Coercive Control and Physical Violence in Older Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Policastro ◽  
Mary A. Finn
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Coercive Control ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Older Populations

The most common perpetrators of physical violence against women of any age are their intimate partners. Although research on younger adults has recognized that intimate partner violence (IPV) is distinct in etiology, form, and consequence, whether the same is true for older adults has not been adequately studied. The extent and consequences of coercive controlling violence, IPV that involves physical violence coupled with psychological aggression and/or financial abuse, have not been examined in older populations. Using data from the National Elder Mistreatment Study, the current research examines if coercive control is more evident in physical violent victimizations of older adults (age 60 or older) when the perpetrator is an intimate partner compared with when the perpetrator is not an intimate partner. Findings indicate that older adults who experience emotional coercive control by intimate partners in their lifetime are more likely to experience physical abuse at age 60 or older. Furthermore, older adults who experienced trauma during their lifetime, were in poor health, and with less social support are more likely to experience physical abuse at age 60 or older. However, the victim’s sex had no significant influence on the likelihood of experiencing physical abuse.

The Role of Adolescent Physical Abuse in Adult Intimate Partner Violence

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (18) ◽  
pp. 3773-3789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Sunday ◽  
Myriam Kline ◽  
Victor Labruna ◽  
David Pelcovitz ◽  
Suzanne Salzinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Verbal Aggression ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Physically Abused ◽  
Intimate Partner Physical Violence ◽  
Conflict Tactics

This study’s primary aims were to examine whether a sample of young adults, aged 23 to 31, who had been documented as physically abused by their parent(s) during adolescence would be more likely to aggress, both physically and verbally, against their intimate partners compared with nonabused young adults and whether abuse history was (along with other risk factors) a significant predictor of intimate partner physical and emotional violence perpetration or victimization. In this longitudinal study, 67 abused and 78 nonabused adults (of an original sample of 198 adolescents) completed the Modified Conflict Tactics Scale and the Jealousy and Emotional Control Scales. Nonabused comparison adolescents were matched for age, gender, and community income. As adults, participants with abuse histories had significantly higher rates of intimate partner physical violence and verbal aggression than did comparison participants. Multivariate logistic regressions indicated that adults with histories of physical abuse were more than twice as likely to be physically violent and almost six times more likely to be verbally aggressive to their intimate partners than were comparison participants. Having had an alcohol use disorder, being married to or living with a partner, and perceiving one’s partner as controlling were also significantly associated with physical violence. Jealousy and feeling controlled by one’s partner were also significant predictors of verbal aggression. These findings underscore the importance of preventing adolescent abuse as a means of decreasing the incidence of intimate partner physical violence in adulthood.

scholarly journals Violent Couples Seeking Therapy: Bilateral and Unilateral Violence

Partner Abuse ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea A. Madsen ◽  
Sandra M. Stith ◽  
Cynthia J. Thomsen ◽  
Eric E. McCollum
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Couples Therapy ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Conflict Theory ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Male Violence ◽  
Female Violence

Little information is available about couples experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) who voluntarily seek couples therapy. We examined the characteristics of 129 couples who sought therapy for IPV to learn more about this population. A majority of the sample, 74%, experienced bilateral physical violence, 16% experienced unilateral male violence, and 5% experienced unilateral female violence. Conflict theory is used to explain the finding that couples experiencing bilateral violence reported higher levels of physical violence and injury than did those experiencing unilateral violence. Bilaterally violent couples also experienced more jealousy and psychological aggression and less relationship satisfaction than either group of unilaterally violent couples. Implications and suggestions for clinicians are offered, as well as ideas for future research.

Attitudinal Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence Among U.S. Adults

2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Simon ◽  
Mark Anderson ◽  
Martie P. Thompson ◽  
Alex E. Crosby ◽  
Gene Shelley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Never Married ◽  
The Past ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Victims Of Violence ◽  
Using Data

Attitudinal acceptance of intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important correlate of violent behavior. This study examined acceptance of IPV using data collected from a nationally representative telephone survey of 5,238 adults. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations between sociodemographic characteristics, exposure to violence, question order, and acceptance of hitting a spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend under specific circumstances. Depending on the circumstance examined, acceptance of IPV was significantly higher among participants who were male and younger than 35; were non-White; were divorced, separated, or had never married; had not completed high school; had a low household income; or were victims of violence within the past 12 months. Participants were more accepting of women hitting men; they also were consistent’; more likely to report tolerance of IPV if they were asked first about women hitting men rather than men hitting women. Reports of IPV tolerance need to be interpreted within the context of the survey. Efforts to change IPV attitudes can be tailored to specific IPV circumstances and subgroups, and these efforts should emphasize that the use of physical violence is unacceptable to both genders.

scholarly journals A Review of Research on Women’s Use of Violence With Male Intimate Partners

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne C. Swan ◽  
Laura J. Gambone ◽  
Jennifer E. Caldwell ◽  
Tami P. Sullivan ◽  
David L. Snow
Keyword(s):  
Partner Violence ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Couple Violence ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Military

This article provides a review of research literature on women who use violence with intimate partners. The central purpose is to inform service providers in the military and civilian communities who work with domestically violent women. The major points of this review are as follows: (a) women’s violence usually occurs in the context of violence against them by their male partners; (b) in general, women and men perpetrate equivalent levels of physical and psychological aggression, but evidence suggests that men perpetrate sexual abuse, coercive control, and stalking more frequently than women and that women also are much more frequently injured during domestic violence incidents; (c) women and men are equally likely to initiate physical violence in relationships involving less serious “situational couple violence,” and in relationships in which serious and very violent “intimate terrorism” occurs, men are much more likely to be perpetrators and women victims; (d) women’s physical violence is more likely than men’s violence to be motivated by self-defense and fear, whereas men’s physical violence is more likely than women’s to be driven by control motives; (e) studies of couples in mutually violent relationships find more negative effects for women than for men; and (f) because of the many differences in behaviors and motivations between women’s and men’s violence, interventions based on male models of partner violence are likely not effective for many women.

scholarly journals The magnitude of intimate partner violence in Brazil: portraits from 15 capital cities and the Federal District

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Eduardo Reichenheim ◽  
Claudia Leite Moraes ◽  
André Szklo ◽  
Maria Helena Hasselmann ◽  
Edinilsa Ramos de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Federal District ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Capital Cities ◽  
The North

This paper concerns the prevalence of intimate partner violence in 15 State capital cities and the Federal District of Brazil. A population-based multi-stage survey in 2002/2003 involved 6,760 15-69-year-old women (respondents). Using the Conflict Tactics Scales Form R, the overall prevalence of psychological aggression and "minor" and severe physical abuse within couples was 78.3%, 21.5%, and 12.9%, respectively. Prevalence rates varied distinctively between cities. For instance, total physical abuse ranged from 13.2% to 34.8%. On the whole, prevalence was higher in the North and Northeast cities than in the Southeast, South, and Central West. Also, all types of intimate partner violence were more frequent in couples including women who were younger (< 25 years) and had less schooling (< 8 years). After stratifying by gender, although women tended to perpetrate at least one act of physical abuse more often, scores were consistently higher among male partners who were perpetrators. The results are compared to international findings. Regional, demographic, and gender differentials are discussed in light of the growing role of the Brazilian health sector in relation to intimate partner violence.

scholarly journals Female Victimization and Intimate Partner Violence After the May 12, 2008, Sichuan Earthquake

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ko Ling Chan ◽  
Yulian Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Violence Prevention ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact

This study investigates the impact of the earthquake that occurred on May 12, 2008 in Sichuan, China on stressed families already experiencing domestic violence. We hypothesized that cumulative postdisaster stress would increase marital aggression and that the well-being of victims would deteriorate following the quake. A total of 186 women were recruited for this study. Results show that all types of family violence, including psychological aggression and physical violence between partners, increased after the earthquake. We provided preliminary evidence that psychological aggression was significantly associated with the detrimental effects on victims’ mental and physical functioning. The findings support the need for violence assessment among victims of earthquakes, and we recommend that violence prevention be considered as part of the intervention during such natural disasters.

scholarly journals The Role of Control in Intimate Partner Violence: A study in Dutch Forensic outpatients

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Verschuere ◽  
joan van horn ◽  
nannet buitelaar
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Coercion ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Physical Assault ◽  
Violence Risk ◽  
Coercive Control

Johnson (1995) argued that coercive control is crucial in explaining heterogeneity in intimate partner violence, with such violence being more frequent, less reciprocal, and more often male-to-female aggression when it serves to exercise control over the partner. We assessed 280 Dutch forensic outpatients who had recently engaged in intimate partner violence on non-aggressive coercive control. Control showed significant, small to moderate, associations with more frequent past year acts of psychological aggression, physical assault, sexual coercion and more frequently resulted in partner injury. Control was unrelated to reciprocity of partner violence. High controlling violence was enacted mostly, but not exclusively by men. Overall, while perhaps not having a uniquely strong association, our findings provide partial support for the role of coercive control in intimate partner violence, and suggest it may benefit intimate partner violence risk assessment.

scholarly journals Discrepant Drinking and Partner Violence Perpetration Over Time in Lesbians’ Relationships

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1149-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin J. Lewis ◽  
Barbara A. Winstead ◽  
Abby L. Braitman ◽  
Phoebe Hitson
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Market Research ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Relationship Aggression ◽  
Violence Perpetration

Discrepant drinking (i.e., differences in alcohol use) and perpetration of intimate partner violence in same-sex female couples were examined. Self-identified lesbian participants were recruited from market research firms and reported on their own and their partner’s alcohol use and their own perpetration of psychological aggression and physical violence at baseline, then 6 and 12 months later. Cross-lagged panel analyses revealed that discrepant drinking predicted participants’ subsequent perpetration of psychological aggression but not physical violence. Both psychological aggression and physical aggression predicted subsequent discrepant drinking. Consistent with findings in heterosexual couples, differences in alcohol use appear to be a risk factor for relationship aggression.

Childhood Abuse and Current Intimate Partner Violence: A Population Study in Hong Kong

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 233-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsie Yan ◽  
Thanos Karatzias
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Physical Assault ◽  
Witnessing Violence ◽  
Family Disruption ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Life Threatening

Previous studies have established that childhood violence victimization is associated with current experience of intimate partner violence (IPV). Existing literature, however, focused exclusively on female survivors and physical IPV and relied on non-representative samples. The present study examined the associations between life adversities and IPV using a representative sample of 1,239 men and women aged between 18 and 97. Participants provided information on their demographic characteristics, lifetime history of adverse life events, and past year IPV. Results show that IPV is common with 32.8% of the participants having reported past year psychological aggression, 4.5% reported physical abuse, and 1.1% reported injury. Various life adversities were also common with 21.7% having reported family disruption, 6% having experienced abuse or witnessing violence, and 2.1% life-threatening events. Logistic regression analyses revealed that experiencing abuse or witnessing violence in childhood is associated with a greater risk of past year psychological aggression, physical assault, and injury. Results were significant even after controlling for demographics and other life adversities. Family disruption in childhood was associated with increased risk of past year injury, but the association diminished after controlling for the rest of the variables. Experience of life-threatening events was not associated with any form of past year IPV. Altogether, our results point out that childhood victimization, especially physical abuse by parents, is associated with future long-term risk of IPV. This highlights the importance of early prevention and intervention for child abuse.

Exploring Coercive Control, PTSD, and the Use of Physical Violence in the Pre-prison Heterosexual Relationships of Incarcerated Women

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1299-1318
Author(s):  
Melissa S. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Partner Violence ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Incarcerated Women ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Heterosexual Relationships ◽  
Coercive Control ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship

Although coercive control has been recognized over the past few decades as a form of intimate partner violence (IPV), researchers have often overlooked the role of coercive control in criminal behavior. Moreover, little is known about the effects of coercive control in the lives of incarcerated women. Using data from the 2014 Oklahoma Study of Incarcerated Women and Their Children ( n = 337), this study utilizes a feminist pathways theoretical framework to explore the relationships between coercive control, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology, and the use of physical violence in the preprison heterosexual relationships of incarcerated women. Results indicate that coercive control is significantly related to PTSD. Moreover, the relationship between coercive demands and women’s use of physical violence was partially mediated by PTSD symptoms suggesting that PTSD may play a significant role in women’s pathways to using physical violence in their intimate relationships.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document