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Purpose Historically, most research looking to improve services for domestic violence (DV) survivors has been designed based on the existing state of services, rather than using direct input from survivors. Building on this research gap, this study seeks to understand what 'success' looks like for a broader and diverse population of survivors and service providers. Specifically, this study explored how survivors of DV, and service providers define 'success' for survivors of DV. The researchers purposefully chose to keep the definition of success vague to allow participants to define what success is for themselves. This methodology aligns with the field shifting toward a survivor centered lens. Research questions guiding the study were: (1) How do survivors of DV define success? (2) Do themes for survivor-defined success align with service provider-defined program success? Methods Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 53 DV survivors and 13 service providers in a Midwestern state. Our study was informed by the Appreciative Inquiry methodology. Data analysis was conducted using constant comparative analysis. Results Seven themes emerged from the data: (1) acknowledging the process, (2) safety, (3) recognizing abuse, (4) therapeutic outcomes, (5) identity, (6) healing, and (7) achievement. Our findings indicate that survivors and service providers agreed on the major themes that were discussed related to defining success for survivors. Conclusion These findings can inform programs and services of the outcomes that survivors find truly meaningful and explore how those align with current service provider expectations. The outcomes identified can also be used to develop measures that can assess the impact that programs have on survivors., Author(s): Cecilia Mengo [sup.1] , Kaitlin Casassa [sup.1] , Kathryn G. Wolf [sup.2] , Lucy Bhuyan [sup.3] , Akram Ibrahim [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.261331.4, 0000 0001 2285 7943, The [...]

The aim of this study was to carry out a scoping review to analyze the available evidence regarding parenting skills, family functioning and social support in situations of CPV. When violent behavior occurs, roles, communication and emotional expression are affected, impacting both parenting skills and family functioning. The confluence of these variables could explain the perpetuation of violent behavior over time. The scoping review encompassed peer-reviewed articles published in English and Spanish from 2000 to 2019, located through searches carried out in relevant international databases (Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, ERIC, Dialnet Plus). 22 relevant studies were identified. The collected data showed that, in situations of CPV, parents have low levels of perceived self-efficacy and difficulties regulating their emotions, and they display submissive behavior in parent-child interactions. The analyzed articles also described the presence of a negative family climate and a tendency to relativize violent acts perpetrated by children. Lastly, the evidence shows that social relations are altered by mistrust of formal support resources and a certain level of social isolation. The discussion of the obtained results highlights the need for interventions aimed at fostering parenting skills and improving formal support resources to enhance family functioning in situations of CPV., Author(s): Shirley Arias-Rivera [sup.1] , Bárbara Lorence [sup.1] , Victoria Hidalgo [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.9224.d, 0000 0001 2168 1229, Faculty of Psychology, University of Sevilla, , C/ Camilo José [...]

Abstract This article describes the development and tests the reliability and validity of a new survey instrument, the Child-to-Mother Violence Scale (CMVS). This instrument was devised specifically to measure data [...]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex social problem that social workers must be trained to address, using the best available evidence. In this article we review divergent theories, research findings, and methods that underpin debates about the role of gender in IPV perpetration and victimization. We examine the literature that contextualizes IPV and identifies different types of IPV and recommend training social workers to use differential assessment tools for IPV. We conclude that gender does matter in IPV and that social work students can critically evaluate the gender debates in selecting evidence for safe and effective practice., DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, also called intimate partner violence (IPV), is a public health issue that came to national attention in the United States in the late 1960s as part of the [...]

This article explores police officer perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) using observational data from police ride-alongs. We performed a qualitative analysis of narrative data from the Project on Policing Neighborhoods (POPN) to examine officers' views of IPV as well as whether policing philosophy is related to officers' attitudes toward IPV. Results indicate that POPN officers expressed problematic views of IPV (including simplification of IPV, victim blaming, patriarchal attitudes toward women, and presumption of victim noncooperation) as well as progressive views of IPV (including recognition of the complexity of IPV, awareness of barriers to leaving, and consideration of IPV as serious and worthy of police intervention). Additionally, our analysis offers tentative support for a relationship between policing philosophy and officers' attitudes toward IPV. While this study is largely exploratory, we address the implications of our findings both for police practice and training and for future research. Keywords: intimate partner violence; police perceptions; qualitative analysis; community policing

Intimate partner violence among married women in Kenya that includes physical abuse, sexual abuse and life threatening violence is discussed. It is observed that ethnicity and cultural norms played an important role in gender relations and wife abuse in Kenya.

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify links between observed conflict interactions and risk for child abuse and harsh parenting among a multiethnic sample of adolescent mothers (14-19 years) and young fathers (14-24 years). Methods: Prior to childbirth (T1), observation-based relationship data were collected from 154 expectant adolescent couples as well as information about physical aggression between partners. Two years after childbirth (T2), data relevant to harsh disciplinary practices and child abuse-prone attitudes were collected from both young mothers and fathers. Multiple regression analyses were run to examine the correspondence between (a) couples' relationship quality prior to childbirth and (b) subsequent risk for harsh and potentially abusive parenting practices. Results: Findings indicated that interpartner violence prior to childbirth predicted physically punitive parenting behavior for fathers, but not for mothers. Young mothers and fathers observed to be more warmly engaged with each other during their pre-birth couple interactions (T1) reported lower rates of physically punitive parenting behavior with their children at T2. Couples' hostility at T1 predicted fathers' level of observed hostility toward his child during a structured play activity at T2. Conclusions: Results underscore the importance of addressing the quality of couples' relations as means of preventing dysfunctional parenting practices among adolescent mothers and their partners. Adolescent mothers and their partners are at heightened risk for engaging in dysfunctional parenting, including child abuse. Focusing on pregnant adolescents and their partners, this study sought to identify interpersonal predictors of child abuse risk. Although this study did not involve administering prevention or intervention services, the goal was to test hypotheses that would inform the development of programs for young at-risk couples. Practice implications: The decision to recruit young couples prior to childbirth was based on the presumption that this period of time could provide a window of opportunity to administer couple-based child abuse prevention programs. Consistent with previous research on marital relations and parenting, results of this study support the idea that efforts to develop and administer preventive-intervention programs targeting at-risk couples could help reduce the occurrence of harsh parenting behavior and abuse.

A study to examine the impact of coordinated community responses (CCRs) in the prevention and control of intimate partner violence (IPV) is conducted. Findings show no significant impact of CCRs in control of IPVs but it is premature to conclude that CCRs are ineffective.

A study to examine the findings related to the impact of gender role stereotyping on female same-sex intimate partner violence among women (FSSIPV) is conducted. Gender stereotyping influences individual, family, community and society's responses and thus affects women's experiences of FSSIPV.

In this exploratory study, a convenience sample of 125 mostly low-income women of color who were in treatment for problems associated with misusing substances responded to standardized measures and researcher-developed questions about their use of substances and experiences with partner abuse. Most of the women stated that their substance problems began after their first incident of partner abuse and that their misuse of substances occurred before and after specific incidents of partner abuse. The women also described various strengths they had used to cope. Screening for substance problems and partner abuse in all settings, as well as the use of women's strengths in treatment, is suggested. Keywords: partner abuse; substance abuse; women's strengths; women of color

Objectives: To determine the self-reported prevalence of child and partner physical and emotional abuse in the north of Portugal and to investigate attitudes about these forms of family violence. Methods: Data were collected by questionnaire from a representative sample of parents in two-parent families with children under the age of 18 years. A total of 2,391 parents participated (1,057 males), aged 20-67 years. Four questionnaires were used, one behavioral and one attitudinal, for each of the forms of abuse: child and partner. Results: At least one act of emotional or physical abuse towards a child during the previous year was reported by 25.9% of participants (12.3% reported physically abusive and 22.4% emotionally abusive acts). Abuse of a partner was reported by 26.2% of participants; at least one act of physical abuse during the previous year was reported by 12% and of emotional abuse by 23.7%. The attitudinal data, however, showed general disapproval of the use of violence, both for disciplining children and within marital relationships. The degree of self-reported support for physical punishment was higher in participants who reported using abusive behavior. Females more commonly reported acts of child abuse, and males reported acts of partner abuse. Both forms of self-reported abuse showed an association with low educational and socio-economic status. Conclusions: This is the first study in Portugal to analyze family violence through self-report using a representative sample. The findings indicate that child and partner abuse constitute a significant problem in the region of northern Portugal. The discrepancy between the self-reported behavioral and attitudinal data may reflect conflicts in Portuguese society, which is undergoing substantial cultural changes. Keywords: Child abuse; Partner violence; Attitudes; Family violence doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.12.002

The problem of correctly identifying which men will lethally assault their intimate partner is highlighted and the different risk factors that lead to both lethal and nonlethal violence against women partners are examined.

An unanticipated consequence of pro-arrest policies for domestic violence is the arrest of women. With the resultant creation of court-ordered groups to accommodate this new population, a thorough understanding of the motivations, contexts, and consequences of women's use of violence is needed. Widely used current treatment models are reviewed, and a model is proposed. This model incorporates aspects of group process (group leadership, group development, mutual aid, self-determination, and member roles) and group content (safety issues, dynamics of abuse, anger management, children's issues, coping strategies, empowerment and community resources, exploring prior victimizations, relationship issues, and self-nurturing), doi:10.1300/J015v30n01_03 KEYWORDS. Domestic violence, women's violence, battered women, domestically violent, groups, family violence

Byline: Ellen Bassuk (1,2), Ree Dawson (3), Nicholas Huntington (4) Keywords: Partner violence; Risk factors; Sexual abuse Abstract: Despite high revalence rates of intimate partner violence in the lives of extremely poor women with dependent children, few studies have investigated the patterns of violence that occur over time, and the characteristics of women that serve as risk markers for partner violence. This paper describes patterns of domestic violence longitudinally and uses multivariate analyses to delineate childhood and adult risk markers for recent intimate partner violence in this population of women. Analyses draw upon a sample of 436 homeless and extremely poor housed mothers receiving welfare, in a mid-sized city in Massachusetts with a large Hispanic population of Puerto Rican descent and relatively fewer Blacks. We found that among women with complete longitudinal data (N=280), almost two-thirds experienced intimate partner violence at some point during their adult life by the end of study follow-up, and that the abuse before and after the baseline interview was episodic and limited over time. To examine the role of individual women's factors, while controlling for partner characteristics, we used baseline data on women who had been partnered during the past year (N=336). Among childhood predictors, we found that sexual molestation contributed most significantly to adult intimate partner violence that occurred during the past year prior to the baseline interview. Adult risk markers included inadequate emotional support from non-professionals, poor self-esteem, and a partner with substance abuse problems. Having a partner with poor work history was another independent predictor of recent abuse. Ethnicity did not significantly predict whether women were abused or not during the past year, contrary to other findings reported in the literature. Author Affiliation: (1) The National Center on Family Homelessness, 181 Wells Avenue, Newton, 02459, MA, USA (2) Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA (3) Frontier Science and Technology Research Foundation, Brookline, MA, USA (4) The National Center on Family Homelessness, Newton, MA, USA Article History: Registration Date: 04/05/2006 Online Date: 07/11/2006

Byline: Mary Ann Forgey (1), Lee Badger (1) Keywords: Military women; Enlisted females; Spouse abuse; Domestic violence; Intimate partner violence; Bi-directional violence; Unilateral violence Abstract: While separate evidence exists that married military women have high rates of both intimate partner violence victimization and aggression, little is known about the context of this violence, including the extent to which the violence committed toward and by military women is physical, psychological or sexual, whether the violence is unilateral or bi-directional, and the extent of injury sustained or inflicted. In order to gain a more multi-dimensional understanding of the violence in the lives of military women, this study involved 248 enlisted females who completed a self-report survey about themselves and their spouses' behavior. Results indicate that the majority of violence reported was bi-directional and symmetrical in terms of type and level of severity. However, enlisted females were more than three times as likely to be victims of unilateral severe violence as their male civilian spouses. Demographic factors associated with these patterns of violence were also identified. Author Affiliation: (1) Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, 113 West 60th St., New York, NY, 10023, USA Article History: Registration Date: 04/05/2006 Online Date: 03/11/2006

Byline: Kris Henning (1), Brian Renauer (1), Robert Holdford (2) Keywords: Female offenders; Partner abuse; Typology Recidivism Abstract: Mandatory arrest laws for intimate partner violence (IPV) have increased both the number and proportion of arrests that involve female defendants. Whether these numbers should be as high as they are remains a source of controversy. Most practitioners argue that women are usually arrested for defensive actions used in the face of assaults perpetrated by their spouse/partner. Others believe that these higher arrest rates more accurately reflect the true prevalence of physical aggression perpetrated by women. One way to help clarify this debate is to take a closer look at the women charged with IPV. The present study used self-reported information and criminal justice records on prior aggression to classify 485 women convicted of IPV into four distinct subtypes (i.e., no prior violence, primary victim, primary aggressor, and primary aggressor not identified). Despite the fact that all of these women were arrested for and convicted of IPV, analyses consistently found that few of the women could be considered as the primary aggressor in their relationship. Nor, however, were all of the women classified as primary victims. Methodological issues are discussed as well as the policy, practice, and research implications of this study. Author Affiliation: (1) Criminology and Criminal Justice, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR, 97202, USA (2) Exchange Club Familty Center, Memphis, TN, USA Article History: Registration Date: 04/05/2006 Online Date: 07/11/2006 Article note: Throughout the remainder of the text the term 'offender' is used to refer to the arrested woman and 'victim' is used to refer to her male spouse/partner. Although we recognize that this terminology may be controversial, especially in light of our own findings and the research of others, it should be pointed out that all of the women in the sample were found or pled guilty to domestic violence. Thus, in the eyes of the court, probation, and assessment center, these women were being treated as offenders.

This study sought to understand the relationship between acculturation and reporting intimate partner violence (IPV) among Latinas. A cross-sectional interviewer-administered survey was conducted at public health care clinics throughout Los Angeles County. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of acculturation on reporting IPV. An increasing trend of reporting IPV was observed among Latinas who were more acculturated (chi-square = 41.02, p = .0006). Highly acculturated Latinas were more likely to report IPV compared with least acculturated Latinas (prevalence odds ration = 2.18, 95% confidence level = 0.98, 4.89) and moderately acculturated Latinas were more likely to report IPV compared with least acculturated Latinas (prevalence odds ration = 1.29. 95% confidence level = 0.69, 2.43). Culturally competent IPV prevention programs may be the key to significantly reducing the number of women exposed to this serious public health problem. Keywords: interpersonal violence; Latinas; acculturation

This article describes relational and situational vulnerabilities that emerged from interviews with 28 women (7 Black and 21 White) who were victims of chronic abuse suffered at the hands of male dating partners. Based on a qualitative content analysis, we explore how these vulnerabilities relate to women's decisions to stay in their abusive relationships and consider the implications of racial differences that emerged. Prevention and intervention strategies that help women see themselves as active choice makers are discussed. Words: abuse, dating violence, domestic violence, intervention, risk and resilience.

Data from the National Violence Against Women Survey show that the two major forms of husband violence toward their wives (intimate terrorism and situational couple violence) have different effects on their victims. Victims of intimate terrorism are attacked more frequently and experience violence that is less likely to stop. They are more likely to be injured, to exhibit more of the symptoms of posttraumatic stress syndrome, to use painkillers (perhaps also tranquilizers), and to miss work. They have left their husbands more often, and when they do leave, they are more likely to acquire their own residence. If we want to understand the true impact of wife abuse from survey data (rather than from agency data), we must make distinctions among types of violence so that the data used to describe battering are not diluted by data regarding other types of partner violence. Keywords: domestic violence; battering; control; marriage; gender

There is strong evidence that men and women do not agree about the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, few studies to date have attempted to test explanatory models of violence concordance. One possible mechanism underlying disagreement is cognitive impairment, specifically, memory dysfunction. The principal goal of this study is to test whether memory ability and overall cognitive functioning is related to disagreement about the most recent occurrence of IPV within the dyad. Data were collected from both partners of cohabiting or married couples. The male partners were polysubstance abusers within their first year of abstinence. Results indicate that the men and women's memory ability, problem solving, disinhibition, and verbal ability are significantly related to disagreement about the most recent IPV episode. Thus, cognitive ability, particularly memory ability, of the participants should be considered when assessing the accuracy of measuring IPV among individuals diagnosed with polysubstance abuse. Other implications are discussed. KEYWORDS: memory ability: neuropsychology; intimate partner violence (IPV); disagreement; polysubstance abuse; domestic violence.

The co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse is well documented (Appel, A. E., & Holden, G. W. (1998). J. Fam. Psychol. 12: 578-599; Edleson, J. L. (1999). Violence Against Women 5:134-154). However, little is known about the correlates of co-occurring wife and child abuse. Analyzing data from the 1985 National Family Violence Survey (subsample N = 2733), this study identified risk factors associated with the co-occurrence of wife and child abuse. One-way ANOVA and chi-square analyses were conducted to compare characteristics of parents, children, and households among subgroups of families reporting some form of abuse. Key differences emerged between the three types of homes compared (i.e., those with child abuse alone, wife abuse alone, or wife and child abuse), indicating possibly distinct etiologies and processes. In particular, the co-occurrence of wife and child abuse was marked by less education, worse health, increased reports of depression, and increased husband drug use. Findings may be useful to practitioners and researchers interested in risk factors for different forms of family violence. KEY WORDS: wife abuse; physical child abuse: risk factors: family violence.

This study examined the relationship between childhood exposure to parental violence and adult psychological functioning in a sample of predominantly Mexican American participants. Questionnaires assessing childhood maltreatment, family environment, and current psychological symptomatology were completed by 142 female undergraduates. Findings revealed that witnessing parental violence in childhood was associated with depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, and trauma symptoms in adulthood, even after controlling for child physical and sexual abuse. However, in subsequent analyses, also controlling for levels of nonphysical family conflict, previous associations between exposure to parental violence and adult symptomatology were reduced, such that trauma-related symptoms remained the sole outcome still predicted by a history of witnessing parental violence. Implications of these findings, issues related to the use of statistical control procedures in abuse effects research, and directions for future investigation are discussed. KEY WORDS: exposure to domestic violence: trauma: child maltreatment: childhood sexual abuse.

The prediction of husband-to-wife physical aggression was examined in a sample of 94 community couples in which the husband had engaged in at least one act of physical aggression toward his partner during the engagement period. Predictors were measured approximately one month prior to marriage, and physical aggression was assessed again at 6, 18, and 30 months postmarriage. Over seventy-six percent of the men who were physically aggressive during the engagement period were physically aggressive at one or more of the next three assessments across the initial 30 months of marriage. Nearly 62% were severely aggressive at one or more assessments. Results were generally supportive of the hypothesis that risk factors for persistent antisocial behavior would predict the persistence of aggression. More frequent physical partner aggression, aggressive personality styles, general aggression, and witnessing interparental aggression in the family of origin were associated with continued aggression. Only general aggression, and premarital physical aggression predicted the persistence of severe aggression. KEY WORDS: domestic violence; persistence; longitudinal; antisocial.

This paper describes two related studies. Study 1 is a literature review of existing adult partner domestic violence assessment scales. Results of the review revealed that the scales varied on the available amount of empirical evidence for validity and reliability. More importantly, results showed that the content of the scales focused most heavily on the physical abuse aspects of domestic violence. Study 2 is a factor analysis performed on the results of 64 items taken from the Artemis Intake Questionnaire, a clinically relevant tool constructed by treatment providers used in working with the victims of domestic violence. Results indicate that reported humiliation and blame of the victim accounted for the largest amount of variance, followed by controlling the victim, and then physical violence. Results of this factor analysis suggest that greater emphasis must be put on factors other than physical violence in the construction of future domestic violence scales. KEY WORDS: domestic violence; emotional abuse; assessment; literature review.

This study assessed current health [physical health, bodily pain, global distress, posttraumatic stress-related disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and illicit substance use] among 160 minority women residing in high crime areas with varying numbers of different types of victimization histories and varying levels of social connections (SCs) to neighbors. Multivariate analyses of covariance indicated a main effect for number of different types of victimization and for SC to neighbors, after considering ethnicity, immigration, and marital status. Women with two or three+ different types of victimization reported higher global distress, PTSD symptoms, and illicit substance use than women with zero or one type of victimization. Likewise, women with low levels of SC to neighbors reported higher bodily pain than women with high levels of SCs to neighbors. KEY WORDS: multiple victimization; women health: social connection.

The emerging alternative view in which two parties' objectives are jointly pursued through a cooperative process is adopted. The analysis of a provincial funding program in Manitoba and Canada provides evidence that such an approach is not only possible but also efficient.

Elder abuse and neglect have increasingly become issues of concern. Older women are the majority of older people who experience abuse, yet there have been few attempts to adequately consider this. Consideration of the potential links between domestic violence and elder abuse is appropriate. This article provides an overview of knowledge about elder abuse and neglect and then moves to examine factors from domestic violence. An exploration, through review, of the similarities and differences between these approaches will assist in determining relative strengths and weaknesses. This will then contribute towards greater understanding of the linked phenomena of elder abuse and neglect and assist towards both protection and prevention of abuse. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: [c] 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.] KEYWORDS. Elder abuse, gender, domestic violence, review, similarities, differences, implications

While the number of violent crimes in the United States is decreasing, financial crimes against the elderly are increasing due to the aging of the overall population and greater concentration of wealth among older people. The United States, along with the rest of the world, is experiencing dramatic growth of its senior populace; and financial abuse of the elderly is also dramatically rising. Santa Clara County, California's response to this problem via their model program emphasizing a multi-disciplinary approach to combating financial abuse will be discussed. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: [c] 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.] KEYWORDS. Financial Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) Model Program

Violence against women is now widely recognized as a major public health issue worldwide, (1-3) but surveillance systems to track incidence, prevalence, and trends are just beginning to be established. […]

The authors examine the use and effectiveness of a lesbian partner abuse scale. Topics include measurement of abuse, factor analysis, and methods of differencing from no-abusing partners.

This article describes the evaluation processes employed in the Ohio project to develop and test screening tools and referral protocols on elder abuse and domestic violence. Three focus groups and a Roundtable of experts were utilized to develop the materials in the first year. In the second year, a formal quantitative evaluation that involved 160 practitioners in Ohio was implemented to review the materials and to use them with clients. Findings from the quantitative evaluation were incorporated to make changes that led to a final document that was much simpler, less lengthy, and more relevant to beginning practitioners. KEYWORDS. Evaluation of tools and protocol, focus groups, quantitative methods

Barriers exist with regard to elder abuse identification and reporting nationwide and in individual states like Ohio. Screening tools and referral protocols have been shown to be helpful in overcoming some of these barriers. However, existing instruments typically lack three qualities: (1) distinction as to types, signs, and risk factors of elder abuse; (2) inclusion of domestic violence in late life as a specific aspect of elder abuse; and (3) delineation of appropriate state laws and community services for effective intervention. This article discusses a project to develop, test, and disseminate screening tools and a referral protocol for improving the identification and reporting of elder abuse and domestic violence in late life by Ohio service providers. The impetus, goal, and organization of this 18 month initiative are described. KEYWORDS. Elder abuse, domestic violence in late life, barriers to abuse identification and reporting, screening tools, referral protocols

Screening Tools and Referral Protocol for Stopping Abuse Against Older Ohioans: A Guide for Service Providers (STRP) represents the product of an 18 month project aimed at improving the identification and reporting of elder abuse and domestic violence in late life. This article presents each component of STRP, describing it in detail and suggesting when and how it can be used. Recommendations also are offered for the replication of STRP in other locales as well as for its further evaluation. (Full set of materials including Appendices can be obtained from The Benjamin Rose Institute.) KEYWORDS. Elder abuse, domestic violence in late life, screening tools, referral protocols

The authors examines correlations between levels of alcohol abuse and severity of violence faced by battered women. Topics include regression analysis, childhood sexual abuse, and domestic violence.