Journal of Interpersonal Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern among U.S. service members/veterans (SM/Vs) who experienced military sexual trauma (MST). Higher exposure to IPV is associated with worse psychological outcomes, but most studies focus on female survivors and overall experiences of IPV in place of IPV subtypes of psychological aggression, physical assault, and sexual coercion. The current study examined whether sex moderated the association of SM/Vs’ experiences with IPV subtypes with outcomes of suicide risk, depression symptom severity, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, and alcohol use in a mixed sex sample of MST survivors. This study is a secondary analysis of 346 SM/V MST survivors (50.9% male) who completed measures of IPV experiences, PTSD symptom severity, depression symptom severity, suicide risk, and alcohol use. Each outcome was regressed on IPV experience subtype, sex, and their interaction to determine if sex moderated the association of IPV subtype and behavioral health outcomes. Sex moderated the association of sexual coercion and suicide risk such that the interaction of male sex and higher sexual coercion scores was associated with higher suicide risk (B = 0.08, SE = 0.04, p = .05). Sex also moderated the association of physical assault and depression symptom severity such that the interaction of male sex and higher physical assault scores were associated with higher depression severity (B = 0.13, SE = 0.05, p = .01). Sex did not moderate the association of PTSD or alcohol use with any IPV subtype. Male MST survivors may be at increased risk for suicide and depression symptom severity depending on IPV experience relative to females, which is especially important given higher rates of suicide in males. These results demonstrate the importance of screening for different subtypes of IPV experiences among male MST survivors, who are typically under-represented in the literature.

The aim of this study was to examine the temporal associations between feelings of emotional connectedness, jealousy, pro-relationship behaviors, and intimate partner violence (IPV) within adolescent and young adult romantic relationships. A cohort of late adolescent females (N = 144), aged 16 to 19, in a dating relationship with physical or psychological IPV, were recruited from public locations and a pediatric emergency department. Participants completed a daily Web-based survey for 4 months on partner-specific feelings of emotional connectedness (i.e., communication, trust, commitment, emotional security); emotional safety; jealousy; pro-relationship behaviors (i.e., had fun together, partner showed appreciation, partner did something that made her feel loved, gave/received a gift); sexual behavior, and experienced and use of psychological and physical IPV. The results of random effects models found previous- and same-day emotional connectedness decreased odds of experienced IPV; however, experienced IPV did not impact next-day emotional connectedness. Feeling less emotionally safe the previous day was associated with experiencing IPV, and both experiencing and using IPV were associated with feeling emotionally unsafe the next day. Made to feel loved and showing appreciation were protective against experienced IPV, while other pro-relationship behaviors were associated with increased risk (i.e., gifts, sex, and fun together). Findings highlight the need to develop prevention strategies that provide youth with meaningful skills to assist in navigating the emotional and behavioral challenges within their romantic relationships.

Especially for women with high prevalence and incidence of victimization and trauma, taking part in a life story interview has potential for positive benefits, but it also may leave the study participants seeing their lives and themselves in a negative light. Study participants were 116 women with repeated criminal convictions and a history of substance misuse. They were from a population known to have high prevalence of victimization of multiple types and exposure to violence. To investigate the effects of telling their life stories and to identify strategies interviewers use to maximize positive and minimize negative effects of the interviews, study participants were asked to reflect on the experience and the effects of telling their stories during an interview. Most participants identified benefits from the experience. Specifically, they felt relief from talking about negative events, they saw growth over stages in their life, they realized how negative past events led to preset positive outcomes, they clarified future steps based on their stories, and they saw how their stories could help other people. Alternatively, more than has been shown in prior research, some interview participants saw themselves as permanently contaminated, and they expressed despair about how their lives turned out. Examination of the dialogue between participants and interviewers revealed how interviewers maximized positive benefits by providing esteem and emotional support, emphasizing the value of the story to other people, and directing attention to the present and the future rather than the past. Findings are relevant to training and application for the widely used method of gathering life stories to understand both victimization and breaking the law. Findings also show the need for future research on positive strategies to use in interviewing other groups with very adverse life experiences, such as combat veterans, transgender individuals, and targets of racial/ethnic discrimination.

Academic environments are expected to uphold high standards of integrity and professionalism. Yet, sexual misconduct by faculty has been a persistent and deeply concerning issue in U.S. colleges. Furthermore, sanctions for such misconduct remain lenient and inconsistent across colleges, which potentially contributes to victims’ exposure to risky environments. Previous scholarly efforts found cultural factors leading to lenient sanctions for sexual misconduct. However, the earlier approaches did not fully examine broad external factors that could affect institutional sanction decisions. College administrations make critical decisions regarding sanctions for faculty sexual misconduct cases. Therefore, understanding factors that influence colleges’ decisions is important for sexual misconduct prevention through clearer and consistent policies. To contribute, the current study aims to investigate (a) how U.S. colleges respond to sexual misconduct by the faculty and (b) which external factors are associated with the severity of sanctions. By analyzing the Academic Sexual Misconduct Database (ASMD), the current study found that (a) tenured faculty tend to receive lenient sanctions and (b) non-white faculty tend to receive harsher sanctions. Notably, the seriousness of sexual misconduct is not associated with sanction severity. These findings are consistent with sociological and criminological theories regarding institutional decision-making processes—colleges’ decision-making processes follow rational choices based on cost estimation, and it may eventually lead to bias against non-white faculty who commit similar misconduct as white faculty. To promote safer academic environments, the current study recommends that colleges prepare better standards based on the nature of sexual misconduct. Additional implications for future research are also discussed.

This study sought to understand the lived experiences and perspectives of men who inflict violence on their female intimate partners, given the nuances of Nigeria’s individual, interpersonal, community, and societal factors. Eligible participants were male residents of Lagos State, Nigeria: (1) accused by their partner of perpetrating physical domestic violence (DV), (2) at least 21 years old, and (3) married. Nine men participated in the study and were purposively recruited from a governmental agency that provides on-site counseling and support to DV survivors and perpetrators. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. The interview guide was designed to elicit information on perceptions of DV lived experiences, factors that increase the risk of DV perpetration, sources of help, and factors that can improve help-seeking behaviors among DV survivors/perpetrators. Four major themes were identified from the data and included values, premarital and marital expectations, DV definition and perception, and DV experiences. DV perpetuation was deeply rooted in men’s childhood experiences of their fathers abusing their mothers and/or being exposed to other forms of violence early in life, sociocultural norms, economic pressures, and psychological factors. The findings from this study have implications for the development of DV interventions that are culturally tailored to address the unique challenges faced by families in Nigeria. Programs should focus on reshaping harmful gender norms, addressing economic/financial stressors, promoting healthy relationship dynamics, and early childhood DV prevention interventions. Campaigns that engage men while emphasizing the negative impacts of DV on families and communities could be instrumental in reducing victimization. Addressing modifiable risk factors earlier in the trajectory is critical in reducing the long-term incidence of DV. Our findings also underscore the importance of consistent enforcement of existing laws, such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, across Nigeria.

Reducing rape myth acceptance (RMA) is essential to improve the treatment of victims and challenge the societal narratives that excuse sexual aggression. This study examined whether an educational intervention providing myth-debunking information could effectively reduce RMA. Participants first completed a pre-test assessing their agreement with a series of rape myth statements. They were then randomly assigned to either an educational intervention group, which received information designed to challenge common rape myths, or a control group, which received unrelated scientific content. RMA was reassessed immediately after the intervention (post-test) and again after a 2-week delay (follow-up). Results showed that participants in the intervention group exhibited a meaningful reduction in RMA scores both immediately and at follow-up, compared with the control group. These findings suggest that providing concise, evidence-based information may be an effective tool to reduce RMA over time.

Child-to-parent violence (CPV) is a significant issue that causes considerable suffering for those involved. Although CPV remains an understudied form of violence, previous research has identified numerous individual and family risk factors associated with it. Unlike previous research that has largely adopted a variable-centered approach, this study employed a person-centered approach to CPV, aiming to identify distinct adolescent profiles based on their involvement in CPV. Additionally, the study explored differences between these profiles across a range of variables, including traditional CPV risk factors as well as problematic online behaviors. The sample included 863 adolescents (ages 11–17, 49.8% girls). Participants completed measures assessing CPV, exposure to family violence, emotional and behavioral problems, and problematic online behaviors (e.g., problematic online gaming and gambling). Latent profile analysis supported a four-profile solution: a non-violent profile; a profile with moderate psychological CPV and high exposure to family violence; a profile characterized by economic CPV and absence of family violence exposure; and a profile involving severe CPV and exposure to family violence. Adolescents in the profiles exhibiting CPV presented higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems, including problematic online behaviors. Notable differences also emerged between the profiles. For instance, the two profiles involving exposure to family violence reported higher levels of internalizing problems, whereas the economic CPV profile was marked by high instrumental aggression. The findings reveal the existence of distinct adolescent profiles in the context of CPV. The implications of these profiles for intervention strategies are discussed.

Existing limitations of formal service systems to address domestic violence (DV), alongside the fact that many DV survivors first seek support from informal sources, suggest the need to better understand these potential sources of support. In South Asia, research suggests that DV survivors often first seek support from a family member—including within extended families. Based on qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with non-governmental organization (NGO) service providers working in Pokhara, Nepal and surrounding rural areas, the present study sought to understand the strategies employed by family members seeking to support survivors and confront DV. Strategies used by family members included providing emotional and instrumental support to survivors, attempting to mediate, and confronting the person using violence. Instrumental support included facilitating temporary or permanent separation from the person using violence, economic support, childcare, support to obtain legal documents, and support needed to obtain a divorce. Service providers perceived that when family members supported survivors and confronted DV, these actions could lead to improved situations for survivors. Further research is needed to understand experiences of family intervention from the perspectives of diverse survivors in Nepal, as well as the contexts in which this support is effective to ensure survivors’ long-term well-being. Policymakers and practitioners in Nepal and similar contexts should build on existing strategies used by families. Where possible and when desired by survivors, families should be assisted to understand the dynamics of DV and to respond to it in ways that support survivors’ short and long-term goals, rights, and well-being.

Police violence is a critical social determinant of health in the United States, but there is an absence of data on prevalence and sociodemographic disparities from national probability samples. This study aimed to determine the past-year prevalence of physical, sexual, psychological, and neglectful police violence exposure among young adults in the United States and to identify inequities in exposure. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the National Survey of Poly-Victimization and Suicide Risk, a population-based probability sample of noninstitutionalized young adults (18–29 years; N = 1,077) drawn from the nationally representative AmeriSpeak Panel. Logistic regression was used to test for associations between self-reported and census-based sociodemographic characteristics and past-year exposure to police violence (outcome), assessed using the previously validated Police Practices Inventory. Past-year police violence was widely reported among this general population sample (physical: 4.0%; sexual: 3.3%; psychological: 8.5%; neglect: 7.5%), equating to an estimated 2.1 million young adults exposed to physical violence and 1.7 million exposed to sexual violence. All police violence measures were associated with race/ethnicity in unadjusted analyses, with some outcomes also associated with gender identity, socioeconomic status, urbanicity, and region of residence. Black (non-Latine) race was the only consistent correlate of all four sub-types of police violence exposure in the adjusted analyses. Expanding upon prior studies that used nonprobability samples in select U.S. cities, we found that police violence is experienced by a substantial minority of the U.S. young adult population, and that ethnoracial disparities generalize beyond urban centers to a nationally representative sample.

Bisexual women are twice as likely to report sexual assault (SA) as heterosexual women (Seabrook et al., 2018). Research is needed to examine whether men’s perceptions of bisexual women’s sexual interest and behavior differ relative to perceptions of heterosexual women, as such perceptions are relevant to the decision-making processes of sexually aggressive men. This study examined whether constructs used in sexual aggression models were associated with greater perceived sexual availability and justifications for SA of a bisexual woman relative to a heterosexual woman. Participants were heterosexual undergraduate men (n = 118) who read a hypothetical vignette in which the sexual orientation of the woman described was manipulated (i.e., bisexual or heterosexual) and rated items that assessed justification for sexual aggression and judgments of the woman’s behavior (e.g., her sexual interest, her resistance to sexual advances, her behavior as inappropriate or unladylike, her promiscuity). Hierarchical linear regressions were used for the analyses. Sexual dominance was associated positively with men’s justifications for sexual aggression. As impersonal sex increased, negative blindness (e.g., a hypothesized deficit in accurate perception of women’s negative behavioral cues) increased in the bisexual condition only. Rape myth acceptance (RMA) was associated with greater negative blindness in both conditions, with a steeper slope in the bisexual condition. Additionally, RMA was associated with greater sexual availability in both conditions, with a steeper slope in the bisexual condition. Hostility toward women was also associated with greater judgments of sexual availability in both conditions, with similar slopes across conditions. These findings suggest that particular traits associated with sexual aggression may predispose men to misperceive cues of bisexual women’s sexual disinterest and judge bisexual women as more sexually available relative to heterosexual women.

Spousal violence remains a critical public health and human rights issue in India and limited evidence exists on its relationship with short birth intervals (SBI). This study investigates the effect of spousal violence on SBI among Indian women using data from the latest National Family Health Survey. This cross-sectional study utilized a nationally representative sample of 394,571 ever-married women aged 15 to 49 years with at least two live births. The primary outcome variable was SBI, defined as <33 months between two successive live births. The key exposure variable was experience of spousal violence (emotional, physical, or sexual). Multivariable logistic regression, Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and Fairlie decomposition analyses were performed to assess the impact of spousal violence on SBI, adjusting for key socio-demographic and reproductive health covariates. Approximately 26.7% of women reported experiencing spousal violence, and 50.7% had a SBI. Logistic regression revealed that women who experienced spousal violence had 11% higher odds of SBI (OR = 1.11, p < .001) than those who did not. PSM results indicated a 2.2 percentage point higher risk of SBI among women exposed to violence (Average Treatment Effect = 0.022, p < .001). Fairlie decomposition showed that 27% of the SBI gap between exposed and unexposed groups was explained by observed covariates, with women’s low education and rural residence being the largest contributors. This study highlights spousal violence as a significant correlate of SBI in India, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted policy interventions that integrate reproductive health services with domestic violence prevention. Strengthening legal enforcement, raising awareness through digital platforms, and promoting women’s education and autonomy are critical strategies to reduce adverse reproductive outcomes linked to intimate partner violence.

Nonconsensual condom removal (NCCR), colloquially known as “stealthing,” is increasingly conceptualized as a violation of bodily autonomy, yet little empirical research has examined how gender socialization shapes the interpretation of this phenomenon. This study addresses this gap by investigating gender differences in exposure rates, perceived severity, and motivational attributions regarding stealthing within a sample of the population residing in Spain. The study is specifically situated within the country’s recent legislative shifts regarding sexual consent. Using a cross-sectional design, a community sample of 437 participants completed an online survey assessing direct and indirect victimization experiences and evaluating a hypothetical scenario of NCCR. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests for categorical variables and Mann–Whitney U tests for ordinal motivational scales. The results revealed a profound gender gap: women reported an exposure rate more than double that of men and were significantly more likely to classify the act unequivocally as sexual aggression. Regarding the aggressor’s intent, a “hedonistic consensus” emerged, with both genders attributing the behavior to sexual pleasure. However, a critical dissonance was found regarding coercive traits; women significantly endorsed motivations related to power, control, and the manipulation of consent, whereas men minimized these factors, viewing the act through a lens of sexual entitlement rather than violence. These findings support theories of rape myth acceptance and suggest that while women decode stealthing as a threat to safety, a significant portion of men fails to recognize the inherent coercion. Implications for violence prevention emphasize the urgent need for gender-specific interventions that challenge the normalization of deceit in sexual interactions and reframe condom negotiation as a nonnegotiable component of consent.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) was introduced in ICD-11 in 2018, and there has been limited research on the association between CPTSD and emotion regulation (ER) strategies. It is important to understand how the constituent dimensions of CPTSD (PTSD and Disturbances in Self-Organisation [DSO]) are associated with different ER strategies in order to help inform the development of interventions to aid recovery from this debilitating condition. This study examined the network structure of PTSD and DSO symptoms of CPTSD, along with components of emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), in a sample of Spanish women who had experienced intimate partner violence (N = 317).The results showed that the most central symptom was “feeling distant or cut off from others.” In addition, other DSO symptoms were positively associated with the maladaptive strategies of expressive suppression and negatively associated with the cognitive reappraisal strategies. In the case of affective dysregulation symptoms, hypoactivation was found to play a more central role than hyperactivation. Future research is needed to examine whether targeting emotion regulation strategies may contribute to changes in affective dysregulation (particularly hypoactivation) and other DSO symptoms.

Past research has established trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as important risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, focusing on hyperarousal and cognitive biases as explanatory mechanisms. The current study investigated whether experiential avoidance (EA), the tendency to avoid unwanted private experiences, helps explain the association between PTSD symptoms and IPV perpetration. Seventy-four men receiving IPV intervention services completed assessments of trauma exposure, PTSD symptoms, and IPV perpetration, and responded to hypothetical distressing relationship situations by rating: (1) anticipated experience of negative emotions, (2) motivation to avoid those emotional experiences, (3) the expectation that various aggressive and nonaggressive responses would reduce negative emotions, and (4) perceived likelihood of engaging in those responses. PTSD symptoms were associated with higher levels of dispositional EA, anticipation of negative emotions during distressing relationship situations, EA during difficult relationship situations, and anticipated reduction in negative emotion from engaging in abusive behaviors. EA significantly mediated the association between PTSD symptoms and emotional abuse perpetration, but not physical assault or sexual coercion. Partner abusive men experiencing higher PTSD symptoms report greater experiential avoidance of negative emotions during difficult relationship situations and higher anticipation that abusive and aggressive actions will repair their uncomfortable emotional state. The results highlight EA as an important treatment target for trauma-informed IPV intervention, particularly with respect to emotionally abusive behavior.

Community violence and crime in Arab society in Israel have risen substantially, to the point of becoming one of the most distressing issues for Arab citizens. While many studies have examined the extent of social violence, few have examined its relationship with emotional health, and the mediating role of stress has not been the topic of any scientific investigation. Based on a cross-sectional survey conducted among 941 adult Israeli Arab citizens, the current study assesses the ramifications of community violence on the emotional health of the Arab population in Israel. A mediation model was found to fit the data comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.901, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.039, standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR) = 0.050), where stress was found to mediate the association between exposure to violence and depression (95% CI = 0.17, 0.30) and anxiety (95% CI = 0.18, 0.31), as well as between threat of violence and depression (95% CI = 0.02, 0.24) and anxiety (95% CI = 0.02, 0.25). Stress also mediated the association between worry about social crime and violence and depression (95% CI = 0.04, 0.25) and anxiety (95% CI = 0.04, 0.26), as well as between the attitudes that more should be done about social crime and violence and depression (95% CI = 0.03, 0.19) and anxiety (95% CI = 0.03, 0.19). The findings suggest that stress plays a central role in the association between community violence and symptoms of depression and anxiety among Arab citizens in Israel.

Bullying poses ongoing challenges to student safety and well-being in schools, yet many instruments, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, do not address bystander behavior. This study examined how 3,717 middle and high school students in 14 schools in the western United States respond when witnessing bullying and what factors influence their responses. Findings suggest that friendship with the target significantly increased both defending behaviors and the likelihood that bullying stopped or decreased. Gender influenced responses, with female students more likely to report and male students more likely to fight back. Racial alignment between bystander and target predicted higher reporting rates and intervention success, raising concerns about in-group favoritism. Physical bullying prompted more intervention than verbal and relational bullying, though verbal bullying was more prevalent. Findings underscore the need for culturally responsive, relationship-focused interventions to strengthen bystander engagement across contexts.

The community sport environment presents many unique challenges for safeguarding children and responding to abuse occurring in sport. These include the largely volunteer workforce, the systemic normalisation of abuse, and the existence of “the sport ethic.” The aim of this study was to examine the factors that enable or hinder individual volunteers to respond to child abuse in sport, in order to inform the development and delivery of targeted support and safeguarding education initiatives for community sport sector. Community sport volunteers from Australia were invited to complete an online questionnaire. The questions were based on the COM-B theory of behaviour change and were designed to assess their capabilities (C), opportunities (O) and motivations (M) to effectively respond to a disclosure of child abuse in sport (behaviour, B). 218 respondents completed the full survey. Two-thirds of respondents were women, and the mean age was 50 years old. The motivations were high, with capabilities and opportunities both lower. The lowest capabilities were those related to trauma-informed care, with less than half of the respondents knowing what a trauma-informed response is and even fewer agreeing that they could apply the principles to a response. In terms of opportunities, only 55% believed their club made it clear that responding to abuse is part of their role and 20% felt they could face repercussions if they raised an issue of child abuse. Moreover, less than 40% of respondents agree that the current system for reporting child abuse in sport is effective. While volunteers are highly motivated to respond to abuse, they believe the system is not effective and that they are not supported with appropriate resourcing and social support. The low capabilities, particularly in responding to a disclosure, and awareness of resources are elements that should be explicitly targeted in education/training initiatives.

A growing body of research has linked aspects of religion with intimate partner violence (IPV). Most studies have focused on IPV perpetration, with far fewer studies considering how religious factors affect IPV victimization. Our study contributes to this literature by examining the links between multiple religious domains and the risk of experiencing IPV. We analyze longitudinal data from five waves of the Fragile Families and Child Well-being project, a nationwide sample of urban, mostly minority, lower income unmarried couples. Data are analyzed via discrete-time event history analysis, estimated with complementary log-log regression, and the findings are: (a) Partner’s religious attendance frequency is inversely associated with the risk of IPV victimization in most models, for both mothers and fathers. (b) Couples’ religious attendance similarity is associated with lower risk of IPV victimization for mothers but not fathers. (c) Affiliation with a conservative Protestant or sectarian religious group is linked with elevated risk of IPV victimization. Most of the observed religious variations in IPV victimization risk withstand multiple controls for relationship quality, as well as an array of demographic characteristics. We contribute to the growing literature on religion and IPV, highlighting the role of religious attendance as a noteworthy prophylactic against IPV.

This study examines how age differences between aggressors and victims influence the risk of women re-experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in heterosexual relationships, while controlling for the couple’s absolute ages and criminal histories. The research examines heterosexual couples in Catalonia, Spain, where the male partner was convicted of an IPV-related offense over 5 years, and the female partner received a protection order. Couples are grouped as age-homogamous (similar age) or age-heterogamous (significant age difference), with the latter further divided into female-hypergamous (woman younger) and female-hypogamous (woman older). The study leverages comprehensive registry data and employs event-history analysis to assess the risk of revictimization over a follow-up period of up to 8 years. Women who are older than their male partners face a heightened risk of revictimization, with the risk increasing as the age gap widens. The findings suggest that this trend is not attributable to older women selecting generally more violent younger men. Instead, they align most closely with status inconsistency theory, which suggests that IPV risk increases when women surpass men in key resources, thereby challenging traditional patriarchal norms. These results highlight the importance of interventions that address power dynamics and resource imbalances in age-discrepant relationships to help reduce the risk of revictimization.