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Author(s): Rebecca J. Macy [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.10698.36, 0000000122483208, School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, , 325 Pittsboro Street, CB #3550, 27599, Chapel Hill, [...]

The intractable problem of family violence can best be addressed through evidence-based practices and policies, and the Journal of Family Violence (JOFV) seeks to be a platform for scholarship that advances the family violence field toward evidence-based solutions. Nonetheless, JOFV cannot be such a platform without clear, transparent, and rigorous publication policies and standards. Accordingly, this editorial offers potential authors guidance concerning the types of articles that JOFV publishes (i.e., full-length articles, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, brief reports, and letters to the editor) as well as information about the journal's editorial and peer review processes. This guidance is offered to help ensure that authors are well informed about the journal's policies, practices, and processes even before they submit their manuscripts for publication consideration., Author(s): Rebecca J. Macy [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 0000000122483208, grid.10698.36, , Chapel Hill, NC, USA Introduction Recently, the Journal [...]

This article reports findings from a qualitative follow-up investigation of a mandated parenting and safety program for system-involved female IPV survivors. Participants were contacted 12 months or more after program completion and invited to participate in individual interviews. The interviews focused on the longer-term life changes survivors attributed to the program. Data were collected from 38 survivors. Qualitative analysis determined 4 key themes: relationship changes (e.g., most women were no longer with abusive partners), parenting changes (e.g., improved communication and discipline strategies), personal life changes (e.g., improved help-seeking and self-esteem), and new or ongoing challenges (e.g., financial stress). Overall, findings suggest that tailored, mandated programming - when positive and empowering - may lead to some longer-term beneficial outcomes., Author(s): Cynthia F. Rizo[sup.1] , Ariel Reynolds[sup.2] , Rebecca J. Macy[sup.1] , Dania M. Ermentrout[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 325 [...]

This article reports findings of a mixed-methods study exploring the role that substances play in the lives of service-mandated female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). The study sample consists of 22 women who had completed a court- and/or child protective services (CPS)-mandated IPV parenting program. Quantitative results reveal moderate levels of current substance use and higher levels of past substance use. Qualitative analyses yield three key areas of participants' perspectives of substances and violence: (a) role of participants' substance use, including coping and partner influence; (b) role of partner's substance use, including severity and substance preferences; and (c) relationship between substance use and IPV, including effects on safety and IPV frequency and severity. We find victimization is a function of a partner's-rather than a victim's-substance use. Future programming should focus on the overlapping risk factors between substance use and IPV., Author(s): Jennifer E. O'Brien[sup.1] , Dania Ermentrout[sup.1] , Cynthia Fraga Rizo[sup.1] , Wen Li[sup.1] , Rebecca J. Macy[sup.1] , Sarah Dababnah[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) School of Social Work, University of [...]

Author(s): Rebecca J. Macy [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, 0000 0001 1034 1720, grid.410711.2, , Chapel Hill, NC, USA Over thirty years ago, [...]

Violence victims who are the primary caregivers for their children sometimes become justice-involved through efforts to protect and defend against intimate partner violence (IPV). Judges often mandate these victims to community-based services, although little is known about these services. Given increasing numbers of such victims, two human service agencies collaborated to create a program for female IPV victims who were their children's primary caregivers and who were mandated to services for violence against a male partner. Our research team conducted a feasibility study of the program using an exploratory qualitative study design to collect data from program participants (n = 18) and providers (n = 7). Analyses determined three key findings: (a) the importance of a welcoming, comfortable environment; (b) the value of certain aspects of the program content; and (c) the importance of support from like others for participant improvement. These findings point to indispensable program elements. Implications for other communities and providers serving justice-involved IPV victims who are also primary caregivers are described. Keywords Intimate partner violence * Perpetrator treatment * Intervention research * Parenting, Intimate partner violence (IPV) between heterosexual partners affects a considerable number of women each year in the United States. According to census-based population projections, more than a million women each [...]

Although most social work professionals may expect that women who experience partner violence will sustain acute physical injuries, social workers may be less knowledgeable about the chronic health problems with which violence survivors often struggle. To inform social work practice, we reviewed and synthesized the recently published research on health outcomes associated with partner violence victimization. We focused our review efforts on chronic physical and mental health conditions that social workers are likely to see in their practices. Using rigorous selection criteria, we selected 28 articles for review from over 3,500 found in our search. The review showed that although women who experience partner violence are likely to seek health services, they have poor overall physical and mental health, and their health needs are not addressed sufficiently by current health and human service systems. We offer social work practice, policy, and research recommendations to encourage comprehensive services that promote women's health and safety. KEY WORDS: mental health; partner violence; physical health; review; social work practice, One out of every four women in the United States will report physical or sexual assault by a partner, spouse, or date at some point in her lifetime (Tjaden & [...]

Variability of experience and outcomes among violence-exposed people pose considerable challenges toward developing effective prevention and treatment protocols. To address these needs, the authors present an approach to research and a class of methodologies referred to as person oriented. Person-oriented tools support assessment of meaningful patterns among people that distinguish one group from another, subgroups for whom different interventions are indicated. The authors review the conceptual base of person-oriented methods, outline their distinction from more familiar variable-oriented methods, present descriptions of selected methods as well as empirical applications of person-oriented methods germane to violence exposure, and conclude with discussion of implications for future research and translation between research and practice. The authors focus on violence against women as a population, drawing on stress and coping theory as a theoretical framework. However, person-oriented methods hold utility for investigating diversity among violence- exposed people's experiences and needs across populations and theoretical foundations. Keywords: person-oriented; variable-oriented; domestic violence; sexual assault

Little guidance exists about how to tailor empowerment and resistance sexual assault programming to be responsive to varying groups of women. Using an investigation of 415 college women who completed a self-administered survey about a range of sexually aggressive experiences by a known male assailant, this investigation tested for distinct multivariate profiles of contextual factors among sexually assaulted women to discern how these factors may differentially combine to influence women's vulnerability to sexual assault. We applied latent profile analysis (LPA) to determine meaningful subgroups of women based on interrelationships among factors that contextualize women's vulnerability to sexual assault, including prior victimization, alcohol consumption, relationship expectancies of the assailant, and assertive precautionary habits. LPA established four significantly distinct multivariate profiles of substantively different groups of women. Group difference tests reinforced the findings and aided in group profile interpretations. Implications for the development of tailored resistance and empowerment programs are discussed. Keywords: coping; prevention, sexual assault; revictimization

Rape resistance trainings need to prepare women to recognize and resist sexual assault across a range of experiences and contexts. To help address this need, this research used an investigation of 415 college women who completed a survey about their situational responding to an experience of acquaintance sexual assault. A previously established person-centered analysis model of four distinct risk and protective factor profiles was used to investigate the variability in women's responding. The profiling factors included women's prior victimization, alcohol consumption, relationship expectancies of the assailant, and assertive precautionary habits. Multivariate ANOVA was used to test for differences among the four profile groups on their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responding. Results showed that the profile groups significantly differed in their assault responses. The findings highlight the utility of holistic, multivariate analyses for understanding women's sexual assault responses and help inform tailored resistance and empowerment trainings. Keywords: coping; empowerment; prevention; revictimization; sexual assault

Knowledge about where battered women present for services and the violence, biopsychosocial, and demographic factors associated with their help seeking can provide social workers with guidance in anticipating needs among [...]

Given the prevalence of domestic violence and the likelihood that many victims will not receive services from specialized domestic violence providers, this article provides a framework for contextualized assessment that can be used by generalist practitioners. Drawing from stress and coping theory, the authors discuss the relevance of assessing appraisals and emotional responses within the context of environmental and individual risk and protective factors. Through an illustrative case assessment, the authors describe the contextualized assessment process and its ramifications for strategic safety planning., NEARLY 25% OF WOMEN experience some form of physical or sexual assault, or both, by a partner in their lifetime (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000b). Annually, between 1.5 million (Tjaden & [...]

This investigation examined the relationships between physical, psychological, and sexual abuse along with vulnerability appraisals, positive and negative social relations, and socioeconomic resources on battered women's depression symptomatology and physical functioning. Women were recruited following an incident of partner violence that resulted in a police-report or the filing of a protection order. Participants were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire. Bivariate correlations and multiple regressions were used to examine the relationships between predictors as well as the cumulative and unique contributions of each variable set in explaining depression and physical functioning. Findings indicate that vulnerability appraisals, social relations, and socioeconomic resources significantly explain women's depression and physical functioning over and above the unique effect of specific types of partner violence. Given that women's physical and mental health are important aspects of assisting women with safety planning arm violence cessation strategies, implications for assessment and interventions for battered women are discussed. Keywords: domestic violence; battered women; depression; health; vulnerability; resources

Violence researchers have called for the use of person-oriented methods to understand differences that have been found in biopsychosocial consequences among those who experience intimate partner violence (IPV). To address this issue, we apply a person-oriented statistical method, latent profile analysis (LPA), to test for meaningful subgroups of a sample of 448 battered women based on participantsE appraisals of their vulnerability relative to their violent partner, depressive symptoms, physical injuries, overall physical health functioning, and their positive and negative social relationships with friends and family. The LPA established five significantly distinct subgroups. Using MANOVA, we examined these subgroups and their respective IPV exposure, both concomitant and separate incidents within the past year. Those with the most intensive violence exposure show the greatest level of challenge and impairment. However, the groups with comparable levels of IPV exposure manifest distinctly different configurations of biopsychosocial profiles, indicating a need for adaptive interventions commensurate with these profiles. We discuss the implications these findings have for developing adaptive interventions for battered women, as well as the potential utility of person-oriented tools for violence researchers.

The article discusses the factors and processes that are known about sexual revictimization so as to develop research methods and identifies three priority areas for investigation, including prospective research, revictimization resilience and contextualizing revictimization. It also provides an overview of latest statistical methods that offer innovative ways to investigate these priority areas.

The different statutes on sexual assault against women with cognitive impairments are examined. Findings show that the statutes demonstrate systematic oppression which includes sexual exploitation of persons with cognitive disabilities. Suggestions for changes in sexual assault policies are presented.

A research report that aims to increase social workers' understanding of sexual revictimization phenomenon is presented. It also recommends strategies for social work practitioners to prevent the phenomenon.

Assailant behaviors, along with women's victimization history, alcohol use, positive relationship expectancies, sexual assertiveness is examined to clarify the way these factors shape women's responses to acquaintance sexual aggression. Multivariate regression analysis showed that these factors and assailant actions accounted uniquely and cumulatively for women's responding.

A situational coping analysis was applied to college women's recognition of risk and response to sexual assault by male acquaintances in order to better understand the factors that facilitate or impede self-protective coping. It was concluded that self-defense and safety-planning courses are needed to develop methods to help women overcome psychological barriers to resisting men's advances.