Resources and Support for Sexual Assault Survivors Receiving Services From the U.S. Air Force: What Survivors Say They Need for Recovery.

Sexual assault (SA) is a serious challenge faced by the U.S. military. Participants in this study included men and women who volunteered in response to a call for survivors of SA. Participants included active duty and reserve U.S. Air Force (USAF) members, spouses of service members, or civilian employees for the USAF (beneficiaries). The primary research question was, "if you could design the perfect response system to support survivors, what would be included in this system?" The research team conducted in-depth interviews with nine survivors. Next, 82 survivors completed a survey agreeing or disagreeing with strategies identified by interview participants to improve services for survivors and offered additional suggestions. Analysis revealed survivor recommendations to improve SA services.

Risk Markers for Victimization and Perpetration of Male-to-Female Physical Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis.

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) incurs significant public health consequences. Understanding risk markers can accelerate prevention and response efforts, important in settings like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where resources are scarce. In this study, four databases were searched to identify studies that examined risk markers for male-to-female physical IPV. With application of the socioecological model, we analyzed 11 risk markers for male physical IPV perpetration (with 71 effect sizes) and 16 risk markers for female physical IPV victimization (with 131 effect sizes) in SSA from 51 studies. For male IPV perpetration, we found medium-to-large effect sizes for six risk markers: perpetrating emotional abuse and sexual IPV, witnessing parental IPV, being abused as a child, cohabitating (not married), and exhibiting controlling behaviors. We found small effect sizes for substance use. Employment, age, marital status, and education were not significant risk markers. For female IPV victimization, a medium effect size was found for post-traumatic stress symptoms. Small effect sizes were found for reporting depressive symptoms, being abused as a child, witnessing parental IPV, and reporting drug and alcohol use. Rural residence, approval of violence, length of relationship, income, education, employment, age, marital status, and religiosity were not significant risk markers. Findings highlight opportunities for screening and intervention at the couple level, show the need to test and incorporate interventions for IPV in mental health treatment, and emphasize the importance of further research on sociodemographic risk markers and the interventions that target them.

Men as Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Cameroon and Sierra Leone.

There is a lack of research on how global intimate partner violence (IPV) has impacted men, especially in patriarchal societies of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study used data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in Cameroon and Sierra Leone after 2010 to examine the prevalence and predictors of IPV victimization among married or cohabiting men aged 15 to 59 years. We chose to examine factors related to IPV victimization separately in each country to highlight the importance of not generalizing results from one SSA country to another or to SSA as a whole. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with physical, psychological, and sexual IPV victimization. In Cameroon, 26.5% of men reported psychological victimization, 24.4% reported physical victimization, and 2.3% reported sexual victimization in the year before the survey. The corresponding proportions of male victims in Sierra Leone were 23.4%, 14.9%, and 2.7% respectively. Men in both countries experienced more psychological violence than physical or sexual violence. The prevalence of IPV varied by age, education, ethnicity, witnessed father beating his mother, wife's alcohol consumption, and approval of wife-beating. In both countries, reporting IPV victimization was related to exposure to father beating mother, alcohol consumption, ethnicity, and approval of wife-beating. Implications of these findings suggest that it is important to consider the influence of contextual and structural factors in understanding the vulnerability of men to IPV victimization. The inconsistent patterns and socio-cultural variation within countries suggest that a multilayer approach should be used to prevent and respond to IPV against men.

Is separate the new equal? A meta-analytic review of correlates of intimate partner violence victimization for Black and White women in the United States.

Black women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at higher rates than White women, and are more likely to experience more serious injuries, serious mental health diagnoses, or even death as consequences of IPV. Most research on factors associated with physical IPV does not primarily focus on Black women experiencing IPV. To be able to offer targeted intervention and prevention services, understanding unique correlates is critical. To address these discrepancies and better conceptualize factors associated with IPV for Black women, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine correlates for male physical IPV perpetration/female IPV victimization among predominantly Black samples. Next, strengths of correlates for male IPV perpetration/female IPV victimization were compared between Black and White samples. From an original pool of 759 articles examining correlates for IPV perpetration and victimization, 21 articles were usable that had a sufficient percentage (at least 75%) of Black participants and 80 articles that had a sufficient percentage (at least 75%) of White participants. Five significant correlates for male perpetration and seven significant correlates for female victimization in predominantly Black samples were identified. Comparisons for male perpetration/female victimization between predominantly White and Black samples were conducted for nine correlates, and one-third of these correlates (male emotional abuse perpetration, female post-traumatic stress symptoms, and female alcohol use) were significantly stronger correlates in Black populations compared to White populations. Research and clinical implications are discussed.

The Dark Side of the Rainbow: Queer Women's Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide issue that, although often thought of as a very gendered and heteronormative crime (male perpetrators and female victims within heterosexual relationships), occurs in all kinds of relationships. The purpose of this study is to examine and raise awareness of how IPV operates within female same-gender relationships. Researchers utilized a narrative inquiry framework, as well as thematic analysis, in order to conduct a qualitative synthesis of articles that examined IPV in female same-gender relationships. Articles were identified through database searches for studies published between 2000 and 2019 using key search terms. Studies were included if they were qualitative in nature (including direct quotes from participants), examined IPV within female same-gender relationships, and were written in English. A total of 19 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Findings were categorized as barriers to help and support, themes within experiences of IPV, or recommendations for helping professionals. Themes within categories included, among others, a lack of framework to identify abuse; mistrust of law enforcement; power dynamics related to parenthood, race, and gender presentation; and fears of contributing to heterosexism. Findings from this study can serve to better inform helping professionals about considerations to keep in mind when working within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, plus various additional sexual minorities' communities and survivors of female same-gender violence.

What Puts Individuals at Risk for Physical Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration? A Meta-Analysis Examining Risk Markers for Men and Women.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration is a serious public health concern around the world. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize all available data examining risk markers for physical IPV perpetration among men and women between 1980 and 2018. Studies were included in the analysis if they examined physical IPV in adult opposite-sex relationships, included statistical information needed to calculate at least one bivariate effect size, and were written in English. A total of 503 studies, yielding 2,972 unique effect sizes, were included in the analysis. Data from these studies allowed for the examination of 63 unique risk markers related to physical IPV perpetration for both men and women, 60 unique risk markers for male perpetration, and 45 unique risk markers for female perpetration. Lastly, we were able to compare the strength of 44 risk markers for physical IPV perpetration between men and women. We found that the strongest risk markers were related to other acts of violence (both perpetration and victimization) as well as relationship dynamics. Results from this study highlight the potential factors that could be focused on in prevention programming and intervention work. Additionally, it was found that 9 out of 44 risk markers significantly differed in strength for men and women, allowing for additional specificity in intervention work for helping professionals working with either male or female perpetrators of physical IPV.

Using systemic interventions to reduce intimate partner violence or child maltreatment: A systematic review of publications between 2010 and 2019.

This systematic review seeks to understand the effectiveness of systemic interventions to reduce Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or child maltreatment published between January 2010 and December 2019. We found nine studies reviewing systemic interventions for IPV and 12 studies reviewing systemic interventions for child maltreatment. In our discussion, we added relevant articles published before 2010 to determine the overall state of the evidence for these interventions. We determined that parent training programs with in vivo coaching components for child maltreatment meet the criteria for well-established interventions. Relationship education approaches are probably efficacious. Parent education and family therapy programs to reduce child maltreatment, and cognitive behavioral couples treatment to reduce IPV are possibly efficacious interventions. Programs based on "naturalistic" couples therapy for IPV are experimental interventions. This review also highlights limitations in this research in addressing the needs of marginalized couples and families.

The Association between Attachment Styles and Physical Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization: A Meta-Analysis.

In this meta-analysis, we examine attachment styles-something commonly incorporated into couples therapy-and their association with physical intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization among men and women. This meta-analysis incorporated 33 studies that looked at the association between four different attachment styles and IPV. This study examined the strength of the correlation among different attachment styles and IPV perpetration and victimization, examined gender differences in the strength of the association among attachment styles and IPV, and compared the strength of the association with IPV among different attachment styles. We found that anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, and disorganized attachment styles were all significantly associated with physical IPV perpetration and victimization. Secure attachment was significantly negatively related to IPV perpetration and victimization. There was a significantly stronger association between avoidant attachment and IPV victimization for women compared to men. Clinical implications related to the importance of fostering secure attachments when working with couples or individuals who have experienced IPV are addressed.

En este metaanálisis, analizamos los estilos de apego─ algo comúnmente incorporado en la terapia de pareja─ y su asociación con la perpetración de violencia física de pareja y la victimización entre los hombres y las mujeres. Este metaanálisis incorporó 33 estudios que analizaron la asociación entre cuatro estilos de apego diferentes y la violencia de pareja. Este estudio examinó la intensidad de la correlación entre los diferentes estilos de apego y la perpetración de violencia de pareja y la victimización, estudió las diferencias de género en la intensidad de la asociación entre los estilos de apego y la violencia de pareja, y comparó la intensidad de la asociación con la violencia de pareja entre los diferentes estilos de apego. Descubrimos que los estilos de apego ansioso, apego evitativo y apego desorganizado estuvieron todos considerablemente asociados con la perpetración de violencia física de pareja y la victimización. El apego seguro estuvo relacionado de forma considerablemente negativa con la perpetración de violencia de pareja y la victimización. Hubo una asociación considerablemente más intensa entre el apego evitativo y la violencia de pareja, y la victimización en las mujeres en comparación con los hombres. Se abordan las implicancias clínicas relacionadas con la importancia de fomentar vínculos seguros a la hora de trabajar con parejas o personas que han sufrido violencia de pareja.

The Relationship Between Approval of Violence and Intimate Partner Violence in College Students.

Dating violence is a significant problem among college students. Using a sample of 248 male and 304 female college students, we explored whether or not male and female college students differed in their approval rates of male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) and female-to-male IPV. We also examined how approval of violence related to reports of physical, psychological, and sexual IPV perpetration and victimization. We found that both male and female college students had higher levels of approval of female-to-male IPV than male-to-female IPV. We also found that male students had higher levels of approval of male-to-female IPV and female-to-male IPV than did female students. We found that men who had higher levels of approval of female-to-male IPV were more likely to be perpetrators and victims of physical IPV and perpetrators of sexual IPV. Finally, we found that women who had higher levels of approval of female-to-male IPV were more likely to be victims of sexual and psychological IPV.

Risk Markers for Women's Physical Intimate Partner Violence Victimization in Iran: A Meta-Analysis.

In this study, evidence from 14 studies examines 16 unique risk markers for intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization for Iranian women. Large-to-medium effect sizes were found for emotional abuse victimization, depression, poor mental health, poor physical health, partner's drug use, living in a patriarchal household, and partner having experienced child abuse as risk markers. Higher levels of education and higher levels of household income were significant protective markers against IPV victimization for Iranian women. Partner's education, partner's employment, being employed, being pregnant, age, partner's age, and length of the relationship were not significant risk markers for IPV victimization among Iranian women.

International Adaptation of a Treatment Program for Situational Couple Violence.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious international problem. Stith, S. M., McCollum, E. E., and Rosen, K. H. received funding from the US National Institute of Mental Health to develop and test a program for couples experiencing IPV: Domestic Violence Focused Couples Treatment (DVFCT). This article provides an overview of DVFCT, and presents three case studies illustrating how DVFCT has been adapted for use in Colombia, Iran, and Finland. This article emphasizes the need for adapting treatment models to be culturally informed, provides practice-based evidence for DVFCT as a treatment model, and highlights the importance of careful screening and assessment when working with couples who have experienced violence, no matter the country or location where treatment is being conducted.

Perpetrator Risk Markers for Intimate Terrorism and Situational Couple Violence: A Meta-Analysis.

Johnson developed a typology of intimate partner violence (IPV) which includes two different categories of violence: situational couple violence (SCV) and intimate terrorism (IT). Johnson proposed that IT is more likely to be found in clinical samples (e.g., batterer intervention programs or domestic violence shelters) compared to nonclinical (general population) samples. This meta-analysis (n = 149 studies; k = 216 effect sizes) examines differences in the strengths of IPV risk markers in clinical and nonclinical samples of male perpetrators and female victims. All variables (communication and conflict resolution, demand-withdraw patterns, relationship dissatisfaction, controlling behaviors, jealousy, patriarchal beliefs, power in the relationship, and stalking) were expected to be significantly related to IPV for both clinical and nonclinical populations. However, specific variables indicative of IT (control, jealousy, patriarchal beliefs, power, and stalking) were expected to be more strongly associated with clinical samples compared to nonclinical samples. As expected, most variables were significant for clinical and nonclinical populations, and IT risk markers (control, power, jealousy, and patriarchal beliefs) were significantly stronger risk markers for IPV in clinical samples. These results indicate that Johnson's typology may be conceptualized as representing a continuum of violence, with IT being more severe due to the controlling nature of the violence. Sample type needs to be considered when research about IPV is disseminated, as different degrees of IPV (IT vs. SCV) may be present depending on sample type. Implications from this study include the need to differentiate the level of violence and to tailor intervention for IPV appropriately.

Risk Factors for Male Perpetration and Female Victimization of Intimate Partner Homicide: A Meta-Analysis.

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a serious problem throughout the world. Research has identified the continued need to examine risk factors for IPH to identify individuals who may be at a greater risk of IPH perpetration or victimization. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis on risk factors for male IPH perpetration and female IPH victimization. This meta-analysis examined results from 17 studies, which included 148 effect sizes used in the analysis. Primary findings from this research suggest the strongest risk factors for IPH were the perpetrator having direct access to a gun, perpetrator's previous nonfatal strangulation, perpetrator's previous rape of the victim, perpetrator's previous threat with a weapon, the perpetrator's demonstration of controlling behaviors, and the perpetrator's previous threats to harm the victim. Implications for law enforcement personnel, medical professionals, victim advocates, mental health professionals, and other professionals who may be in contact with potential IPH perpetrators and victims are discussed.

Examining Attempted and Completed Intimate Partner Homicide: A Qualitative Synthesis.

Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH) is one of the leading causes of death for women in the United States. Recent research has identified the strongest risk markers for IPH from quantitative studies, but there is still a need to synthesize what is known about IPH from qualitative studies. Additionally, few studies have examined perpetrator-reported motivations for IPH, along with victim's and co-victims' experiences of attempted or completed IPH. In order to synthesize the current qualitative literature surrounding motivations and risk factors for IPH, a thematic qualitative synthesis was conducted. This qualitative synthesis included 20 studies that examined IPH risk factors, motivations, and other pertinent themes related to IPH. Some of the most prevalent reported motivations for committing IPH were loss of control, jealousy, relationship termination, and a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization (i.e., self-defense). A few of the most common risk factors for IPH found in the qualitative literature included previous IPV, coercive control, and the victim underestimating danger/lethality. It is important for both clinicians and law enforcement to know more about IPH so that that they are able to assess situations effectively.

A Meta-Analysis of Risk Markers for Intimate Partner Violence in Same-Sex Relationships.

Research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has largely focused on heterosexual relationships, but, in recent years, researchers have expanded their focus to include same-sex relationships. Using meta-analytic techniques, this study was conducted to examine the relative strength of various risk markers for men and women being perpetrators and victims of physical IPV in same-sex relationships. Articles were identified through research search engines and screened to identify articles fitting the inclusion criteria, a process that resulted in 24 studies and 114 effect sizes for the meta-analysis. The strongest risk marker among those with at least two effect sizes for both male and female perpetration was psychological abuse perpetration. The strongest risk marker among those with at least two effect sizes for IPV victimization was also perpetration of psychological abuse for males and psychological abuse victimization for females. Among same-sex-specific risk markers, internalized homophobia and fusion were the strongest predictors for being perpetrators of IPV for men and women, respectively. HIV status and internalized homophobia were the strongest risk markers for IPV victimization for men and women, respectively. Of 10 comparisons between men and women in risk markers for IPV perpetration and victimization, only 1 significant difference was found. The results suggest that although same-sex and heterosexual relationships may share a number of risk markers for IPV, there are risk markers for physical IPV unique to same-sex relationships. Further research and increased specificity in measurement are needed to better study and understand the influence of same-sex-specific risk markers for IPV.

Military/Civilian Risk Markers for Physical Intimate Partner Violence: A Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis compared risk markers for perpetration of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) among military and civilian males. We also examined strength of risk markers among male and female service members. In total, 36 military studies and 334 civilian studies, which reported 883 effect sizes, were included in the analyses. Results revealed more similarities than differences in risk markers for IPV among military and civilian males and among military males and females. Of the risk markers examined, relationship satisfaction and alcohol problems were significantly stronger risk markers for IPV among civilian males compared to military males. Perpetrating emotional abuse was a significantly stronger risk marker for IPV perpetration among military females compared to military males. Recommendations for IPV prevention and intervention are discussed.

Corporal punishment and externalizing behaviors in toddlers: The moderating role of positive and harsh parenting.

This study investigated whether corporal punishment when the child was 2 years old predicted child externalizing behaviors a year later, and whether or not this association was moderated by parents' observed behavior toward their child. Data came from 218 couples and their firstborn child. The frequency of fathers' corporal punishment when the child was 2 years old predicted child externalizing behaviors a year later, while controlling for initial levels of child externalizing behaviors. Also, observed positive and harsh parenting moderated the relationship between corporal punishment and child externalizing behaviors. These results highlight the importance of continuing to examine the effects of a commonly used form of discipline (i.e., corporal punishment) and the parental climate in which it is used. (PsycINFO Database Record

An updated feminist view of intimate partner violence.

In this article, we explore intimate partner violence (IPV) from an intersectional, feminist perspective. We describe how an updated feminist view guides us to a perspective on IPV that is more strongly grounded in an antioppressive, nonviolent, socially just feminist stance than a second-wave gender-essential feminist stance that suggests that patriarchy is the cause of IPV. At the time we began to work together it seemed that a researcher had to be identified as a "family violence" researcher or a "feminist" researcher of violence against women, and that it wasn't possible to be a feminist researcher who looked beyond patriarchy as the cause of IPV. We advocate critically thinking about essentialist practices in clinical work so that we can maintain an antioppressive, socially just, nonviolent approach to working with clients who experience IPV.

What does this mean for graduate education in marriage and family therapy? Commentary on "The divide between 'evidenced-based' approaches and practitioners of traditional theories of family therapy".

The Dattilio, Piercy, and Davis article is a welcome addition to the conversation focusing on how to bridge the divide in the MFT field between research and practice. The present commentary challenges us to see the divide as an indictment of our training programs resulting from a lack of focus on MFT research. Suggestions for increasing expectations for students to monitor client progress, get involved in research at all levels, and for doctoral students to expect to be able to conduct independent, fundable research in the MFT field when they leave their programs are offered.

Immigrant and nonimmigrant women: factors that predict leaving an abusive relationship.

This research used logistic regression to test components of Choice and Lamke's (1997) two-part decision-making model and Hamby's (2008) holistic risk assessment as predictors of the decision to separate from an abusive partner, comparing significant predictors for immigrant (n = 497) and nonimmigrant (n = 808) women. Findings demonstrated that immigrant women reported higher levels of perceived risks/barriers to leaving, provided some support for the use of a holistic risk assessment in understanding women's decisions to leave, and demonstrated that immigrant and nonimmigrant women have both similarities and differences in the factors that predict leaving. Clinical and policy implications are addressed.