Factors associated with violence against women following the COVID-19 lockdown in France: Results from a prospective online survey

Background The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 17th—May 11th 2020) on violence against women in France. Methods A prospective survey was conducted online between April 2th 2020 and July 5th 2020. Female respondents were recruited from social media networks using the snowball sampling method. Data were collected three times: during (2–19 April) and at the end (11–25 May) of the first lockdown, and following the first lockdown (20 June– 05 July). Sociodemographic variables, lockdown living conditions, financial impact of COVID, and history of psychiatric disorder were evaluated, together with changes in psychological distress over the lockdown period, and the risk of being assaulted post lockdown. Results Psychological distress was elevated and remained stable for most of the 1538 female respondents during lockdown. More than 7% of women were affected by physical or sexual violence post lockdown. Unwanted sexual contact accounted for the majority of abuse, but physical and sexual assault were also prevalent. The risk of being abused was higher for participants who had changed anxiety/insomnia symptoms over the lockdown period, and a history of abuse. Discussion Women who experienced changes in anxiety/insomnia symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown were at higher risk than others of being assaulted post lockdown, especially when they were already socially vulnerable. While social and psychological factors accounting for these changes warrant further investigation, communication and preventive measures during pandemics should include initiatives tailored to women more vulnerable to violence.

Sexual Victimization and Mental Health in Female University Students

Although sexual assaults on female university students are a public health concern, studies that have examined this issue have not used behaviorally specific definitions of the various types of sexual victimization. Furthermore, hardly any data exists on female Spanish university students. The objectives of this study were to analyze the prevalence of different forms of sexual assault against female Spanish university students, determine the risk factors associated with sexual assault, analyze the association between sexual victimization and mental health problems, and determine the differential risk of more serious types of sexual assault. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a random sample of 871 students from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) (mean age 20.7 years, SD = 2.8). The current study assessed various types of sexual violence (i.e., unwanted sexual contact, attempted coercion, coercion, attempted rape, rape), as well as rates of depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, substance abuse, suicide risk, and suicide attempts. Of the female students surveyed, 28.5% had suffered some form of sexual violence during the previous year, 22.3% reported unwanted sexual contact, 8.8% attempted coercion, 6.5% coercion, 10.4% attempted rape, and 7.9% had been raped. Lower risk was associated with having a partner and being heterosexual. Being 18 years of age and prior experiences of sexual victimization were associated with higher risk. Being the victim of attempted coercion was associated with a higher risk of depression, while victims of attempted rape were at higher risk for substance use. Rape victims were at the highest risk for all mental health conditions studied, with the exception of suicide attempts. Due to the high rates at which Spanish female university students experience sexual violence, planning and resources are needed to address their mental health needs, especially those who are victims of rape.

Factors associated with violence against women following the COVID-19 lockdown in France: Results from a prospective online survey

Background: The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 17th - May 11th 2020) on violence against women in France. Methods: A prospective survey was conducted online between April 2th 2020 and July 5th 2020. Female respondents were recruited from social media networks using the snowball sampling method. Data were collected three times: during (2-19 April) and at the end (11-25 May) of the first lockdown, and following the first lockdown (20 June – 05 July). Sociodemographic variables, lockdown living conditions, financial impact of COVID, and history of psychiatric disorder were evaluated, together with changes in psychological distress over the lockdown period, and the risk of being assaulted post lockdown. Results: Psychological distress was elevated and remained stable for most of the 1538 female respondents during lockdown. More than 7% of women were affected by physical or sexual violence post lockdown. Unwanted sexual contact accounted for the majority of abuse, but physical and sexual assault were also prevalent. The risk of being abused was higher for participants who had changed anxiety/insomnia symptoms over the lockdown period, and a history of abuse. Discussion: Women who experienced changes in anxiety/insomnia symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown were at higher risk than others of being assaulted post lockdown, especially when they were already socially vulnerable. While social and psychological factors accounting for these changes warrant further investigation, communication and preventive measures during pandemics should include initiatives tailored to women more vulnerable to violence.

Prevention of Unwanted Sexual Contact Among Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy: A Brief Small-Group Intervention

This study tested the effectiveness of a small-group preventive intervention designed to prevent unwanted sexual contact among cadets at the US Air Force Academy. Among cadets in the incoming class of 2021, unwanted sexual contact was cut by nearly half in the intervention group relative to the control group. This study is one of the first rigorously designed trials to demonstrate a significant impact on unwanted sexual contact among students attending a US military service academy. Trial Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03839797. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print January 21, 2021: e1–e3. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306050 )

Health Behavior Differences Between Male and Female U.S. Military Personnel by Sexual Orientation: The Importance of Disaggregating Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Groups

ABSTRACT Introduction The aims of the study are to identify health-related behaviors associated with sexual orientation among active duty military personnel and to compare those behaviors when lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) groups are aggregated and disaggregated. Materials and Methods We used public data from the 2015 Health-Related Behavior Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel. Binomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine differences between and within heterosexual, same-sex, and bisexual groups as predicted by the following correlates: demographic characteristics, physical activity, substance use, probable mood disorders, unwanted sexual contact, physical abuse, suicidal behaviors, and sexually transmitted infection (STI). Results In univariate analyses, rates of lifetime unwanted sexual contact and lifetime suicidal ideation were significantly higher for bisexual females compared to other groups. The results of regression analyses differed depending on whether LGB groups were aggregated or disaggregated. Aggregated LGB versus heterosexual model found significant differences with respect to unwanted sexual contact, lifetime suicide attempt, STI, smoking, and marijuana use. Disaggregated models found different patterns of significant correlates, e.g., correlates comparing gays to heterosexual males were STI, sexual contact, lifetime suicide attempt, and age; correlates comparing lesbians to heterosexual females were heavy drinking, probable post-traumatic stress disorder, ever used marijuana, lifetime suicide attempt, lifetime physical abuse, and smoking. Conclusion The findings are consistent with those of previous research showing highest risk for suicidal behaviors and substance abuse among bisexual individuals. We recommend that future studies and clinical care consider LGB sexual identities as heterogeneous groups; otherwise, risks for adverse health behaviors may be overlooked.

“This is My Girl”: How Men’s Desires Obscure Women’s Sexual Aggression Experiences in Public Drinking Settings

In this article, we use 198 interviews with young men and women to explore how they define and negotiate boundaries of unwanted sexual contact in public drinking settings. Men and women’s contrasting experiences reveal that in bars and nightclubs, sexual aggression against women is routine and typically involves physical threat. For men, however, consensual and nonaggressive contact can register as problematic when disruptive to men’s control of heterosexual interactions. Men’s aggression toward other men who disrupt their access to women is cause and consequence of women’s sexual aggression experiences being less visible. We contribute to sexual assault literature by illustrating how heterosexual power dynamics—specifically, disproportionate visibility and defense of men’s desires—shape tolerance of barroom sexual aggression, discourage bystander intervention, and set the stage for more serious forms of assault to occur and go unpunished.

The Psychometric Properties of the Sexual Experiences Survey – Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV) and Characteristics of Sexual Victimization Experiences in College Men

Estimates of the rate of sexual victimization in college men vary wildly - likely due to the lack of validated measures. This study provides psychometric data on the Sexual Experiences Survey - Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV) and basic descriptive characteristics of sexual victimization of college men via the SES-SFV. Participants (n = 405) completed a web survey containing the study measures; a subset of 69 participants completed the SES-SFV again 1-3 weeks later. Convergent validity correlations were consistent but modest in size. Two-week test retest reliability estimates varied widely by the type of sexual victimization assessed and scoring format used; dichotomous scores were the most reliable and category scores the worst. Over one in four participants (28%) reported experiencing sexual victimization at Time 1; most reported victimization frequencies greater than one (22.8% of sample). Using behaviorally specific items, one in seven reported experiencing rape (14.1%). The most common type of sexual victimization experienced was unwanted sexual contact. Rape acknowledgement among men who experienced rape (12.2%) was much lower than has been observed in women. Our results indicate mixed evidence for the reliability and validity of the SES-SFV in college men, highlight important characteristics of sexual victimization in college men, and demonstrate the need for further research on the best strategies for the assessment of sexual victimization in college men.

Transgender and Nonbinary Experiences of Victimization in Health care

Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals experience high rates of myriad types of victimization, including in health care settings. Many TNB people avoid medical visits for fear of mistreatment and, when they do visit a provider, report negative experiences (e.g., denial of services, misgendering, verbal abuse). These negative experiences are heightened for TNB individuals who have an intersecting marginalized identity (e.g., low socioeconomic status, disability). Using data from the 2015 United States Transgender Survey, the largest survey of TNB individuals in the United States to date, the present study examines differential experiences of victimization in health care settings by TNB identity and other demographics (i.e., race, age, class, educational level, disability). A series of multivariate logistic regressions were run to determine adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for TNB individuals recently (i.e., in the past year) experiencing four forms of victimization: (a) doctor/health care provider used harsh or abusive language; (b) doctor/health care provider was physically rough or abusive; (c) patient was verbally harassed in health care setting; and (d) patient experienced unwanted sexual contact in health care setting. Frequency of victimization varied by gender identity and type of victimization; the most prevalent form was verbal harassment by a doctor/provider (5.84%) and the least prevalent was unwanted sexual contact in a health care setting (1.20%). Although findings varied by form of violence, generally, regression models demonstrated elevated odds of experiencing some form of health care victimization for those who were transgender compared with genderqueer, biracial/multiracial compared with White, low income compared with higher income, and disabled compared to non-disabled. In addition, odds ratios for victimization increased with age and, for some forms, increased with low educational attainment. We discuss the need for increased mandatory trainings for providers to reduce discriminatory and violent behavior toward TNB patients, as well as intersectional research to better ascertain the extent and nuance of victimization within TNB health care.

Prevalence of Gender Based Domestic Violence (A Case Study) with the Special Reference to Eravur Pattu Divisional Secretariat Division, Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka

Despite numerous violence emerged and recognised in most part of the world, gender based violence causes severe impact on both mentally and physically to both the genders which ultimately threats the future of younger generation. As whole, it is evidenced by various Government and Non-Governmental activities in order to minimize the impacts towards the evolution to a peaceful nature from the household level. Violence against women is a widespread problem in Sri Lanka where cultural values and norms serve to highlight the abusive practices against women. The present study was conducted in Eravur Pattu Divisional Secretariat Division (Chenkalady), Sri Lanka in order to evaluate the current situation with the clinical based signs of the affected ones. Primary and secondary data were collected from the Primary Health Care Centres which is widely distributed in the study location of the Eravur Pattu Divisional Secretariat Division, Sri Lanka. According to the statistical responses derived from the records from the local authorities, more than 70% of the total women were victimized in broad terms of physical, sexual and psychological abuses. It was relatively higher (90%) in the villages named as Marapalam (78%), Karadiyanaru (75%), Sinnapullumalai (83%), and Periapullumalai (80%). Moreover, physical abuses (81.5%) including slapping, pinching, kicking, burning etc were slightly higher while comparing with the sexual abuse (unwanted sexual contact- 48%) and emotional abuse (verbally humiliated/ illegal- 67%) at the identified locations. However, the present study indicates that there is a significant reduction while comparing with the yester years which might be due to the proper awareness on the basis of compromising and facing problems supported by the services carried out by the local organizations in Sri Lanka. The random sampling method has been used while interviewing the samples, and the available records from the authorities have been used for analysing.

Violence Against Women and Children Following the 2011 Great East Japan Disaster: Making the Invisible Visible Through Research

This study reports on 82 unduplicated cases of violence against women and children after the Great East Japan Disaster of March 2011. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from informants who worked with the disaster-affected populations. In addition to domestic violence, reported cases involved sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact, including quid pro quo assault perpetrated by nonintimates. Perpetrators often exploited a sense of fear, helplessness, and powerlessness and used threats to force compliance with sexual demands in exchange for life-sustaining resources. Findings point to the urgent need to develop measures to prevent and respond to postdisaster gender-based violence.