holistically. Finally, we highlight the importance of child centered policies and dedicated resources to support relevant services dealing with CYP bereaved by parental IPH.

Purpose

The proliferation of online learning and digital media has both expanded opportunities for violence prevention programming and presented challenges for replicating the benefits of in-person learning environments. The advent of learning management systems (LMS) and online data collection tools has advanced scientific inquiry and reach, while also requiring mastery of an ever-changing digital landscape.

Methods

This paper provides a framework for developing effective online violence prevention trainings, using tenets of bystander intervention, andragogical learning principles, learning taxonomies, and eLearning instructional design.

Results

Our application of online violence prevention training was selected because evidence-based in-person bystander training models exist and can serve as a content model for online adaptation. Specifically, we review how to design interventions that appeal to adult learners’ needs and motivations (andragogical learning principles), organize learning outcomes according to a range of cognitive processes (learning taxonomies), and create engaging digital learning products (eLearning instructional design). Further, we discuss how to promote knowledge retention and skills acquisition through cognitive and behavioral interactivity, role play demonstrations, real-time assessment, and simulation-based learning. We describe practical components of online training development, including technological considerations, creative elements, and evaluative measures. Lastly, we provide direction on vendor selection; ensuring web content accessibility compliance; and optimizing data capture.

Conclusions

By exploring new directions in online interventions for violence research, we seek to bridge existing gaps in training delivered in-person and in digital settings.

Purpose

Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive problem worldwide. In addition to directly observing or indirectly experiencing IPV, children may be killed because of IPV. To date, research on child IPV-related deaths exists in various, disconnected areas of scholarship, making it difficult to understand how IPV contributes to child fatalities. As such, this scoping review located and synthesized research on child fatalities that resulted from IPV, seeking to understand the state of global research concerning the prevalence and circumstances of IPV-related child fatalities.

Methods

Using a combination of keywords and subject terms, we systematically searched PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, PubMed, and seven research repositories. We located empirical studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals that reported findings concerning children (aged 0–17) who were killed because of IPV and/or people who killed children due to IPV. Among 9,502 de-duplicated records, we identified 60 articles that met review inclusion criteria. We extracted and synthesized information concerning research methods, circumstances and consequences of the fatalities, characteristics of people who committed IPV-related homicide of a child, and characteristics of children who died because of IPV.

Results

Studies were published from 1986–2022 and analyzed data from 23 countries. Most studies did not focus exclusively on IPV-related child homicides, and overall, studies reported sparse information concerning the contexts and circumstances of such fatalities. There were two predominant and distinct groups of children killed due to IPV: children killed by a parent or other adult caregiver and adolescents killed by an intimate partner. It was often difficult to ascertain whether the demographic characteristics of individuals who kill a child in the context of IPV and other contextual details might be similar to or different from child fatalities that occur under different circumstances or for other motivations.

Conclusions

This review highlighted that children die because of IPV. Findings indicated that such fatalities, while maybe difficult to predict, are often preventable if earlier intervention is made available and professionals are alert to key circumstances in which fatality risk is high. Future research and practice efforts should attend to understanding child fatalities resulting from IPV to identify critical intervention points and strategies that will save children’s lives.