An Examination of Domestic Violence Advocates’ Responses to Reproductive Coercion

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 2082-2106
Author(s):  
Sara A. McGirr ◽  
Heather D. Bomsta ◽  
Cortney Vandegrift ◽  
Katie Gregory ◽  
Beth Ann Hamilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Reproductive Coercion ◽  
Marginalized Women ◽  
Type Of Abuse

Reproductive coercion (RC) is a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) that continues to lack adequate attention by both researchers and practitioners. RC is defined as “male partners’ attempts to promote pregnancy in their female partners through verbal pressure and threats to become pregnant (pregnancy coercion), direct interference with contraception (birth control sabotage), and threats and coercion related to pregnancy continuation or termination (control of pregnancy outcomes).” This type of partner violence can have serious consequences on a survivor’s health and well-being. Despite the fact that RC has been reported by many women experiencing IPV, and that this type of abuse appears to be disproportionately targeted against marginalized women, little is known about the extent to which advocates either proactively or reactively address it. To redress this, the current study involved a brief online survey sent to domestic violence victim service advocates across the United States and its territories. More than 700 advocates responded about their comfort, practices, and perceived barriers related to RC and survivors’ sexual health. Despite identifying (a) low levels of discomfort when discussing most topics relating to RC and (b) few barriers to discussing RC, few advocates reported regularly engaging in RC-related practices. Both greater levels of discomfort and identification of more barriers were associated with less frequent coercion-related practice. Study implications highlight the need for more specialized advocate training, and organizational support for advocates to comfortably and safely provide information and support about RC to survivors.

Prevalence of Interpersonal Violence Among Latinas: A Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 977-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances R. Gonzalez ◽  
Lorraine T. Benuto ◽  
Jena B. Casas
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Type Of Abuse

Violence against women continues to be a great concern in today’s society. In the United States, women experience high rates of interpersonal violence throughout their lifetime. Among Latinas, interpersonal violence is also highly prevalent however the wide variation of interpersonal prevalence rates among Latinas is problematic. The aims of this systematic review of the literature were to (1) document the prevalence rates of violence among Latinas, (2) determine the types of violence that Latinas are most impacted by, and (3) assess the prevalence rates of interpersonal across Latina subethnicities. The research was based on seven databases including PsycArticles, PsycCRITIQUES, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Social Services Abstracts, Social Work Abstracts, and PubMED for articles published from January 2007 up to July 2017. The following key words were used in the search: (Latinas OR Latinos OR Hispanics) AND (victim OR victimization) AND (domestic violence OR intimate partner violence OR Interpersonal Violence). We identified 41 articles in our search that reported rates of interpersonal violence which ranged from 1% to 83% with intimate partner violence and domestic violence being the most prevalent. Interpersonal violence was found to be more prevalent among individuals who identified as Mexican. Based on the findings, it is clear that efforts should be focused on conducting a lager national survey of interpersonal violence among Latinas. It would need to include subethnicity, immigration status, and type of abuse experienced and possibly add socioeconomic factors.

“A Community of Survivors”: A Grounded Theory of Organizational Support for Survivor-Advocates in Domestic Violence Agencies

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122098114
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Wilson ◽  
Lisa A. Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Organizational Relationships

Half of today’s domestic violence (DV) advocates are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) or other forms of abuse. Yet, little is known about the experiences of those who are both survivors and advocates, especially regarding organizational relationships, policies, and culture, and how these factors shape well-being. This grounded theory study of 12 survivor-advocates identified three dimensions of organizational support that contribute survivor-advocates’ well-being: acknowledging their trauma-related needs, fostering belonging, and honoring strengths. In each case, these organizational factors contribute to well-being through the mechanism of validating their identities as survivors. Suggestions for organizations to better support survivor-advocates are discussed.

scholarly journals Hospital Nursing Staff Perceptions of Resources Provided by Their Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 216507992098754
Author(s):  
Hyeonmi Cho ◽  
Knar Sagherian ◽  
Linsey M. Steege
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Staff Perceptions ◽  
Survey Question ◽  
Hospital Nursing ◽  
Hospital Resources

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly impacted the health and psychological well-being of hospital nursing staff. While additional support is needed to better cope with increased job stressors, little is known about what types of hospital resources have been provided and how nursing staff perceive them. This study addressed this gap by describing nursing staff perceptions of resources provided by hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Methods: Registered nurses and nursing assistants who were working in hospitals during the pandemic were recruited to an online survey via social media posts and emails between May and June 2020. A total of 360 free-text responses to an open-ended survey question were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Over half of participants reported being provided with hospital resources. “Basic needs” resources that included food on-site, groceries, and childcare support were the most frequently reported compared with four other types of resources (personal health and safe practice, financial support, managerial support, communication). Four themes emerged related to staff perceptions of support: community support, unequal benefits, decreasing resources, and insufficient personal protective equipment. Conclusion: Our findings can assist organizational leaders in the planning and allocation of different types of resources that are meaningful to nursing staff and thus ensure sustainability, optimal performance, and worker well-being during crises.

scholarly journals Violence against Women: A Study of Underlying Factors in Tehran Forensic Center 2001

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roya Azizian ◽  
Bagher Saroukhani ◽  
Mahmod Mahmodi ◽  
Fereshteh Farzianpour
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Duration Of Treatment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Forensic Center

<p><strong>BACKGROUND &amp; OBJECTIVE:</strong> Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a global human rights and public health concern. The WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence documented the widespread nature of IPV with lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual parter violence among ever-partnered women in the fifteen sites surveyed ranging from 15% in Ethiopia province to 71% in Japan.Across the world, violence against women is a major threat to their physical and mental well-being. This violation of the most fundamental human rights usually takes the form of family or domestic violence.</p><p>This study was conducted to determine the violence against women in Tehran in forensic center in 2001.</p><p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from women referring to Tehran Forensic Center, with a view to obtaining a realistic picture of violence to women.</p><p>Data were gathered on 120 subjects randomly selected women who completed questionnaires and interview.</p><p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The women in this study had presented with wounds and injuries inflicted by their husbands. These women had been referred to the Center by family courts to complete legal formalities concerning injury diagnosis and duration of treatment.</p><p>The main factors underlying family violence were examined from five different aspects: behavioral and educational problems (79.2%), financial strain (54.2%), and interference by the husband’s family (39.2%), sexual problems (13.3%), and differences in culture and social class (10%).</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Factors found to have an accelerating or interfering role included the woman’s age and the couple’s education level. However, many women declared that several factors were contributing simultaneously to the problem of violence.</p>

scholarly journals COVID-19 as a Stressor: Pandemic Expectations, Perceived Stress, and Negative Affect in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda R Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Objectives The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is appraised as a stressor influences perceived stress (PS) and psychological well-being during the event. Here, the association of older adults’ expectations concerning the pandemic’s duration and impact with PS and negative affect (NA) is investigated. Based on the stress and coping framework, PS is expected to mediate the association between COVID-19 expectations and NA. Methods Seven hundred fourteen residents of the United States and aged 60 and older completed an anonymous online survey in late March 2020 reporting PS, NA, and expectations regarding the pandemic. Results Regression analyses controlling for demographic factors revealed that more dire pandemic expectations significantly predicted PS and NA directly, and the effects on NA were significantly mediated by PS. Discussion Findings provide evidence that expectations about a pandemic influence the extent to which older adults experience stress and NA in the midst of a pandemic event. Implications for mental health are discussed.

scholarly journals Psychological Distress Among the U.S. General Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christi J. Guerrini ◽  
Sophie C. Schneider ◽  
Andrew G. Guzick ◽  
Gifty N. Amos Nwankwo ◽  
Isabel Canfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthy Behaviors ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Amazon's Mechanical Turk

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a significant global toll on emotional well-being, but evidence of mental health impacts in the United States remains limited. In April 2020, we conducted an exploratory survey of U.S. residents to understand prevalence of and factors associated with psychological distress during the pandemic. Data collection was conducted using Qualtrics, an online survey platform, and U.S. adult respondents were recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform. Among 1,366 respondents, 42% (n = 571) reported clinically significant anxiety and 38% (n = 519) reported clinically significant depression. Factors associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms included Hispanic/Latino ethnicity; younger age; lower income; employment as or living with a health care worker-first responder; caregiver status; SARS-CoV-2 infection status; decreased frequency of engagement in healthy behaviors; and changed frequency of engagement in unhealthy behaviors. That some of these factors are associated with elevated distress during the pandemic is not yet widely appreciated and might be useful in informing management of mental health care resources.

Domestic Violence Protective Orders: A Qualitative Examination of Judges’ Decision-Making Processes

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (13) ◽  
pp. 1921-1942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Agnew-Brune ◽  
Kathryn E. (Beth) Moracco ◽  
Cara J. Person ◽  
J. Michael Bowling
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
The United States ◽  
District Court ◽  
Legal Intervention ◽  
Protective Orders ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
States Experience

Approximately one in three women in the United States experience intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV is associated with long-term negative health consequences; therefore, there is a need to examine potential prevention strategies. Evidence suggests that domestic violence protective orders (DVPOs), a legal intervention that prevents contact between two parties for up to 12 months, are an effective secondary prevention tool. However, because judges have relative autonomy in granting or denying DVPOs, research is needed to examine the processes they use to guide their decisions. The aim of the study was to investigate how District Court judges decide whether to issue a DVPO. Using in-depth interviews with 20 North Carolina District Court judges, the present study addressed three research questions: (a) what factors influence judges’ decisions to grant or deny a DVPO, (b) what heuristics or cognitive shortcuts potentially guide their decisions, and (c) what judges worry about when making decisions. Three themes emerged from the data analyses: (a) violent incidents must reach a certain threshold, (b) the presence of children creates competing concerns, and (c) judges worry about the negative impact their decisions may have on the lives of those involved. Recommendations for improving the DVPO issuance process are also discussed.

Supporting Children Who Experience Domestic Violence: Evaluating the Child Witness to Domestic Violence Program

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110358
Author(s):  
Erin C. Schubert
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Child Witness ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Child Gender ◽  
The Impact

Impacting 1 in 4 children in the United States, childhood exposure to domestic violence predicts myriad negative sequelae. Intervening post exposure is critical to help children and their protective parent heal and avoid long-term negative consequences. Children aged 2-17 and their mothers who were victims of domestic violence participated in a 12-week group program delivered by domestic violence agency staff that provides psychoeducation on the impact of trauma and domestic violence and aims to improve parent and child well-being. The impact of the Child Witness to Domestic Violence (CWDV) program was tested in an intervention group ( n = 69 children, 33 mothers) who participated in CWDV and control group ( n = 80 children, 39 mothers) consisting of children whose mothers received adult-focused domestic violence services but were not enrolled in CWDV or other child-focused services. Multiple regression analyses controlling for child gender, child age, mother’s age, and the outcome of interest at time 1 found that participation in CWDV program significantly predicted better child functioning as indicated by less hyperactivity ( B = –.85, p = .06), fewer negative emotional symptoms ( B = –1.14, p = .01), and fewer total behavioral difficulties ( B = –2.48, p = .02) as well as higher maternal hope ( B = .57, p = .03). These data provide promising evidence of the impact of a brief, replicable group intervention that promotes healing and well-being among children and parents exposed to domestic violence. Limitations include a quasi-experimental design and reliance on maternal report.

Reimagining VAWA: Why Criminalization Is a Failed Policy and What a Non-Carceral VAWA Could Look Like

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-101
Author(s):  
Leigh Goodmark
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Women Of Color ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Primary Response ◽  
Violence Against Women Act

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is the signature federal legislative accomplishment of the anti-violence movement and has ensured that criminalization is the primary response to intimate partner violence in the United States. But at the time of its passage, some anti-violence activists, particularly women of color, warned that criminalization would be problematic for a number of reasons, a caution that has borne fruit in the 25 years since VAWA’s passage. This article critiques the effectiveness of criminalization as anti-domestic violence policy and imagines what a non-carceral VAWA could look like.

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