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Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) victim advocates are exposed daily to the traumas of their clients, including the potential exposure to an intimate partner homicide (IPH). While research has examined the effects of daily secondary exposure to IPV on victim advocates, little is known about the specific effect of IPH. This study examined how the IPH of a client affected advocates' perception of and approach to their work. Methods: Nine advocates were recruited from the northeastern U.S. and interviewed about their experience of the IPH of a client. Advocate interviews were analyzed using The Listening Guide Analysis which systematically isolates and listens to the different, and often contradictory, voices that a participant uses. Results: Exposure to IPH changed participants' perception of their role, how they defined client, and how they interacted with future clients. At a macro-level, the IPH of a client motivated advocates to advance changes in agency protocol, multisector responses, and state policy based on what they had learned from the IPH. Opportunities to translate shifts in their worldview into tangible changes to protocol and policy were critical to advocate adjustment after the IPH. Conclusions: In order to support advocates after IPH, organizations should acknowledge the potentially transformative effect of IPH and create opportunities for meaning making to assist in advocate adjustment. It is imperative for advocacy organizations to support their employees to prevent advocate burnout and the loss of experienced staff, and to continue to provide effective services to vulnerable members of their communities after IPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Much attention has been offered to the deleterious health impacts of sexual violence (SV) and for the most part, research has adopted a strengths-based perspective, focusing on resilience after SV. However, this research is hindered by inconsistencies regarding the conceptualization of resilience. The purpose of this study is to address these inconsistencies by parsing out current definitions and measurements of resilience to construct a definition that can be applied universally in SV research. Method: We conducted a scoping review of three databases following PRISMA guidelines that elucidates an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Hand searching of relevant journals and citation chaining were also conducted. We included fifteen empirical studies that were conducted in North America with women-identifying survivors of SV and that centered the concept of resilience. We extracted the following information: a) definitions of resilience, b) assessments of resilience, c) correlates of resilience, and d) interventions to promote resilience. Results: Our findings suggest there is no uniform definition of resilience. Regarding measures, the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale was the most commonly used. Despite differences in how resilience was conceptualized, resilience was consistently found amongst survivors. Conclusions: We propose the following definition of resilience: "Resilience is a dynamic, nonlinear socio-emotional process that occurs continuously after SV victimization. It refers to the capacity to cope, adapt to, and construct one's life after SV in ways that are culturally relevant and guided by the survivor's own preferences and desired outcomes." Overall, resilience is a living, breathing, moving concept that can shift in how it manifests over time and look different for each survivor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Human trafficking occurs when a person uses force, fraud, or coercion to obtain an act or service from another person. While trafficking is often depicted as a crime perpetrated by strangers, recent literature has found family members can also be traffickers. Only four peer reviewed studies have specifically examined familial trafficking. Method: The current study builds upon this sparse literature by reviewing medical charts of patients in a large hospital system who were identified as survivors of familial trafficking between October 2017 and September 2021. Descriptive statistics are reported for all 39 identified patients. Results: Majority of patients were female (92.3%) and under 36 years old (56.4%; M = 34.2, SD = 11.6). Despite most patients now being adults, all except one were minors at the time the trafficking began. Parents were the most common perpetrator (66.7%) followed by aunt/uncle (12.8%). Nine cases were chosen, given level of detail in patient charts, to be highlighted in a case series to further describe the experiences of these survivors. Cases examined included labor trafficking, parents as perpetrators, intersection of substance use, and males as victims. Force was the most common means of control used and often manifested as physical or sexual abuse that preceded the exploitation. Another reoccurring theme was substance use being a factor when parents were perpetrators. Conclusion: The findings from this paper can help inform screening techniques by encouraging providers to inquire about familial relationships. Findings may also be helpful for providers working with this population and future research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This is the first study to longitudinally examine the mental health and well-being impacts on survivors when their abusive partners and ex-partners use their children as an abuse tactic against them. Methods: The sample included two hundred seventy-seven homeless or unstably housed survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). All were mothers of minor children. Participants were interviewed shortly after seeking services and again at 6-months, 12-months, 18-months, and 24-months. They were asked about abuse they had experienced in the past six months, including the ways children were used as a form of IPV. They were also asked about their current depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, as well as quality of life. Results: Many of the participants reported their abusive partners and ex-partners had used their children as a form of IPV to control or hurt them. Further, after controlling for other forms of abuse, use of the children significantly predicted increased anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and quality of life (but not depression) over time. Conclusion: It is important to recognize the widespread use of children as a common and injurious form of IPV, and its impact on the mental health and well-being of survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research shows that women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) are at risk for a range of adverse mental health outcomes, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidality. However, few studies use measures that reflect the broad range of IPV exposures that women experience. This paper examines the associations between multiple IPV types and adverse mental health among a sample of survivors engaged in care. Methods: This article draws on data from a web-based survey administered to 377 women seeking IPV services in a Southwestern U.S. state. Multivariate regression analyses with multiple imputation were conducted to investigate the net association between multiple types of IPV and three mental health outcomes: depression, PTSD, and a prior suicidal attempt or threat, controlling for socio-demographics and self-rated health. Results: Multivariate analyses indicated significant associations between reproductive coercion (β = 6.89, p <.001), technology-facilitated violent threats (β = 5.27, p <.05), and psychological vulnerability/abuse (β = 4.45, p <.05) and symptoms of depression. Findings also indicated significant net associations between reproductive coercion (β = 7.05, p <.001), technology-facilitated humiliation (β = 4.87, p <.05), and psychological vulnerability/abuse (β = 7.76, p <.001) and increased PTSD symptomology. Finally, psychological vulnerability/abuse (aOR = 3.36, p <.01) increased the likelihood of reporting a prior suicidal attempt or threat. Conclusion: Women reporting reproductive coercion, technology-facilitated abuse, and psychological vulnerability/abuse had a higher risk of adverse mental health. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms that underlie these varied associations and to develop a cohesive practice model attuned to integrated needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Johnson's (2008) typology revolutionized how intimate partner violence (IPV) was conceptualized. Broadly, it distinguished different ways that IPV manifested and motivations for perpetrating IPV. Contemporary queer theorists and researchers have critiqued the typology as being too cis-heteronormative, or assuming cisgender identity and heterosexuality as default identities and experiences. Our purpose then is to make visible the unintended cis-heteronormativity in Johnson's typology of IPV and articulate ways to enhance its use with queer populations. Method: We used queer theory to reconceptualize cis-heteronormative tenants of Johnson's (2008) typology and propose a more inclusive understanding of IPV. We also used queer of color critique to consider additional intersectional locations (e.g., race) that can lead to relational power imbalances. Results: We developed two queer theoretical extensions to Johnson's (2008) typology that are reflective of the dynamics of diversity in queer relationships. In them, we engage in Challenging Categorization through Contextualizing Prevalence Estimates of IPV Among Queer US Populations and (Re)Conceptualizing Categorization (Extension 1). We also engage in (Re)Conceptualizing Power and Control (Extension 2). Conclusion: Our theoretical extensions can be used to advance the field of IPV research in ways that are inclusive of queer peoples' experiences of IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a brief expression of my gratitude for the support I have received over the years, I move on to make five general points about the papers in this special issue. First, I believe that, taken together, the three literature reviews accomplish three quite different tasks: (a) they document the nature of the impact of the typology on the research literature, (b) they affirm the validity of the typology, and (c) they illustrate the general problem of the publication of seriously flawed analyses in refereed journals. Second, the other six papers in the issue highlight the importance of attending to the impact of specific context on the dynamics of intimate partner violence. Third, although the typology has certainly had considerable impact on both research and practice, there is probably still a large body of research and practice that does not attend to the distinctions that I believe are central to understanding and intervening in intimate partner violence. Fourth, there is always an interpersonal context within which the specific violent acts of intimate partner violence are embedded, and the most important aspects of that interpersonal context are matters of coercion and control. Finally, and most important, gender heavily influences matters of coercion and control and must therefore remain central to our understanding of intimate partner violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the state of empirical research on Johnson's typology of violence. Method: Using the PRISMA Statement guidelines, we systematically review and critically evaluate peer-reviewed, empirical research studies testing Johnson's typology, published 1995 to March 31, 2021. Findings: Forty-four studies tested Johnson's typology using accurate conceptualization and operationalization of the typology. Findings from included studies provided overwhelming support for Johnson's typology, with only few exceptions. Conclusions: Direct tests of Johnson's assumptions are necessary for revising and strengthening the utility of the typology. Future research should carefully attend to the conceptual definitions of Johnson's typology and integrate explicit testing of assumptions throughout study designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Scholarship on the social and structural determinants of intimate partner violence (IPV) rarely differentiates between Johnson's types in examining pathways to violent outcomes. This study applies Bronfenbrenner's model to consider the etiology of Johnson's types at multiple social-ecological levels. Method: To test the hypothesis that pathways from local social and structural conditions to IPV differ by type of IPV, I reanalyzed longitudinal data from a recent study that explored the role of factors at multiple social-ecological levels on physical IPV in a highly vulnerable sample: 1,112 different-sex couples in which the male partner had recently returned from prison. Results: In fitted structural equation models, local social and structural conditions predict both situational couple violence (SCV) and coercive controlling violence (CCV). However, the influence of local conditions on each type of IPV occurs via different proximal factors. Local conditions predict SCV via hopelessness and predict CCV via post-traumatic stress and dysfunctional conflict. Conclusions: These exploratory findings indicate that local social and structural conditions could promote both SCV and CCV, but via different proximal processes. They suggest that IPV research has much to gain from integrating the distinct theoretical and methodological contributions of scholarship on Johnson's typology and ongoing inquiry into the broader social ecology of IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study applies Johnson's (2008) typology of intimate partner violence (IPV) to female survivors in Karachi, Pakistan. Method: Face-to-face structured interviews of a purposive sample of 80 ever-married survivors of IPV, followed by a cluster analysis of husbands' controlling behaviors to identify types of IPV, followed by quantitative exploration of differences among the types. Results: The first type identified by a Ward's method cluster analysis is situational couple violence (SCV), comprising 29 respondents whose husbands exhibited low levels of control for all items. The second type is intimate terrorism (IT), comprising 15 respondents experiencing high levels of control on most items. The third type, unique to this study, is labeled as familial intimate terrorism (FIT) and consists of 36 respondents whose husbands were not quite as controlling as IT, not particularly jealous or sexually cruel, but more likely than IT to use control tactics that were based in the joint family system. Conclusions: The Johnson control typology does, indeed, apply to intimate partner violence in Pakistan, with the important addition of a third type of male violence, rooted in the joint family system that is prevalent in many countries around the world. In future research, it would be important to include a sample of non-violent couples for comparison, especially important in cultures in which the joint family system authorizes considerable "normal" control over women. Although we have assumed that the newly-identified type (familial intimate terrorism) involves men (and sometimes their families) abusing the norms of this system, further exploration of this issue is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prior research has indicated that several theories might be incorporated to understand perpetration of post-relationship pursuit behaviors (PPBs). However, difficulties coping with relationship loss have not been directly assessed as potential predictors of PPB perpetration, despite their potential relevance. Thus, the present study tests an integrative model to assess whether acceptance or denial-based coping with relationship loss are associated with minor PPBs (e.g., following, excessive contact) and severe PPBs (e.g., aggression) when including prior theoretically relevant variables, such as prior relationship violence (part of coercive control theory) and break-up related distress and rumination (relational goal pursuit theory). Potential differences in predictors of in-person and cyber PPBs are explored, as are moderating effects of gender. Method: N= 821 undergraduates (59.4% women) who experienced a break-up within the past two years completed measures related to in-person and severe PPBs, coping strategies, prior relationship violence, and relational goal pursuit constructs. Results: Coping by acceptance was associated with reductions in minor PPBs among men (but not women), whereas coping by denial was associated with increases in minor and severe PPBs across genders, through direct and indirect paths. Supporting prior research, relational goal pursuit was related only to minor PPBs, whereas prior relationship violence was associated with all PPBs, particularly among men. There were few differences in predictors of in-person and cyber PPBs. Conclusion: Denial over relationship loss may serve as a risk factor for PPB engagement, whereas coping by acceptance may serve a more limited protective role. Additional risk factors remain important to study in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Parental psychological control and autonomy support, abuse, and neglect influence adolescents' mental health. Analyzing the direct and indirect associations between childrearing characteristics, maltreatment, and mental health is important, especially in understudied and diverse cultural contexts. First, we examine the associations of parental psychological control and autonomy support with adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems directly and indirectly, through maltreatment. Second, we evaluate the extent to which parental psychological control and autonomy support may discriminate self-reported maltreatment in adolescents. Methods: Eight-hundred-and-nine-adolescents (Mage = 13.5) from six urban public middle schools in Mexico City participated and responded to the self-administered Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale and the ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool for each parental figure and the Youth Self Report for evaluation of internalizing and externalizing problems. Results: Maternal models obtained the best fit [R2 =.380, for internalizing, and R2 =.229, for externalizing problems], with strongest indirect effects through maternal negligence for internalizing problems [x2(2) = 1.729, ρ =.4212, RMSEA =.000 (.000,.067), CFI =.999, TLI =.999] and through maternal psychological abuse for externalizing problems [x2(2) = 1.666, ρ =.4347, RMSEA =.000 (.000,.066), CFI =.999, TLI =.999]. Parental psychological control and autonomy support discriminate self-reported maltreatment with an area under the curve between.68 and.99. Conclusions: Maternal models showed an association of parental childrearing characteristics with adolescent mental health problems directly and indirectly through maltreatment, and preliminary evidence suggests that parental childrearing characteristics may discriminate self-reported maltreatment in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current study examines the overlapping victimizations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking. Method: An online data collection platform was used to recruit participants and data analysis examined relationship abuse and stalking victimization experiences and victim harms (e.g., resource losses, negative identity perceptions, sexual autonomy, and current mental health symptoms) for ex-partner stalking victims who were sexually assaulted during the abusive relationship (n = 392) compared to ex-partner stalking victims who were not sexually assaulted during the relationship (n = 169). Results: Results found that over half of the women sexually assaulted during the relationship reported sexual assault while being stalked compared to a small proportion of women not sexually assaulted during the relationship. Sexual harassment experiences were pervasive regardless of relationship sexual assault victimization. However, women sexually assaulted during the relationship experienced increased coercive control, sexual harassment, resource losses, safety concerns, sexual difficulties, and current mental health symptoms than stalking victims who were not sexually assaulted during the relationship. Multivariate results found that younger age, higher safety efficacy, and fewer sexual difficulties were significantly associated with higher sexual autonomy while younger age, increased safety concerns, lower safety efficacy, increased resource losses, and increased sexual difficulties were significantly associated with increased recent PTSD and depression/anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: The current study results suggest that it is important to examine a wide scope of victim harms and that helping victims with safety planning in intimate relationships as well as to protect resource losses may be crucial for their recovery journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In 2020 the England and Wales Office for National Statistics commissioned the research reported here to review the current questions on domestic abuse in the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) and to establish how better data for policy and practice might be produced. The CSEW is a representative population survey that since the early 2000s has provided ongoing measurement of domestic abuse via a dedicated domestic abuse module, with regular publication of headline prevalence and other descriptive data. At the same time the measurement of domestic violence in the CSEW has also been the subject of ongoing debate and critique, in particular whether it is appropriate to use catch-all prevalence measures in the context of policy, practice and commissioning of services. Method: The research included analysis of CSEW user survey data (N = 39), focus group and individual interviews with male and female victims/survivors (N = 11), consultation with core stakeholders (N = 18), and consideration of international surveys and recent legislation. Results: Current CSEW questions do not capture domestic abuse accurately or reflect lived experience, coercive control needs to be seen at the core of domestic abuse, and while physical assault is an important part of measuring domestic abuse establishing frequency through counting events is probably impossible. Conclusion: A fundamental rethink of the current CSEW self-completion module is required, with a wider set of questions about domestic abuse and impact. A revised module should identify and provide estimation of prevalence for different 'abuse profiles' that would complement improved headline measures and better inform policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a "perfect storm" with regards to risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Abusive partners may engage in novel forms of coercive control, such as pressuring their partner to engage in activities associated with COVID-19 infection risk (e.g., attend a large gathering). However, no empirical research has focused on COVID-specific coercive control. The current study sought to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-specific coercive control in a large sample of U.S. college students, as well as its association with other forms of IPV and depression and anxiety. A total of 2,289 undergraduate students attending eight U.S. universities who were currently in a sexual/dating/romantic relationship completed an online survey in Fall 2020 about COVID-specific coercive control, other forms of IPV (psychological, physical, sexual, coercive control) and depression and anxiety symptoms. Overall, 15.5% (n = 355) of students reported experiencing COVID-specific coercive control. Individuals who experienced COVID-specific coercive control were more likely to have experienced all other forms of IPV than those who did not experience COVID-specific coercive control. Further, individuals who experienced COVID-specific coercive control had significantly greater anxiety than individuals who did not experience any form of IPV. Individuals who experienced both COVID-specific coercive control and other forms of IPV had the highest levels of depression and anxiety. COVID-specific coercive control may serve to increase depression and anxiety, particularly if it co-occurs with other forms of IPV. Future work should evaluate the prevalence and long-term impact of coercive control during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on violence against women (VAW), including increased prevalence and severity, and on VAW service delivery. The purpose of this research was to study women's experiences with VAW services in the first stages of the pandemic and describe their fears and concerns. This cross-sectional study was conducted from May through October 2020. Our VAW agency partners across Ontario, Canada invited women using outreach services to participate in a study about their experiences during the pandemic. In total, 49 women from 9 agencies completed an online survey. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and open-ended responses are presented to supplement findings. Women's experiences with VAW services during the pandemic varied greatly; some found technology-facilitated services (phone, video, text) more accessible, while others hoped to return to in-person care. Over half of women reported poorer wellbeing, access to health care, and access to informal supports. Many women reported increased relationship-related fears, some due specifically to COVID-19 factors. Our results support providing a variety of technology-based options for women accessing VAW services when in-person care options are reduced. This research also adds to the scant literature examining how some perpetrators capitalized on the pandemic by using new COVID-19-specific forms of coercive control. Although the impacts of the pandemic on women varied, our findings highlight how layers of difficulty, such as less accessible formal and informal support, as well as increased fear – can compound to make life for women experiencing abuse exceptionally difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing instability and intimate partner violence (IPV) compromise women's sexual and reproductive health (SRH) through reduced contraceptive access and increased risk of unintended pregnancy. This study describes the reproductive health status and needs of IPV survivors receiving housing support and explores factors influencing their experience of reproductive coercion (RC), specifically. Cross-sectional baseline data from a quasi-experimental study of 70 IPV survivors enrolled in housing programs in the Baltimore, MD, metropolitan area from June 2019 through December 2020 were analyzed. Of the 70 women enrolled in the study, 70.3 percent (n = 45) desired to avoid pregnancy, but 57.4 percent were either using no contraceptive method (31.2%) or methods with low effectiveness (26.2%). Approximately, 1 in 6 women (16.4%, n = 11) experienced RC in the past 3 months, which was associated with frequency and severity of IPV (p = 0.001 to 0.005) and PTSD (p = 0.001), as well as not sharing children with the abusive partner (p = 0.002). This study highlights reproductive health risks in an important and under-studied population of women seeking housing due to IPV. Leaving an abusive relationship is a uniquely vulnerable time, and also a time of opportunity, as women are accessing services that can be tailored to their SRH needs. Significant results highlight vulnerability to and consequences of RC in this population. This study has implications for IPV support programs and housing programs that serve women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors seeking safety and justice for themselves and their children through family court and other legal systems may instead encounter their partners' misuse of court processes to further enact coercive control. To illuminate this harmful process, this study sought to create a measure of legal abuse. We developed a list of 27 potential items on the basis of consultation with 23 experts, qualitative interviews, and existing literature. After piloting these items, we administered them to a sample of 222 survivor-mothers who had been involved in family law proceedings. We then used both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Rasch analysis (RA) to create a final measure. Analyses yielded the 14-item Legal Abuse Scale (LAS). Factor analysis supported two subscales: Harm to Self/Motherhood (i.e., using the court to harm the survivor as a person and a mother) and Harm to Finances (i.e., using the court to harm the survivor financially). The LAS is a tool that will enable systematic assessment of legal abuse in family court and other legal proceedings, an expansion of research on this form of coercive control, and further development of policy and practice that recognizes and responds to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Reproductive coercion (RC) is a type of intimate partner violence that involves interference in contraceptive and reproductive decisions. A multi-methods design explored correlates (quantitative) and contributors (qualitative) of partner-perpetrated RC across the socioecological framework among intimate partner violence survivors (IPV) in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: Quantitative analyses utilize baseline data from the myPlan Kenya trial (n=327). Multivariable Poisson regression examined the association between postulated correlates and overall RC (range: 0-9), and sub-types of pregnancy coercion (range: 0-5) and condom manipulation (range: 0-4). In-depth interviews (IDIs; n=30) conducted at three-month follow-up among women indicating RC experience at baseline explored women's perceived contributors to RC via inductive thematic analysis. Results: Within the past three months, over 80% of IPV survivors experienced any RC, and IPV survivors experienced 3.8 RC behaviors on average. Factors associated with overall RC included not wanting their last child at all (aIRR =1.28; p=0.009), partner's concurrent partnership (aIRR=1.33; p<0.001), and inconvenient contraceptive method use (aIRR=1.36; p=0.01), whereas increased couple communication was protective against RC (aIRR=0.96; p<0.001). IDIs revealed potential contributors to RC, including partner's desire for children; partner fear of contraceptive side effects; cultural norms surrounding family planning use within marriage; decision-making power disparities reinforced by economics; partner's fear of abandonment; and presence of children from previous relationships. Conclusions: Results indicate individual- and couple-level characteristics are crucial for understanding RC for Nairobi's IPV survivors. Knowledge of RC risk factors can assist practitioners in mitigating against reproductive interference, and ensuring women are using contraceptive methods most suited to their circumstances and aligned with their reproductive preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines recent changes in Swedish regulations for child maintenance in relation to post-separation families with experiences of either intimate partner violence (IPV) or conflict. The reform limited the possibility to rely on the state for maintenance in cases of cooperation difficulties. For IPV cases, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (SSIA) can function as an intermediary between parents, but such exceptions are made upon assessment and require disclosure of IPV. This study investigates consequences of the maintenance reform and the ways in which it may re-actualize conflict and IPV between separated parents. Data consist of 649 recorded phone calls (~ 55 h) to the SSIA concerning maintenance. Disclosures of post-separation conflict or IPV were found in 132 of these calls; these calls were analyzed using thematic analysis. The maintenance reform's requirement to reinstate contact with a former partner can re-actualize experiences of parental conflict as well as IPV by (a) re-surfacing physical or psychological abuse; (b) continued or accelerated cooperative difficulties; (c) renewed financial control; and (d) 'paper abuse' and new possibilities to display diligence or exert camouflaged control. This can take the form of explicit acts of abuse, anxiety or concern caused by the renewed contact, or being forced to deal with difficult memories. We argue that the Swedish maintenance reform ignores the reality of parental conflicts and IPV by re-actualizing such experiences in a range of ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study explored the language barriers to help-seeking in the context of reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA), domestic and family violence (DFV), and sexual violence (SV), drawing on observations by key informants supporting women from migrant and refugee communities. A lack of shared language has been identified as a key barrier to help seeking for migrant and refugee women experiencing DFV more broadly, though how language intersects with help seeking in the context of RCA is yet to be investigated. We conducted 6 focus groups with 38 lawyers, counsellors, and social workers supporting women experiencing DFV in Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia. Our findings address two main areas. First, consistent with past research in DFV, our participants identified language as a barrier for women when communicating about sexual and reproductive issues in the context of health and police encounters. More specifically, our findings suggest that the inability of health professionals and police to communicate with women who have low or no English proficiency not only negatively impacted victims/survivors' ability to access support, but also facilitated the perpetration of RCA. We conclude that language can be a mechanism through which coercive control is enacted by perpetrators of RCA and health and policing systems may not be equipped to recognise and address this issue. We also suggest that greater conceptual clarity of RCA is needed within the DFV sector in order to tailor responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coercive control is characterised by negative behaviours which intimidate, threaten, and humiliate a person or restrict a person's liberty. In addition to being a known risk factor for experiencing other forms of violence, research has linked coercive control to symptoms of psychological distress and suicidality. In the UK, coercive and controlling behaviours within intimate and familial relationships have been legislated as offending behaviours. However, there still exists a lack of international evidence on wider public knowledge and understanding of coercive control. The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT) is an annual cross-sectional representative survey of social policy topics. Participants are adults aged 18 years or over. Concerning coercive control, respondents were presented with two relationship scenarios: obvious and less obvious coercive control. Following each scenario, respondents indicated their level of agreement to ten statements covering attitudes towards coercive control, victims of coercive control, talking about coercive control, and whether coercive control is a crime. Respondents indicated whether they had heard of the term 'coercive control'. Predictors of coercive control awareness were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Mixed analysis of variance assessed if agreement levels to the ten statements varied by type of coercive control and victim gender. Most respondents said that they had heard of the term coercive control and knew what it meant. Those who had not heard of coercive control at all were more likely to be on a lower income, less qualified and younger, when compared to those who said they knew what the term meant. Significant interactions between coercive control type and victim gender were evident for all ten statements. While most respondents are aware of the term coercive control, a significant number have not and are therefore unlikely to recognise the signs of this type of abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

False allegation of violence and abuse is an under-recognized problem in custody disputes and divorce cases. However, only a handful of studies have investigated false allegations of domestic violence as a phenomenon in itself. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the experiences of individuals (male and female), who were recognized as falsely accused of domestic violence. An interpretive phenomenological analysis approach was utilized to analyze interviews conducted with 19 false allegation victims. Participants' interviews revealed three superordinate themes: (1) "I was the victim in this relationship:" False allegation as a form of lifelong intimate partner violence; (2) "I felt everything crashing down on me:" False allegation as a traumatic event; (3) "This battle has brought me to my knees:" A series of losses following false allegations. The findings may provide some qualitative insights into the experience of false allegation and its possible connection to coercive control in the context of partners' conflictual relationships. It is important for professionals to acknowledge false allegations as abusive tactics used within domestic violence situations as they cause considerable pain to the individuals involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID—19 pandemic and related quarantine has created additional problems for survivors of interpersonal violence. The purpose of this study is to gain a preliminary understanding of the health, safety, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people that are experiencing or have previously experienced violence, stalking, threats, and/or abuse. An online survey, open from April to June 2020, was taken by people with safety concerns from interpersonal violence. Participants were recruited from IPV and sexual assault-focused agencies, state coalitions, and social media. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive methods in SPSS and coding methods from thematic and content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data from open-ended questions. A total of 53 participants were recruited for the survey. Individuals with safety concerns have experienced increased challenges with health and work concerns, stress from economic instability, difficulties staying safe, and access resources and support. Over 40% of participants reported safety had decreased. Use of social media and avoidance strategies were the most common safety approaches used. Participants reported mixed experiences with virtual services. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing structural concerns for survivors of violence like IPV and sexual assault. Increased support and economic resource access, coupled with modified safety planning and improved virtual approaches, would better help meet survivor needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) predict a higher likelihood of victimization and perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV). Yet, less is known for the role of ACE in development of intimate partner power and control dynamics such as the types of violence/violence severity experienced or attitudes about equality, fairness, and caring in an intimate relationship. In the current study, we analyzed data from 332 adults enrolled in a community-based relationship education program (52.7% Hispanic, 80.7% female, and 44.3% unemployed). We conducted a mediation analysis to examine differences by indicators of power, control, and equity in respondent's current or most recent intimate relationship by ACE score. We found psychological distress fully mediated the relationship between ACE and physical and reactive aggression, and partially mediated the relationship between ACE, psychological and controlling aggression, relationship conflict, responsible caring, and ethical power. Implications for practice include: recommendations for screening and risk assessment and more understanding for the role of ACE as a predictor of victimization/perpetration among an understudied demographic – predominately Hispanic women with moderate to low income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop a response to an identified service gap for domestic violence (DV) victim-survivors who are living with their abusive partner and have children in their care, Keeping Safe Together (KST) was designed as an ‘all of family’ program and piloted over 18-months in Victoria, Australia. The purpose of this brief report is to explore how children had experienced the KST program, and what, if any, changes to their safety and situations they experienced because of the program.Interviews were conducted with eight children engaged in the program alongside their family members. Thematic analysis of the data was undertaken to draw out themes.The children were aware of the impact of the violence and conflict on their families. They demonstrated strong empathy for their family members’ wellbeing, and a desire for change. The children saw the KST program as having a positive impact on their own and their families’ safety and circumstances, particularly in terms of reducing their fathers’ abusive behaviors. The program supported them to increase their own sense of control, happiness, and development of coping strategies.The findings indicate that the program met a significant support gap and improved the lives of children in this sample who were living with fathers using violence against their mothers. Further trial and evaluation of ‘all of family’ programs such as KST is needed to build the evidence base on their effectiveness for children.Methods: To develop a response to an identified service gap for domestic violence (DV) victim-survivors who are living with their abusive partner and have children in their care, Keeping Safe Together (KST) was designed as an ‘all of family’ program and piloted over 18-months in Victoria, Australia. The purpose of this brief report is to explore how children had experienced the KST program, and what, if any, changes to their safety and situations they experienced because of the program.Interviews were conducted with eight children engaged in the program alongside their family members. Thematic analysis of the data was undertaken to draw out themes.The children were aware of the impact of the violence and conflict on their families. They demonstrated strong empathy for their family members’ wellbeing, and a desire for change. The children saw the KST program as having a positive impact on their own and their families’ safety and circumstances, particularly in terms of reducing their fathers’ abusive behaviors. The program supported them to increase their own sense of control, happiness, and development of coping strategies.The findings indicate that the program met a significant support gap and improved the lives of children in this sample who were living with fathers using violence against their mothers. Further trial and evaluation of ‘all of family’ programs such as KST is needed to build the evidence base on their effectiveness for children.Results: To develop a response to an identified service gap for domestic violence (DV) victim-survivors who are living with their abusive partner and have children in their care, Keeping Safe Together (KST) was designed as an ‘all of family’ program and piloted over 18-months in Victoria, Australia. The purpose of this brief report is to explore how children had experienced the KST program, and what, if any, changes to their safety and situations they experienced because of the program.Interviews were conducted with eight children engaged in the program alongside their family members. Thematic analysis of the data was undertaken to draw out themes.The children were aware of the impact of the violence and conflict on their families. They demonstrated strong empathy for their family members’ wellbeing, and a desire for change. The children saw the KST program as having a positive impact on their own and their families’ safety and circumstances, particularly in terms of reducing their fathers’ abusive behaviors. The program supported them to increase their own sense of control, happiness, and development of coping strategies.The findings indicate that the program met a significant support gap and improved the lives of children in this sample who were living with fathers using violence against their mothers. Further trial and evaluation of ‘all of family’ programs such as KST is needed to build the evidence base on their effectiveness for children.Conclusions: To develop a response to an identified service gap for domestic violence (DV) victim-survivors who are living with their abusive partner and have children in their care, Keeping Safe Together (KST) was designed as an ‘all of family’ program and piloted over 18-months in Victoria, Australia. The purpose of this brief report is to explore how children had experienced the KST program, and what, if any, changes to their safety and situations they experienced because of the program.Interviews were conducted with eight children engaged in the program alongside their family members. Thematic analysis of the data was undertaken to draw out themes.The children were aware of the impact of the violence and conflict on their families. They demonstrated strong empathy for their family members’ wellbeing, and a desire for change. The children saw the KST program as having a positive impact on their own and their families’ safety and circumstances, particularly in terms of reducing their fathers’ abusive behaviors. The program supported them to increase their own sense of control, happiness, and development of coping strategies.The findings indicate that the program met a significant support gap and improved the lives of children in this sample who were living with fathers using violence against their mothers. Further trial and evaluation of ‘all of family’ programs such as KST is needed to build the evidence base on their effectiveness for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both women and men suffer from domestic violence around the world. While domestic violence against women has received considerable research attention, domestic violence against men has been under-studied, especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The limited data available from the National Family Safety Registry of Saudi Arabia and the National Society for Human Rights suggest that female-perpetrated domestic violence has been increasing in Saudi Arabia. This research therefore aims to understand the reasons why women commit violence against men in Saudi Arabia. The study uses a qualitative research method, using data obtained through semi-structured interviews conducted at a women's prison in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 30 women who were incarcerated for committing violence against men. Thematic analysis shows that participants in this study committed their offence due to two main reasons: self-defense and emancipatory longing. While some participants reported being abused and mistreated, leading them to commit violence to protect themselves, others reported actively using violence against men out of frustration and a desire to be free from oppressive patriarchal practices. The study also provides evidence that institutions can act as spaces of freedom for women frustrated with patriarchal practices and wanting freedom from oppression. Patriarchal practices can be a source of great frustration for women and can motivate them to commit violence. The Saudi government has taken steps to address such practices; however, for effective change to occur there remains a need for change in the societal mindset about the role of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firearms are used in over half of partner violence victim homicides, and many victims experience firearm-related threats from their abusive partners. It is unclear whether, and to what extent, abusers who make firearm-related threats also engage in other forms of control and violence. An online community-based sample of women whose abusive partners caused them to experience fear because of their access to guns or threats to use them were recruited for the study. This study examined coercive control, threats, violence, and help-seeking for women whose partner held them at gunpoint (n = 112) compared to women whose partners did not hold them at gunpoint (n = 125). Women whose partners held them at gunpoint experienced more severe and frequent firearm and non-firearm related threats and physical/sexual violence. Additionally, abusers used a variety of strategies to control victims including tactics to increase dependency, debility, and dread—all of which were more frequent and severe among women held at gunpoint by the abuser. Only about half of the women held at gunpoint, and 30% of those not held at gunpoint, talked to police or sought a civil protective order. Among those that sought help through the justice system, only about 70% told police or the court about the firearm threats. Current legal remedies that restrict firearms may reduce some lethality risk, but safety is far from guaranteed by solely restricting gun ownership underscoring the importance of assessment and safety planning for partner violence victims who experience firearm-related threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first article to analyze children's involvement in technology-facilitated coercive control in Australia. The primary research question was "How do mothers describe their children's involvement in technology-facilitated coercive control?". This article is based on incidental findings from a larger study on Australian women's experiences of technology-facilitated abuse in the context of domestic violence. Although children were not the focus of the study, semi-structured interviews with twelve mothers yielded discussion of children's involvement in the abuse. We used thematic analysis to identify key dynamics and contexts of this abuse. We found that mothers and their children are co-victims of coercive control. Mothers interviewed for the study reported that children were involved in technology-facilitated coercive control directly and indirectly. This study bridges the gap between the extant research on children and coercive control and technology-facilitated abuse by highlighting the ways children are involved in technology-facilitated coercive control. The social and legal contexts of co-parenting with abusive fathers exposed mothers and children to ongoing post-separation abuse, extending abusive fathers' absent presence in the lives of children [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined variations in children's post-separation adjustment based on child characteristics (gender and age) and maternal experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) during marriage. Mothers (N = 147) recruited within 12 weeks of a divorce filing took part in two interviews three months apart. They reported on marital IPV at Time 1, and their children's (47% female; ages 3–17) adjustment 3 months later at Time 2. Four aspects of child adjustment were assessed using a standardized measure (hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer problems). Mothers were classified as having experienced coercive controlling violence (CCV; 23.8%), situational couple violence (SCV; 27.9%), or no violence (48.3%) during marriage. Gender differences were found on one of the four child adjustment indicators: boys had higher levels of hyperactivity than girls. Among boys but not girls, hyperactivity scores varied based on age and IPV type. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very few studies examine sexual violence perpetrated on adolescents in Ghana or in sub-Saharan Africa more generally. Using data collected in 2015 as part of a multi-country initiative, we employed multinomial logit models to examine violence experienced by Ghanaian adolescents at sexual debut. Results of our gender-specific models showed violence at sexual debut is gendered. While adolescent girls reported higher levels of forced sex (rape) at sexual debut, boys reported higher levels of coercion. Compared to those who had sex at relatively older ages, girls who had sex at younger ages were significantly more likely to say they were raped, were coerced or that sex 'just happened' than to report sex was wanted. Both male and female adolescents were significantly more likely to report sex was forced than wanted if the sexual partner was older. Female respondents who lived with family members other than their parents were significantly more likely to report forced sex (rape). We recommend government and interested stakeholders to promote social norms that discourage violence against adolescents. School-based programs, such as Ghana's comprehensive sexuality education, must focus on equipping adolescents with the confidence and skills required to handle cultural pressures and the power differences that characterize sexual relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We qualitatively explored young women's intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization within abusive first relationships (characterized by physical IPV, coercive control, and/or sexual IPV), and their disclosure process. We recruited a diverse sample (N = 21) from a university, a two-year college, and community sites serving low-income young women. We conducted retrospective, semi-structured interviews about their IPV experiences with their first boyfriends (M participant age when relationship started = 14.9 years old), and the factors that influenced their disclosure. We used grounded theory involving open, axial, and selective coding to analyze the role of social location; prior familial and extra-familial victimization; community, developmental, and situational factors; and stigmatization in shaping their experiences with IPV and disclosure. Four theoretical patterns emerged: 1) intimate terrorism, concomitant with the emergence of a quasi-parent-child dynamic between some participants and partners, and the role of these relationship characteristics in influencing disclosure, 2) key factors in those relationships marked by severe IPV but low fear, abuse minimization, and limited disclosure, 3) the role of IPV severity, type, and situational factors in distinguishing participants who sought help from law enforcement, and 4) how stigmatization, in concert with situational factors, shaped disclosure. Early IPV victimization is not uniformly experienced, and the disclosure process appears very complex and multi-determined. It is critical that we design IPV prevention and intervention approaches with this in mind, if we are to be effective in reaching an increasingly diverse generation of adolescents, facilitating their disclosure, and interrupting abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to social cognitive theories of post-traumatic stress, trauma may increase an individual's need for control. Research has yet to explore this process as it relates to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). This study examined whether power and control-related cognitions explain the relationship between trauma (i.e. trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms) and IPV perpetration. During the intake assessment at a community-based IPV intervention program, male IPV perpetrators (N = 195) provided data on trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress symptoms, relationship problems, and IPV perpetration. A composite measure of power and control-related cognitions was created using existing intake items from several measures through theoretical and statistical considerations, including factor analysis and internal consistency analyses. The composite measure of power and control-related cognitions had sufficient reliability to support a preliminary test of the hypothesized mediational model. Power and control-related cognitions were positively associated with trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress symptoms, relationship problems, and emotional abuse, but not with physical assault. Power and control mediated the association between trauma exposure and emotional abuse, but did not significantly mediate any associations between post-traumatic stress symptoms and partner abuse perpetration. These findings suggest that trauma is associated with the need for power and control often observed among IPV perpetrators, and that this process is particularly apparent with respect to emotional abuse perpetration. The results highlight the need for additional research on social cognitive mediators of the associations between trauma and IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the complexity of women's experiences of coercive control during childbearing, birthing and postpartum and investigates the importance of health practitioners' responses to women's experiences. Research questions were: "What cues, from women's lived experiences, indicate that coercive control is being exerted by their partners?" and "how can health practitioners recognise coercive control during pregnancy, birthing and post-partum?". The qualitative study drew on relational empowerment to access rich data. Sixteen women in Australia participated in the research. Following the temporal sequence of pregnancy, birthing and postpartum, health workers responses are examined. Themes identified included: reproductive coercion followed by coercive control of ante-natal care, control during birthing, intersections with cultural expectations, partner's self-obsession, grandstanding after a birth, and women's feelings of isolation. Women's experience of coercive control, their sense of isolation or, alternatively, support ultimately affected their ability to remove themselves and their children from the abusive situation. Health practitioners' responses either helped women to identify their partner's behaviors as abusive or exacerbated women's feelings of isolation. The research suggests that health practitioners' acknowledgement of coercive control, and the involvement of social workers conversant with feminist informed dynamics of domestic violence, can impact positively on women's agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic abusers use triangulation to manipulate, coerce, intimidate, isolate and exploit their victims. This triangulation continues when abusers are behind bars, through voice or video calling or writing victims from jail. New, emerging models of system response demonstrate that timely, competent, readily available professional advocacy services and options—delivered through electronic pathways—can buffer against this triangulation. We use case examples to illustrate how detained abusers use triangulation to manipulate and tamper with their victim, along with successful intervention by victim advocates via text message to buffer against such triangulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central role of family within the process of juvenile reentry from a term of incarceration has been well documented by researchers and practitioners alike. However, family violence among previously incarcerated youth remains alarmingly high across the United States. Drawing from differential coercion and social support theory, we examine how family dynamics may simultaneously promote and/or inhibit family violence perpetration among youth undergoing the process of reentry. Four waves of panel data from the male-only youth subsample of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative are analyzed using a series of dynamic panel data models. Findings demonstrate that both pre- and post-release levels of family conflict are significantly associated with increased family violence during reintegration. Mechanisms of family support, however, are not associated with post-release family violence. Results from this study highlight the salience of family conflict in understanding family violence perpetration among recently released juveniles and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coercive control is increasingly recognized as fundamental to women's experiences of domestic and family violence (DFV). Systems abuse is also being increasingly recognized by researchers as a tactic of coercive control in the context of DFV. This article explores the phenomenon of abusive partners or ex-partners making malicious false reports of child maltreatment to child protective services as an aspect of coercive control and systems abuse. The article draws on interviews with 65 women who have been victims of DFV, focusing on the experiences of 11 of the interviewees who have been maliciously reported, or received threats that they will be reported, to child protection services by an abusive ex-partner. Those interviewees who had been the victim of malicious reports of child maltreatment by an abusive partner or ex-partner experienced substantial negative impacts. The article concludes that improved investigation processes and investigating both parties, where the reporting party has been found to be a perpetrator of DFV, may better support victims of DFV and deter perpetrators from this form of abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner and sexual violence (IPV and SV) remain significant public health problems for young women and men, and both IPV and SV have short and long-term psychological and physical health impacts for all. Through consistent direction and support from Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), IPV/SV violence prevention research has shown its potential to prevent these forms of violence. This change is highly significant; many did not believe it was possible to prevent rape and intimate partner violence. In recognition of this emerging field of study, the 2013 Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act required US public colleges to provide bystander-based training to reduce sexual violence, yet no requirement for evaluation of this recommendation was included in this law. Further, while bystander approaches are recognized as "promising prevention strategies" by the 2014 White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, few rigorous and sufficiently powered studies evaluate the efficacy of bystander programs to reduce violence victimization and perpetration at college and community levels. The papers in this special issue catalogue methods, measures, and outcomes to guide successful implementation and investigations of bystander prevention programs, considering demographic and situational contexts that have traditionally been understudied. Lessons learned from these investigations provide a roadmap of strategies to guide the next generation of researchers, program developers, and policymakers toward effective interpersonal violence prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual victimization, defined as non-contact unwanted sexual experiences (e.g., sexual harassment), unwanted sexual contact, sexual coercion, forcible rape, or alcohol- or drug-facilitated assault or rape, is nontrivial among the college study population. This study explores how the situational contexts, which include self-reported consequences and responses to victimization, compare between incidents of non-contact sexual harassment (SH) and contact sexual victimization (CSV) (e.g., unwanted sexual contact, sexual coercion, and rape). Conjunctive analyses compare the commonality and variation among situational contexts of incidents of SH and incidents of CSV from a sample of survivors from 24 different colleges. Both forms of sexual violence negatively impact college students. Respondents who experienced SH only (i.e., did not also experience CSV) in the past year and those who experienced contact CSV only (i.e., did not also experience non-contact SH) in the past year both reported negative outcomes associated with the victimization, but it was more common for survivors of SH only to report being intimidated and feeling uncomfortable in their environment at the college. The implications of this study are twofold. First, scholars should ensure that research on the negative effects of CSV does not come at the expense of other forms of sexual victimization. Second, practitioners, campus services, and prevention programs should acknowledge both contact and non-contact sexual victimization in programming and services in order to buffer the negative effects resulting from victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though researchers have documented that adolescents are vulnerable to coercion focused on reproductive and sexual autonomy, measures to assess this type of coercion for both adolescent females and males have not been validated in a population-based sample. The present study used secondary data collected from high school students across Kentucky (n = 16,137 from two independent samples in 2010 and 2014) to 1) determine if five items measuring adolescent reproductive and sexual coercion (ARSC) are appropriate for use among both females and males; and 2) estimate prevalence of identified ARSC factors by sex. For both male and females, given measurement items, the results supported a two-factor model of ARSC comprised of 1) verbal relationship manipulation and 2) contraceptive interference. Measurement invariance by sex was also supported. Additional findings indicated the high prevalence of ARSC and its associated subscales. Approximately 4 in 10 females and 3 in 10 males reported experiencing ARSC in the previous year, with almost all of those reporting contraceptive interference also reporting verbal relationship manipulation. Findings suggest verbal relationship manipulation and contraceptive interference (together forming ARSC) may restrict the autonomous sexual and reproductive decision-making of both female and male adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate sex differences in associations between sexual violence victimization (SVV), sexual violence perpetration (SVP), and binge drinking and/or alcohol problems among high school students. While SVV has been linked to problem alcohol use among young women, little research has addressed the unique associations of SVV and SVP on alcohol use/problems within both sexes. A cross-sectional analysis of 16,992 high school students' self-reports of past-year SVP and SVV was used where SVV/SVP was defined by three tactics (sexual coercion, drug/alcohol-facilitated or incapacitated sex, and physically forced sex). Alcohol measures included past-month binge drinking and past-year alcohol problems. Rates of SVV were twice as high in females (21.2% vs. 13.3%), and SVP rates were twice as high in males (10.9% vs. 5.2%). SVV and SVP were each associated with an increased rate of current binge drinking and problem alcohol use for both sexes, across increasing numbers of SV tactics and within each of three tactics. After controlling for demographic and other risk factors including SVP, drug/alcohol-facilitated or incapacitated SVV was more strongly linked to binge drinking and alcohol problems among females. SVP was more strongly linked to binge drinking and alcohol problems among males (adjusting for SVV and other covariates). No sex differences emerged in associations between coerced or physically forced SVV/SVP and alcohol-related outcomes. Both SVV and SVP are associated with an increased likelihood of binge drinking and alcohol problems for males and females. Important sex differences emerged when SV tactics are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child-to-parent abuse (CPA) research struggles to differentiate between disrespectful and abusive behaviour, leading some to conclude that 90% of children abuse their parents and rendering the concept essentially meaningless. The Abusive Behaviour by Children-Indices (ABC-I) was developed with the aim of differentiating abusive and non-abusive youth using a novel scoring procedure created from parents' norms about abuse. The ABC-I was developed with parents of young people aged 14–25 years (N = 201) using index-development procedures. The structure of the ABC-I was validated with young people aged 14 to 25 (N = 587) using partial least squares-structural equation modelling. Using the parents' sample, 40 items derived from the literature were reduced to 10 behavioural descriptors. Parents who identified their children as abusive were 89% more likely to have higher ABC-I scores than non-abused parents. The structure of the ABC-I was further reduced to nine items in the youth sample. The ABC-I identified a 12-month CPA incidence rate of 16%. The ABC-I is the first CPA measure to provide an evidence-based threshold for abuse that incorporates both frequency and severity of abuse to improve upon the identification of abuse involving psychological aggression or coercion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence might increase post-separation, and visitation can offer an opportunity to the perpetrator for maintaining power and control over the mother and child. In relationships where intimate partner violence (IPV) exists, it is hypothesized that fathers may continue their violent behaviors throughout visitation with children. The study uses mixed methods: After completing of a screening questionnaire (n = 593) we recruited 168 individuals from our sample with problematic child custody cases who completed an online survey. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 mothers with experience of problematic child custody cases. This paper reports only the qualitative results of the research. The findings highlight how custody and visitation rights may be used as a form of custodial violence and a continuation of IPV. Problematic child custody and visitation cases were reported following separation from an abusive partner because using legal proceedings as a weapon to maintain power and control over the former partner and child. Institutions involved in custody and contact-related legal procedures do not take into consideration the violence of the abusive ex-partner as a factor when determining custody and contact arrangements, even though it may work in opposition to the child's wellbeing. The analysis of the data shows that child custody and visitation arrangements did not reflect clear understanding of domestic violence, coercive control and the effects of these on children's wellbeing. Fathers were reported to be able to control the everyday lives of their ex-partners and their children through lack of institutional recognition of domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the nature of honor-related domestic violence as experienced by 11 young female victims (aged 16–20) with non-Swedish-born parents. It examines what forms of violence are involved and how they are related to each other and looks at the differences and similarities to non-honor-related domestic violence. Qualitative, individual interviews were made with young women who, when in contact with counselors, mid-wives or social workers, said that they were living with restrictions over their social life and sexuality with some level of control imposed by another person. Accordingly, it is young women's subjective assessment of their experience which defined their inclusion in this study. The analysis has been a recursive process with a theory-oriented approach that uses Bourdieu's concept of symbolic violence as a theoretical lens. The participants belonged to patriarchal families in a particular cultural/religious community and lived under various types of coercive control. For the participants, the core concept of the family norms was twofold: honor and firm demands for chastity. There was a strong link between the restrictions they experienced and their vulnerability to various forms of violence, alongside accounts of strong emotional ties between father and daughter, in most cases. The participants' scope for action was affected irrespective of they were physically abused or not. The findings contribute to an initial understanding of how nonviolent controlling behaviors affect young women's scope for action and highlight daughters' vulnerable situation in a patriarchal family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Welsh study explored young women's understandings of what it means to have a healthy relationship, including the negotiations of their identity and behaviour within their intimate relationships. This study was completed in seven schools in North Wales. An attitudinal questionnaire (n = 220) was used in order to explore their gendered attitudes, followed by a series of semi-structured interviews with 25 young women aged 15–18, focused on evaluating their experiences of intimate relationships, including the impact of everyday forms of harassment and abuse experienced in schools and beyond. The results indicate that there was a general resistance to, and justification of, somewhat subtle forms of coercion, harassment and control. The findings from the questionnaire and the interviews diverge; however, the journey on both paths reveals an image of young women unable to draw on a narrative of choice in order to assert their voices, their individual needs or negotiate their pre-determined relationship script. Overall, the young women lacked the power to operationalise their egalitarian attitudes in order to engage in relationships that adhere to the description of what they expect, want or desire within a 'healthy relationship'. This study contributes to the debate on how young women negotiate the conflicts inherent in the contemporary constructions of gender and intimate relationships. The findings suggest the importance of a comprehensive educational approach, with young people focused on promoting gender equality and healthy relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sibling sexual abuse seems to be the most prevalent form of sexual abuse in the family context. This study used the Sexual Coercion Scale of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales - Sibling Version (Straus et al. 1995) to measure the extent of sibling sexual coercion in a sample of 590 Portuguese university students. Prevalence: 11% of male students and 5% of female students had sexually coerced a sibling in the year when the participant was about 13 years old or in another year. Chronicity: When there was sexual coercion in a sibling relationship, it was perpetrated an average of 22.4 (mean) times by males and 9.1 times by females. Dyadic Concordance Types (DCT's) revealed that in 26% there was only one perpetrator who was Male-Only, in 19% the perpetrator was Female-Only and more than half (55%) Both coerced. From the perspective of female respondents, in 50% of the cases the perpetrator was a Male-Only, in 31% Female-Only and in 19% Both coerced. Conclusions: Sexual coercion of siblings is probably more frequent than generally realized. Males had higher rates of perpetration, but the percentage of females was substantial. These results suggest a need to expand research to understand the etiology of sibling sexual coercion by females as well as males, understand causes, risk factors and to expand efforts to reduce sexual coercion in sibling relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brother-Sister Questionnaire (BSQ; Graham-Bermann and Cutler 1994) is an instrument designed to measure qualities of sibling relationships. Aim: In the present study the main objective was to examine the psychometric properties and validity construct of BSQ - Portuguese version. Data were collected among 197 adolescents. The Cronbach's alpha of the four domains ranged from .58 to .84. The psychometric characteristics of BSQ Portuguese version were found to be adequate. The results confirm the multi-dimensional model composed of four factors proposed by the authors of this instrument, as well as their suitability to assess quality of Portuguese sibling relationships. The BSQ offers a reliable and valid measure to be used within Portuguese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the impact of item wording on self-reported sexual assault perpetration and victimization rates. The Sexual Experiences Survey (SES; Koss et al. in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 162-170, 1987) is a self-report assessment of female sexual victimization and male sexual perpetration. Studies using the SES consistently report a marked discrepancy between victimization rates and perpetration rates. The wording of the SES items asks respondents to report whether experiences occurred in the absence of female want. It was hypothesized that modified items, which did not require an analysis of female want, would yield increased male response rates compared to the original SES, but that female rates would be equivalent across versions. Parallel male and female SES items, for coercive sexual contact and intercourse, were compared with modified items. Analyses of the data confirmed the hypothesis that modified items yielded increased reports for males in the contact and intercourse conditions. Female response rates on modified items were increased in the contact condition, but not the intercourse condition. Implications of these findings were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is significant empirical evidence documenting the link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and incidence of depression symptoms. This study explores the impact of intimate partner violence, nonviolent spousal coercive control, and women's employment status on the incidence of depression symptoms in a sample of Mexican women. Results from regression models suggest different types of abusive relationships have differential impacts on incidence of depression. Specifically, a woman's employment status contributed to the risk of depression in the context of prevalent nonviolent spousal controlling behaviors. On the other hand, employment status did not contribute to the risk of developing depression symptoms when women were in relationships where physical violence was not coupled with controlling behaviors. Results of the study are discussed in the context of the Mexican culture, as well as implications for the treatment of IPV among Mexican women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although sibling abuse may be the most common form of family violence, relatively few studies have been conducted on this topic. The current exploratory study addressed this gap in the literature through analyses of thematic categories in sibling abuse narratives gathered from an online survey of sibling violence victims. All data was collected via an online survey. Participants who reported being victimized by physical sibling violence were asked to reflect on how others-family members, professionals, and friends-responded to knowledge of the abuse. Results demonstrate a need for general education about sibling violence, particularly for parents who might minimize or normalize their children's violent conflicts. Additionally, parents need assistance in developing appropriate responses to sibling violence, as participants often perceived their parents to be ineffective at preventing or stopping the abuse. Finally, this study suggests that negative or unhelpful parental responses can be as harmful as the sibling violence itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]