scholarly journals On the Front Lines of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Occupational Experiences of the Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault Workforce

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052098330
Author(s):  
Leila Wood ◽  
Rachel Voth Schrag ◽  
Elizabeth Baumler ◽  
Dixie Hairston ◽  
Shannon Guillot-Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Recruitment Strategy ◽  
Safety Planning ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Frontline Workers

In the face of increasing risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to understand the experiences of the workforce providing support to survivors, as well as the evolving service delivery methods, shifting safety planning approaches, and occupational stress of frontline workers. We addressed this gap by conducting an online survey of members of IPV and sexual assault workforce using a broad, web-based recruitment strategy. In total, 352 staff from 24 states participated. We collaborated with practitioner networks and anti-violence coalitions to develop the brief survey, which included questions about work and health, safety planning, and stress. We used chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA analysis techniques to analyze differences within position and demographic variables. For qualitative data, we used thematic analysis to analyze responses from four open-ended questions. The sample was majority female-identified (93.7%) and essential workers in dual IPV and sexual assault programs (80.7%). Findings demonstrated that since the pandemic began, IPV and sexual assault staff are experiencing more personal and professional stressors, perceive a decrease in client safety, and lack resources needed to help survivors and themselves. Common problems included a lack of food or supplies at home and work and housing and financial support for survivors. There was a 51% increase in the use of video conference for work, which contributed to workforce strain. Reductions in overall service capacity and a shift to remote service provision have implications for both survivors and staff. These findings suggest a critical need for additional training, infrastructure, and support for the IPV and sexual assault workforce. There is an urgent need to classify IPV and sexual assault staff as first responders and address the occupational stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compassion Fatigue Among the Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault Workforce: Enhancing Organizational Practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122098835
Author(s):  
Rachel J. Voth Schrag ◽  
Leila G. Wood ◽  
Karin Wachter ◽  
Shanti Kulkarni
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Trauma Informed

Gaps in knowledge related to occupational stress among the intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault (SA) workforce remain. This study examined associations between key risk factors for occupational stress and compassion fatigue among a sample of IPV/SA service providers in the Southwestern United States ( N = 520). Results of the hierarchical regression analysis identified microaggressions, age, recent life stress, direct practice, and workload as factors associated with compassion fatigue. The findings point to the importance of incorporating trauma-informed organizational approaches to address microaggressions, reduce workload, and support staff experiencing recent stress and providing direct services.

Coercive Controlling Behaviors and Reporting Physical Intimate Partner Violence in Australian Women: An Exploration

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122098593
Author(s):  
Brittany Patafio ◽  
Peter Miller ◽  
Arlene Walker ◽  
Kerri Coomber ◽  
Ashlee Curtis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Physical Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Differential Utility ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Controlling Behaviors

This study explores two approaches to measuring coercive controlling behaviors (CCBs)—counting how many different CCB types and examining the frequency of each CCB experienced—to examine their utility in explaining the relationship between CCBs and physical intimate partner violence (IPV). Australian women aged 18–68 years ( n = 739; Mage = 31.58, SDage = 11.76) completed an online survey. Count and frequency CCB approaches yielded similar significant associations with increased physical IPV. Both approaches suggest that frightening behaviors in particular are significantly indicative of also experiencing physical IPV; however, when you count CCB types, public name-calling becomes important, whereas when you examine the frequency of each CCB type, jealousy/possessiveness becomes important. These findings suggest differential utility between measures of CCBs, which examine the frequency of specific CCB types and which count CCB types, and that both approaches are useful in understanding how coercion and control relate to physical violence within intimate relationships.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Witnessing and the Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence from the Perspective of Children in Finland

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4724
Author(s):  
Johanna Hietamäki ◽  
Marjukka Huttunen ◽  
Marita Husso
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Child Victim ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Gender Variations

Background—Intimate partner violence (IPV) has both direct and longer-term effects on children’s well-being. Much of the research thus far has relied on caregiver reports of IPV and clinical samples of children. By contrast, minimal research has examined violence between parents from the perspective of children using nationwide samples. Objective—This study explored the frequency of IPV witnessed by children and gender variations regarding the victims, perpetrators, and witnesses. Methods—The data were derived from a sample of 11,364 children from the Finnish Child Victim Survey 2013. The children were between 11 and 17 years old and were enrolled in the Finnish school system. The main methods of analysis included crosstabulation and the chi-square test. Results—The results indicate that children witnessed more IPV against their mother (4.9%) than their father (3.5%). Girls reported having witnessed more violence against both their mother (7.0%) and father (5.1%) than boys did (mothers 2.7%, fathers 1.8%). Girls’ reports of IPV against both parents were twice or more than twice as common as boys’ reports. Conclusions—The above differences might result from gendered expectations and boys’ and girls’ different relationships to violence, as well as differences in the recognition and interpretation of violent incidents. Therefore, practitioners should adopt a gender-sensitive approach as a precondition and practice for working with children in social and health care.

New Perspectives on Risk Factors for Non-fatal Strangulation and Post-assault Imaging

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052096667
Author(s):  
Grace B. McKee ◽  
Kathy Gill-Hopple ◽  
Daniel W. Oesterle ◽  
Leah E. Daigle ◽  
Amanda K. Gilmore
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Bodily Injury ◽  
Weapon Use ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
Assault Characteristics

Strangulation has long been associated with death in the context of sexual assault and intimate partner violence (IPV). Non-fatal strangulation (NFS) during sexual assault, which refers to strangulation or choking that does not result in death, is common and has been associated with IPV and with bodily injury; however, other factors associated with NFS are unknown. The current study examined demographic and sexual assault characteristics associated with NFS among women who received a sexual assault medical forensic exam (SAMFE). A second purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with receiving follow-up imaging orders after NFS was identified during a SAMFE. Participants ( N = 882) ranged in age from 18 to 81 ( M = 28.85), with the majority identifying as non-Hispanic White (70.4%) or Black/African American (23.4%). A total of 75 women (8.5%) experienced NFS during the sexual assault. Of these, only 13 (17.3%) received follow-up imaging orders for relevant scans. Results from a logistic regression analysis demonstrated that NFS was positively associated with report of anal penetration, intimate partner perpetration, non-genital injury, and weapon use during the assault. Results from chi-square analysis showed that among sexual assaults involving women who experienced NFS, those whose assaults involved weapon use were over four times more likely to receive imaging orders compared to assaults without weapon use. These findings have implications for criminal justice, and if incorporated into danger assessments, could potentially reduce fatalities linked to sexual assault and/or IPV. Additional work is needed to ensure that all assaults with NFS trigger a referral for imaging regardless of other assault characteristics.

Intimate Partner Violence and Completion of Post-Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Follow-Up Screening

2018 ◽  
pp. 088626051881702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda K. Gilmore ◽  
Anna E. Jaffe ◽  
Christine K. Hahn ◽  
Leigh E. Ridings ◽  
Kathy Gill-Hopple ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Forensic Examination

scholarly journals Social Entrapment Evidence: Understanding Its Role in Self-Defence Cases Involving Intimate Partner Violence

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Douglas ◽  
Stella Tarrant ◽  
Julia Tolmie
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Abused Women ◽  
Safety Planning ◽  
Expert Evidence ◽  
Structural Inequality ◽  
Self Defence

This article considers what evidence juries need to help them apply the defence of self-defence where a woman claims she has killed an abusive partner to save her own life. Drawing on recent research and cases we argue that expert evidence admitted in these types of cases generally fails to provide evidence about the nature of abuse, the limitations in the systemic safety responses and the structural inequality that abused women routinely face. Evidence of the reality of the woman’s safety options, including access to, and the realistic support offered by, services such as police, housing, childcare, safety planning and financial support should be presented. In essence, juries need evidence about what has been called social entrapment so they can understand how women’s safety options are deeply intertwined with their degree of danger and therefore with the question of whether their response (of killing their abuser) was necessary based on reasonable grounds. We consider the types of evidence that may be important in helping juries understand the concept and particular circumstances of social entrapment, including the role of experts in this context.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Intimate Partner Violence, and Sexual Assault

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 383-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Sisic ◽  
Jerry Tan ◽  
Kathryn D. Lafreniere
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Hidradenitis Suppurativa ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Sexual Consent ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Dermatology Clinic

Background: Sexual assault and intimate partner violence have never been examined in individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa. The research is important, because prior studies show higher incidences of intimate partner violence and sexual assault in individuals with disabilities, and hidradenitis suppurativa meets criteria for a disability. Objectives: The objective of the study is to examine whether individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa are at significantly higher risk of intimate partner violence and sexual assault compared with individuals who have acne, a recognised disability. Methods: Participants who met criteria for hidradenitis suppurativa and acne were recruited from a mid-sized university and a dermatology clinic. Participants spoke English and were over the age of sexual consent. Group (hidradenitis suppurativa and acne) differences on intimate partner violence and sexual assault were analysed. Victimisation within the past 12 months was measured using the Checklist for Controlling Behaviours, a measure of intimate partner violence, as well as the Sexual Experiences Survey–Short Form Victim, a measure of sexual assault. Results: In total, 243 participants (n = 128 for hidradenitis suppurativa; n = 115 for acne) were surveyed. Individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa were significantly more likely to report being victimised by intimate partner violence. Conclusions: Intimate partner violence was more frequently observed in individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa. Health care providers should be aware of this issue when interacting with patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

The Feasibility of a Novel Recruitment Protocol for Collecting Survivor Data via Disclosure Recipient Referrals

2022 ◽  
pp. 107780122110706
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Ullman ◽  
Emily A. Waterman ◽  
Katie M. Edwards ◽  
Jania Marshall ◽  
Christina M. Dardis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Matched Pairs ◽  
Social Reactions ◽  
Limited Success ◽  
Research Studies

The current arricle describes a novel recruitment protocol for collecting data from sexual assault and intimate partner violence survivors referred to research studies by individuals to whom they had previously disclosed. Challenges in both recruiting participants and interpreting data are described. Only 35.8% of cases had usable data for both survivors and disclosure recipients, suggesting that this referral method had limited success in recruiting matched pairs. Suggestions for modifications to improve the protocol for future research are offered. Potential advantages and drawbacks of various methods for recruiting dyads are described in order to facilitate future research on survivors’ disclosure processes, social reactions, and the influence of social reactions on survivor recovery.

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