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Purpose Systematic reviews have an important, and growing, role to play in the global evidence eco-system of domestic violence and abuse. Alongside substantive contributions to knowledge, such reviews stimulate debates about ethical reviewing practices and the importance of tailoring methods to the nuances of the field. This paper aims to pinpoint a set of ethical and methodological priorities to guide and enhance review practices specifically in the field of domestic abuse. Method The five Pillars of the Research Integrity Framework (ethical guidelines for domestic abuse research) are used to interrogate the systematic review process. To do so, the Framework is retrospectively applied to a recently completed systematic review in domestic abuse. The review included a rapid systematic map and in-depth analysis of interventions aimed at creating or enhancing informal support and social networks for victim-survivors of abuse. Results Ethical and methodological priorities for systematic reviews in domestic abuse include (1) Safety and wellbeing: maintaining the wellbeing of researchers and stakeholders, and appraising the ethics of included studies, (2) Transparency/ accountability: transparent reporting of research funding, aims and methods together with explicit consideration of authorship of outputs, (3) Equality, human rights and social justice: developing diverse review teams/ Advisory groups, and review methods that aim to search for, and report, diverse perspectives. Considering researcher positionality/ reflexivity in the review, (4) Engagement: collaboration with non-academic stakeholders and individuals with lived experience throughout the review process, (5) Research Ethics: independent ethical scrutiny of systematic review proposals with input from researchers with expertise in systematic reviews and domestic abuse. Conclusion Additional research is required to comprehensively examine the ethics of each stage of the review process. In the meantime, attention should be given to the underpinning ethical framework for our systematic review practices and the wider research infrastructure that governs reviews., Author(s): Karen Schucan Bird [sup.1] , Nicola Stokes [sup.2] , Martha Tomlinson [sup.2] , Carol Rivas [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.83440.3b, 0000000121901201, Social Research Institute, University College London, , 10 [...]

Purpose The study presents the ethical concerns the authors have identified as necessary to address for methodologically sound qualitative research with survivors of gender-based violence. The aim is to define questions that need to be addressed before research with this vulnerable and diverse group can be considered so that the threat of inflicting further harm is mitigated and the possible positive impact of research is increased. We outline and compare the merits and possible drawbacks of three different approaches to research with gender-based violence survivors. Methods We compare the ethical/methodological rationale and approaches used in three different projects employing mixed-method exploratory research, survivor-centered qualitative interview-based research and experimental research through practices from the theatre of the oppressed. The comparison centers on showing the relative advantages of individual approaches in terms of ethics in practice. Results The individual studies and their comparison confirm the ongoing salience of ethical considerations outlined by, e.g., proponents of feminist participatory action research; our findings also underline the necessity of considering the social contexts of violence and the need to adjust research design to ethics. Conclusions Our study shows that using research designs that do not lead to direct empowerment of survivors should only be considered after other options have been tried and proven inefficient. Ethical considerations need to be holistic, focusing on preventing further harm and paying attention to the social contexts of violence and the impact of representing the research results., Author(s): Blanka Nyklová [sup.1] , Dana Moree [sup.2] , Petr Kubala [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.425128.8, 0000 0001 2106 6998, Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, , [...]

Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (IPVAW) has been defined as a violation of human rights and a serious public health problem rooted in social inequality between women and men. Nevertheless, a significant amount of scientific literature on the topic of IPVAW continues to exclude the gender perspective in both research design and the interpretation of results, despite its conceptual and explanatory relevance. This paper considers certain gender-blind practices in the research on IPVAW. Based on this analysis, we propose explicitly stating the theoretical assumptions inherent in the definition of the construct and clarifying the intended interpretation for measures, so that they can be incorporated into the analysis of validity, and we argue in favor of the need for interdisciplinary studies based on multicausal explanatory models, which incorporate the category gender as a transversal explanatory factor of this type of violence, as well as multi-method approaches, with the aim of overcoming issues of construct underrepresentation and construct-irrelevant variance., Author(s): Andrés Sánchez-Prada [sup.1] , Carmen Delgado-Álvarez [sup.1] , Esperanza Bosch-Fiol [sup.2] , Victoria A. Ferrer-Pérez [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.449312.9, 0000 0001 0946 4360, Faculty of Psychology, Pontifical University [...]

Purpose This article investigates survivors' experiences participating in research interviews about technology-facilitated domestic violence. University research ethics committees often assume that participating in research on violence and abuse is distressing for survivors. Scholars have called for research testing this assumption. This article contributes to the evidence base on the benefits and risks of asking research participants about gender-based violence. Methods This article is based on semi-structured interviews with 20 Australian domestic violence survivors. Template analysis was used to code the interviews and develop key themes. Results The five themes derived from the interviews include reflection on recovery and personal growth; helping other women; rejecting victim-shaming; empowerment; and the importance of timing. Conclusion All participants reported positive experiences taking part in the study. However, the authors noticed substantial differences in participant narratives across service cohorts. The implications of recruiting through channels associated with different points in trauma trajectories warrant attention., Author(s): Molly Dragiewicz [sup.1] , Delanie Woodlock [sup.2] , Helen Easton [sup.3] , Bridget Harris [sup.2] , Michael Salter [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.1022.1, 0000 0004 0437 5432, Griffith University, [...]

Purpose This paper presents a critical reflection of pertinent methodological and ethical issues associated with qualitative research on domestic abuse, and synthesises existing models of research to provide ethical, practical, and methodological implications. Methods Drawing on the combined research and front-line experience of the authors it explores four critical areas: power, participation, payment, and platform. Results Current practices sometimes lack transparency and may perpetuate marginalisation in studies of some with lived experience of domestic violence and abuse which can be considered symbolic violence. There lacks consistency in participant payment, or research on participants' perceptions of payment. The final section addresses challenges of including perpetrators as participants, highlighting the learning that could occur as a result of inclusion, noting the associated risks of perceived collusion or endorsement of harmful behaviour. Conclusions This paper contributes to scholarship regarding domestic abuse research through exploration of participation, remuneration, and the unique complexities of domestic abuse perpetrator involvement. We foreground the importance of articulating and managing power dynamics in domestic abuse research, and suggest measures to ensure such dynamics are mitigated successfully to ensure participation is accessible to all. The paper argues for further consideration of payment protocols, and inclusion of the decision-making process in published research. Further it recognises perpetrator exclusion from research can result in victim/survivors being held responsible for raising awareness and developing knowledge of domestic abuse, consequently researchers should consider perpetrator participation where possible. The paper concludes with recommendations for those engaged in domestic violence and abuse research., Author(s): Kirsty McGregor [sup.1] , Bethan Taylor [sup.2] , Lisa Oakley [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.12477.37, 0000000121073784, University of Brighton, , BN1 9PH, Brighton, England, UK (2) Safelives UK, , [...]

Few studies have examined gender-specific concerns within intimate relationships that may be associated with conflict escalation and intimate partner violence (IPV). While prior theorizing has emphasized issues such as men's feelings of jealousy, the role of concerns and conflict related to men's actions has not been as thoroughly investigated. We draw on the life course perspective as background for assessing conflict areas related to men's and women's actions during the young adult period, and subsequently the association between such concerns and the odds of reporting IPV in a current/most recent relationship. Building on a longitudinal data set focused on a large, diverse sample (Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study, n = 904), we administered surveys that assessed whether disagreements about potential conflict areas-including but not limited to infidelity-related to male or female partner's actions. Concerns about women's and men's actions were both related to the odds of reporting IPV experience, but disagreements about male partners' actions during young adulthood were actually more common, and relative to concerns about women's actions, more strongly associated with IPV. Research and programmatic efforts should give additional attention to specific areas around which couples' disagreements develop and conflicts sometimes escalate. A dyadic approach adds to the frequent emphasis on emotion management and control that center primarily on one partner's problematic relationship style-thus addressing the 'form' but not the 'content' of intimate partner conflicts. This approach would highlight a broader range of relationship dynamics than are currently included in theorizing and applied efforts., Author(s): Peggy C. Giordano [sup.1] , Mackenzie M. Grace [sup.1] , Wendy D. Manning [sup.1] , Monica A. Longmore [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.253248.a, 0000 0001 0661 0035, Department of [...]

The unprecedented outbreak and continuous spread of the COVID-19 virus starting in December 2019 resulted in a strict lockdown and nationwide long-term home isolation, which has possibly led to increased levels of family violence in China. This commentary aims to explore two issues related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on family violence in China, with intimate partner violence as its most common form. These two issues are whether the COVID-19 pandemic has indeed had a negative impact on family violence and, if so, what its specific influences upon family violence in China have been. This commentary is largely descriptive and based upon previously published literature and public statistical reports from newspaper, government, and criminal justice sources on family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Despite the lack of relevant and accurate nationwide statistics on family violence in China, multiple reports seem to suggest that family violence has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase in family violence may be primarily due to the large-scale lockdown that aggravates family conflicts, economic distress and tension caused by the pandemic among family members, and inadequate support for victims of family violence during the pandemic. Family violence has become an important social issue that needs to be dealt properly and swiftly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as agencies and service sectors, need to be aware of the needs of family violence victims and provide appropriate and immediate assistance to the victims during the pandemic. A detailed discussion of the policy implications and suggestions for future research are provided at the end of this commentary., Author(s): Hongwei Zhang [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.258164.c, 0000 0004 1790 3548, Juvenile & Family Law Research Center, School of Humanities, Jinan University, , Zhuhai, Guangdong, China This commentary explores [...]

Domestic violence victims frequently visit health care facilities yet rarely disclose, so it is important to understand what factors are barriers and facilitators of disclosure. UK-based qualitative investigations into barriers and facilitators of disclosure in health care settings have suffered from a limited focus on ethnic minority women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore victims' perceptions and experiences of disclosing to health care services and to identify barriers and facilitators of disclosure within an ethnically diverse UK sample. Semi-structured interviews were administered among 29 British (8 ethnic minority) female victims. Content analysis demonstrated that barriers to disclosure were; emotional (e.g., fear, embarrassment/shame and self-blame), physical (e.g., partner's physical presence, controlling behavior, and manipulation of professionals) and organizational (e.g., appropriateness of setting and time for disclosure). Additional problems for ethnic minority women were language difficulties and religious practices. Facilitators to disclosure were interpersonal relations, safety, and validation from health care professionals. Barriers and facilitators of disclosure in health care services are diverse and some are specific to minority ethnic groups. Health care professionals should receive awareness and skills training to establish a positive, validating, and safe environment for victim disclosure., Author(s): Rebecca L. Heron [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Maarten C. Eisma [sup.2] , Kevin Browne [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.462948.5, 0000 0000 9341 8350, Department of Arts & Sciences, University [...]

Research on intimate partner violence shows that individuals who employ abusive behaviors also often have other psychosocial health problems (e.g., substance use) that may limit their ability to engage in treatment for abuse. Limited information exists regarding the psychosocial health needs of individuals who perpetrate abuse and how those needs play a role in their ability to follow through and complete an intervention program. Administrative data from one batterer intervention program (BIP) (N = 330), the local Department of Human Services, and court records were used to explore the relationship of service involvement to post-BIP recidivism. We found that over half the sample had engagement with DHS prior to starting the BIP, and general welfare, health and medical assistance, and behavioral health services were the most accessed programs. Additionally, recidivism for any crime was significantly higher among those with prior DHS involvement. Individuals who perpetrate abuse and who have a history of contact with DHS may represent the most vulnerable population with regards to both risk for attrition from a BIP and future recidivism. Future studies should seek to understand best practices for referrals and coordinated care for individuals who perpetrate abuse and ensure access to a broad range of services to help assist in reducing violent behaviors., Author(s): Penelope K. Morrison [sup.1] , Kelley Jones [sup.2] , Elizabeth Miller [sup.3] , Patricia A. Cluss [sup.4] , Donna George [sup.5] , Rhonda Fleming [sup.6] , Judy C. Chang [...]

Exposure to domestic violence (DV) reports account for a significant portion of child welfare cases. However, there is a lack of resources for specifically working with cases that present a high-risk for lethality. The present study examined the involvement of child protection services (CPS) prior to domestic homicide cases. A retrospective case analysis was conducted utilizing cases reviewed by a domestic violence death review committee in Ontario, Canada. The study also examined the recommendations made by the committee to the child welfare sector. Overall, less than one-quarter of the homicide cases with children in the family system had CPS involvement. There were no differences in the presence of CPS involvement in cases where children were killed compared to cases where children were not killed. CPS-involved cases had significantly more risk factors and the family was involved with significantly more agencies overall. Recommendations directed to the child welfare sector highlighted the need for enhanced ongoing service provision to promote safety and hold perpetrators accountable, specialized DV training, and increased cross-sector collaboration. The child protection sector plays a critical role in assessing and managing risk in DV cases and preventing tragedies. The findings stress the importance of multi-disciplinary collaborations, and specialized ongoing training in engaging perpetrators and managing risk., Author(s): Laura Olszowy [sup.1] [sup.2] , Peter Jaffe [sup.1] [sup.2] , Michael Saxton [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.39381.30, 0000 0004 1936 8884, University of Western Ontario, , 1137 Western [...]