Profile of Female Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in an Offender Population: Implications for Treatment

Partner Abuse ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn A. Stewart ◽  
Natalie Gabora ◽  
Nicole Allegri ◽  
Maria Claire Slavin-Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Intimate Violence ◽  
Physical Assault ◽  
Self Defense ◽  
Female Perpetrators ◽  
History Of

Despite evidence that the incidence of female-to-male intimate partner violence (IPV) in the general population is as high as that of male-to-female intimate violence, until recently little attention has been devoted to understanding women perpetrators of partner violence or to the design of programs to address their violence. This study explored the characteristics of female perpetrators of IPV in an offender population and examined the context, consequences, and motives for their aggression. There were 897 women serving a federal sentence in the Correctional Service of Canada at the time of data extraction, of whom 15% (n = 135) had a history of IPV. Results indicated that these offenders were most often classified as moderate criminal risk and high criminogenic need. Most had been victims of severe abuse during their youth and in adult relationships. Women’s motives for violence were diverse. Although most women had a history of mutual violence with their partners, 64% were the primary perpetrators in at least 1 incident. Violence in self-defense or in defense of their children were the least frequently coded categories. Similar to a comparison group of male offenders, the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment tool indicated that the most common risk factors associated with women’s IPV included past physical assault against intimate partners, substance abuse, and employment problems. These findings reinforce the need for a correctional programming targeting the diverse circumstances and motivations of women who are violent against their partners.

scholarly journals Intimate Partner Violence, Lifetime Victimization, and Sociodemographic and Clinical Profile of Women with Psychiatric Illness at a Tertiary Care Psychiatric Hospital in India

2020 ◽  
pp. 025371762093887
Author(s):  
Mysore Narasimha Vranda ◽  
Channaveerachari Naveen Kumar ◽  
Dalibonia Muralidhar ◽  
Navaneetham Janardhana ◽  
Palanimuthu Thangaraju Sivakumar
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Intimate Violence ◽  
History Of Childhood ◽  
Psychiatric Setting ◽  
Mental Health Settings ◽  
History Of

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the major public health problems. Little is known about the extent of violence experienced, its severity, or history of childhood abuse or exposure to intergenerational family violence in women with mental illness. Methods: One hundred women seeking in-patients (IP) or out-patients (OP) services at a tertiary care psychiatric setting were recruited using consecutive sampling. IPV Questionnaire and Danger Assessment Questionnaire were administered. Results: The data revealed a moderate level of IPV experienced by the women. In their childhood, more than one-third had undergone physical abuse by their fathers and witnessed violence by fathers toward mothers. Conclusion: Screening for intimate violence is essential in women attending mental health settings.

Factors Distinguishing Reciprocal Versus Nonreciprocal Intimate Partner Violence Across Time and Reporter

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110014
Author(s):  
Doris F. Pu ◽  
Christina M. Rodriguez ◽  
Marina D. Dimperio
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Transition To Parenthood ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Couple Functioning ◽  
Female Perpetrators ◽  
Over Time

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is often conceptualized as occurring unilaterally, reciprocal or bidirectional violence is actually the most prevalent form of IPV. The current study assessed physical IPV experiences in couples and evaluated risk and protective factors that may be differentially associated with reciprocal and nonreciprocal IPV concurrently and over time. As part of a multi-wave longitudinal study, women and men reported on the frequency of their IPV perpetration and victimization three times across the transition to parenthood. Participants also reported on risk factors related to personal adjustment, psychosocial resources, attitudes toward gender role egalitarianism, and sociodemographic characteristics at each wave. Participants were classified into one of four IPV groups (reciprocal violence, male perpetrators only, female perpetrators only, and no violence) based on their self-report and based on a combined report, which incorporated both partners’ reports of IPV for a maximum estimate of violence. Women and men were analyzed separately, as both can be perpetrators and/or victims of IPV. Cross-sectional analyses using self-reported IPV data indicated that IPV groups were most consistently distinguished by their levels of couple satisfaction, across gender; psychological distress also appeared to differentiate IPV groups, although somewhat less consistently. When combined reports of IPV were used, sociodemographic risk markers (i.e., age, income, and education) in addition to couple functioning were among the most robust factors differentiating IPV groups concurrently, across gender. In longitudinal analyses, sociodemographic vulnerabilities were again among the most consistent factors differentiating subsequent IPV groups over time. Several gender differences were also found, suggesting that different risk factors (e.g., women’s social support and men’s emotion regulation abilities) may need to be targeted in interventions to identify, prevent, and treat IPV among women and men.

scholarly journals Violence and depression among pregnant women in Egypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanan M. Ghoneim ◽  
Mohamed Elprince ◽  
Tamer Yehia M. Ali ◽  
Waleed F. Gharieb ◽  
Amal A. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
P Value ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Depression is a serious mental health disorder that might affect women in the childbearing period. Incidences increase during pregnancy as well as after delivery. Its association with intimate partner violence (defined as physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner) has been reported in many countries. Data about this sensitive issue are lacking in Egypt. The aim of the study was to determine the relation between intimate partner violence and depression during pregnancy. Methods This was a case control study conducted at the outpatient clinics in Suez Canal University hospital, from January 2019 to March 2020. The study included two groups, the study group included women exposed to violence during the current pregnancy and a control one included women with no history of violence. Both groups were recruited according to the predetermined inclusion criteria (women aged 18-45 years, continuous marital relationship, no history of depression in current or previous pregnancies, and singleton pregnancy). Women were asked to complete the Arabic validated NorVold Domestic Abuse Questionnaire (measuring four types of abuse: emotional, physical, sexual, and violence in the health care system, the last one being excluded). Depression was evaluated using the Arabic validated form of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (comprises 10 questions that represent patients’ feelings in the last 7 days). The main outcome measure was to assess the association between intimate partner violence and depression. Results We recruited 158 women in each group. Both groups were matched in their demographic characters. Although emotional violence was reported prominently among women exposed to IPV 87.9% (139/158), it was not significantly reported in depressed women (P value 0.084). Physical and sexual violence were significantly reported among depressed women (P value 0.022 and 0.001, respectively). There was a significant difference between women exposed to violence and those who were not exposed to violence in the total depression scores (13.63 ± 5.47 and 10.65 ± 5.44, respectively with a p value < 0.001). Emotional (p value < 0.001) and sexual violence (mild and severe with p value of 0.026 and 0.002 respectively) had significant roles as risk factors for depression during pregnancy in single regression and after control of other confounders. Conclusion There was a strong association between intimate partner violence and depression during pregnancy.

Head Trauma in a Community-Based Sample of Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Prevalence, Mechanisms of Injury and Symptom Presentation

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110163
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Meyer ◽  
Varna Jammula ◽  
Peter A. Arnett
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Head Trauma ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Difficulty Breathing ◽  
History Of ◽  
Subconcussive Head Trauma

Objective. The present study aimed to explore the prevalence of subconcussive head trauma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), potential hypoxic events, and hypoxic brain injury (HBI) in victims of physical intimate partner violence (IPV). The study also aimed to characterize the injury presentation and mechanisms of injury in this population. Method. A group of 47 female participants with a history of at least one relationship that included physical violence completed a structured interview assessing for subconcussive hits, TBI, and HBI. Participants ranged in age from 19 to 55, and had an average of 15.3 years of education. Forty-four participants completed the structured interview in person and three participants completed the interview over the phone. Results. The majority of participants reported sustaining at least one impact to the head and approximately half of the participants sustained at least one impact that resulted in a mild TBI. Approximately half of the participants experienced at least one incident of having difficulty breathing due to a violent act from their partner, and approximately one-third of participants reported symptoms consistent with mild HBI. The most common mechanisms of injury were being hit with a closed fist and being strangled. Conclusions. The high levels of head trauma observed in this study highlight the need for clinical and community providers to screen victims of physical IPV for head trauma. The unique characteristics of this population (female sex, high frequency of injuries, and presence of HBIs) indicate that research evaluating the cognitive effects of injuries in this population is needed.

Missing the Trees for the Forest: Understanding Aggression Among Physically Victimized Women

Partner Abuse ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosaura E. Orengo-Aguayo ◽  
Erika Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Emotional Arousal ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Self Defense ◽  
Situational Contexts ◽  
Specific Emotion

Research on physically victimized women’s aggression has focused on distal predictors and correlates of aggression and on women’s self-reported motivations for their aggression. The absence of examinations of contextual predictors of women’s intimate partner violence has resulted in a limited understanding of the proximal circumstances in which physically victimized women perpetrate aggression. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the situational contexts in which physically victimized women use physical aggression in their relationships by analyzing a detailed narrative of a specific violent episode. Women were significantly more likely to use physical aggression under the following conditions: (a) when they were the first to initiate the physical aggression; (b) when their partners engaged in either moderate or severe violence as opposed to extremely severe physical violence; (c) when their partners were sober as opposed to drunk or high; and (d) when they were experiencing a specific emotion as opposed to a combination of emotions such as fear, anger, and sadness. Women’s motivations for being aggressive were moderated by their partners’ severity of aggression. When men perpetrated moderate physical aggression, women’s aggression was largely emotion-driven. When men engaged in severe physical aggression, women’s physical aggression was motivated by a combination of wanting to retaliate and emotional arousal. When men engaged in extremely severe physical aggression, there was a trend for women’s physical aggression to be motivated primarily by self-defense. These results suggest that the context of a specific argument is important in understanding why physically victimized women perpetrate aggression.

scholarly journals Brain Injury and Mental Health Among the Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Case-Series Exploratory Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnur Karakurt ◽  
Kathleen Whiting ◽  
Stephen E. Jones ◽  
Mark J. Lowe ◽  
Stephen M. Rao
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
History Of

Intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors frequently report face, head, and neck as their injury site. Many mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are undiagnosed or underreported among IPV survivors while these injuries may be linked to changes in brain function or pathology. TBI sustained due to IPV often occurs over time and ranges in severity. The aim of this case-series study was to explore risk factors, symptoms, and brain changes unique to survivors of intimate partner violence with suspicion of TBI. This case-series exploratory study examines the potential relationships among IPV, mental health issues, and TBI. Participants of this study included six women: 3 women with a history of IPV without any experience of concussive blunt force to the head, and 3 women with a history of IPV with concussive head trauma. Participants completed 7T MRI of the brain, self-report psychological questionnaires regarding their mental health, relationships, and IPV, and the Structured Clinical Interview. MRI scans were analyzed for cerebral hemorrhage, white matter disturbance, and cortical thinning. Results indicated significant differences in resting-state connectivity among survivors of partner violence as well as differences in relationship dynamics and mental health symptoms. White matter hyperintensities are also observed among the survivors. Developing guidelines and recommendations for TBI-risk screening, referrals, and appropriate service provision is crucial for the effective treatment of TBI-associated IPV. Early and accurate characterization of TBI in survivors of IPV may relieve certain neuropsychological consequences.

Development of a Screen for Ongoing Intimate Partner Violence

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve J. Weiss ◽  
Amy A. Ernst ◽  
Elaine Cham ◽  
Todd G. Nick
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Spouse Abuse ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Positive Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Survey Tool

A five-question Ongoing Abuse Screen (OAS) was developed to evaluate ongoing intimate partner violence. Our hypothesis was that the OAS was more accurate and more likely to reflect ongoing intimate partner violence than the AAS when compared to the Index of Spouse Abuse (ISA). The survey included the ISA, the OAS, and the AAS. During the busiest emergency department hours, a sampling of 856 patients completed all aspects of the survey tool. Comparisons were made between the two scales and the ISA. The accuracy, positive predictive value, and positive likelihood ratio were 84%, 58%, and 6.0 for the OAS and 59%, 33%, and 2.0 for the AAS. The OAS was more accurate, had a better positive predictive value, and was three times more likely to detect victims of ongoing intimate partner violence than the AAS. Because the OAS was still not accurate enough, we developed a new screen, based on the ISA, titled the Ongoing Violence Assessment Tool (OVAT).

Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrated by College Women within the Context of a History of Victimization

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly N. Graves ◽  
Stacy M. Sechrist ◽  
Jacquelyn W. White ◽  
Matthew J. Paradise
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
College Women ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Sexual Victimization ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration ◽  
Concurrent Use ◽  
Violence Perpetration ◽  
History Of

Using a longitudinal design, the current study explored intimate partner violence perpetration among 1,300 college women within the context of one's history of physical and sexual victimization across 4 years of college. Structural equation modeling indicated that sexual victimization does not predict concurrent use of women's intimate partner violence but does predict subsequent use of women's intimate partner violence during the later years of college. In contrast, physical victimization is associated positively with concurrent use of women's intimate partner violence but is negatively associated with subsequent use of women's intimate partner violence for women. Furthermore, the negative relationship of victimization to subsequent perpetration primarily is due to those with high levels of victimization histories. The present study provides the first model of intimate partner violence within the context of victimization history using longitudinal data. The findings indicate that women's intimate partner violence perpetration is not context-free, but rather is influenced by their own physical and sexual victimization histories.

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