Includes bibliographical references / This study examined the social representations of intimate partner violence (IPV) that emerged amongst violent men, their social networks and within the media, and framed within social representations theory and feminist poststructuralism. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 11 men, recruited from two men's programmes at an NGO, and seven focus group discussions were conducted with the men's social networks. A total of 11 3 reports on violence against women were collected from two newspapers that draw the largest readership in the Cape Town area. A thematic decomposition analysis - emphasising language, power and subjectivity - revealed how participants' representations of respectability, morality, and reputation served to maintain patriarchy, and make violence permissible. The findings also shed light on the polarity of human thought, demonstrating how 'non-valid' victims of IPV are blamed and 'othered' for the violence perpetrated against them; yet in contrast, men who perpetrate violence are protected and defended. Understanding violence as an intersectional experience - defined by race, class, gender and sexuality in the context of post-apartheid South Africa - is central to the analysis. This study employed an integrated and unique methodology to sample men, their networks and printed media reports, which involved an analysis of violence as a social act. To my knowledge, it is the first study to have asked questions about what social representations of intimate partner violence emerge in men and their social networks' narratives and how these resonate in South African media's discourses. Suggestions for prevention and community-based programmes, interventions for perpetrators and victims of intimate partner violence, and practical recommendations for improved journalistic practice are provided. The community, relationships and individuals are shown to be inseparable spheres, and the contextualised analyses of power and oppression are shown to open possibilities for social change.

Domestic Violence is a public health issue that is affecting millions of people annually. Police reports can give a unique aspect of cases that involve domestic violence because the narrative is a firsthand report of the violent incident. Using domestic violence case reports gathered from a law enforcement database at a county Sheriff's office in Florida, the current study examines whether alcohol use in domestic violence incidents influences threats that the victim receives during the incident. Logistic regression analysis indicates that alcohol use does not significantly impact threats that the victim receives during a domestic violence altercation. However, the study found that if there is a history of domestic violence mentioned in the police report, it is more likely that threats are also mentioned. The findings suggest that more research should be done on domestic violence cases involving alcohol use and non-violent forms of abuse such as threats.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore how intimate partner femicide (IPF) has impacted one family. IPF is well researched and studies are largely centered on indicators of intimate partner violence (IFV) and the impacts of children witnessing violence. There is very little research conducted with family members exploring how they are impacted by the violent death of their loved one. This study concentrates on the impacts experienced by one family who has suffered the loss of a loved one due to intimate partner femicide. This study was conducted via a series of interviews with Gail, who lost her sister. Due to the nature and intensity of the subject matter no other family members were contacted. Our first interview was in person and took place in central Ontario, several hours away from where her sister was killed. I conducted further interviews by phone to obtain additional understanding about her experiences of the loss of her sister. I used feminist theory to explore the dynamics in the victim’s relationship prior to her death. Feminist theory was used because it explores the power imbalances that exist in relationships. This revealed a cycle of violence that existed in her intimate relationship and the challenges this woman faced in her attempts to leave her relationship. As a result of her sister’s death Gail and her children have been very deeply affected. Through a thematic analysis of the data, four main themes emerged: 1) the victim feared for her own safety pre and post relationship; and the family were afraid once the woman went missing; 2) the family members faced and continue to face mental health challenges including a very young child suffering with suicide ideations, depression, and anxiety; 3) ways of coping included concealment of emotions and the use of non-medicinal methods of healing trauma; 4) Gail felt guilty that she did not do enough to help keep her sister safe but eventually coming to the realization that she did as much as could be done. Family stress theory is another important theory used to understand and make sense of Gail’s experiences of femicide. Family stress theory refers to multiple stressors as a “pile up”, a stage that Gail encountered when she struggled with depression, anxiety and financial struggles after taking time off work to care for her own children and grandchildren, resulting from Gail’s daughter’s own mental health breakdown which she sees as tied to the families experience of femicide. Of the many things that came from this study I found the most striking was talk of the “new normal” created as a result of the femicide. The new normal has impacted the whole family as they adjust to life without the one person who was central in bringing the family together to celebrate family events. These gatherings no longer take place. When they do half the family does not participate due in part to their ongoing grief and anger over their loss that their sister is no longer present. These findings of my study bring further attention to the continued struggles and impact that IPF has on families. It highlights that there is still much work to be done to put an end to this heinous crime. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

Over 12 million incidents of intimate partner victimization (IPV) occur each year in the U.S (Black et al. 2010). Moreover, approximately 363 per 100,000 Canadians are victims of IPV each year (Statistics Canada 2010). Due to these high victimization rates, many scholars have turned their attention to IPV research. However, there is still some debate as to what are the strongest correlates of IPV. This thesis examines risk factors (gender, geographic location, presence of children, Aboriginal status, and minority status) and theories (self-control, routine activities, social disorganization, and collective efficacy) as predictors of IPV. I use Statistics Canada’s 2009 General Social Survey (GSS) to develop our understanding of IPV. More specifically, this thesis examines how these theoretical perspectives help to explain three particular forms of IPV: physical, sexual, and financial. In order to help policy creation, this thesis explores differences between the explanatory power of risk factors, self-control, routine activities, social disorganization, and collective efficacy on IPV and general victimization (e.g., abuse carried out by someone not necessarily known to the victim). Overall, the findings provided some support for the theoretical expectations. With regard to the risk factor variables, women were more likely to experience sexual and financial IPV. Aboriginals were more likely to experience sexual IPV. Self-control theory worked in the opposite direction than was expected. Low self-control decreased the risk of financial IPV. Routine activities theory explained physical IPV to some degree in that routinely going out to a bar at night decreased the odds of physical IPV. Moreover, the findings revealed that low collective efficacy increased the odds of physical IPV and mediated the effects of routine activities theory. Finally, this thesis provided policy suggestions to reduce IPV and victimization in general. / Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2014-03-21 16:34:44.083

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore past intimate partner violence as it occurs in Appalachian women residing in rural and non-urbanized areas. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a social problem occurring within the context of an intimate relationship. It is estimated that 3.5 to 5 million American women experience some form of IPV each year (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Abuse types include physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, and stalking, and can involve individuals of any age, race, socioeconomic status, geographic region, or cultural heritage. In this study, participants lived in areas of Appalachia with less than 50,000 residents. Appalachia is a geographic region which spans 13 states, including West Virginia where all participants lived. Twelve past IPV victims shared their stories through the sociocultural tradition of story-telling. Data which emerged through analysis of interview transcripts revealed a meta-theme of Turning Points, which is reflective of the perceived non-linearity of IPV. Themes were: (1) When Hope Turns to Fear; (2) Escalation of Abuse; (3) Continuation of Abuse; (4) That’s When I Knew it had to Stop; (5) Leaving as a Non-Linear Process; (6) Learn from my Story. Don’t Let it be Your Story; and (7) Does Where I Live Make a Difference? Participants experienced multiple types of abuse, and there was always a co-occurrence of abuses. When the severity and frequency of abuse escalated, perpetrators used multiple strategies to hide the abuse, such as isolating the victim from family and friends, and limiting access to transportation and phones. Eventually, each participant recognized they had to leave or their injuries might prove fatal. Leaving was a non-linear process, but each survivor was able to end her abusive relationship. One way they sought to make meaning from their IPV experience was educating others in abuse recognition; disseminating information about abuse both pro-actively and re-actively; and offering emotional, psychological, and perhaps even physical support to past or present IPV victims. One or more facets of the IPV experience was addressed in relation to the sociocultural components of rural or non-urbanized areas of Appalachia.

The purpose of this practicum is to give impetus to the exploration and delineation of long-range effects of a rape experience. This will be accomplished in the following manner: (1) a literature review to (a) review what reactions are known; (b) discuss which response patterns to the crisis may exist; and (c) which issues rape victims express as being difficult or of concern in their adjustment. The literature review will be in Chapter II. (2) Designing a research instrument or questionnaire that can be administered to victims at least one year after the rape. The purpose of the questionnaire is to identify sequelae of the rape still giving the woman difficulties, the degree of difficulty, and to determine if specific reactions take longer to integrate into one's total life experiences. The instrument is presented in Appendix A. It is expected that further critical study and research can be facilitated by its use. Following the literature review, Chapter III presents a short summary and discussion of the procedure. Chapter IV consists of a discussion of the questionnaire and its content, and Chapter V, recommendations.

Intimate partner abuse is a prevalent social concern which causes long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive effects on survivors. Studies suggest that spirituality is a useful resource for individuals recovering from trauma related to intimate partner abuse, however, more research is needed to understand the intricate ways spirituality contributes to the recovery process. Through a qualitative approach, this study examines the ways in which women who have experienced intimate partner abuse use spirituality in the process of coping and recovering. Open-ended interviews were conducted with eight women who have experienced intimate partner abuse and identified spirituality as an essential part of their lives. The results uncovered specific belief systems underlining each participant’s sense of spirituality, as well as practices, rituals, and behaviors they engaged in during their experiences in coping and recovery. Participants reported spirituality as a means of reclaiming one’s sense-of-self and as fostering empowerment in the aftermath of intimate partner abuse. They also indicated that spirituality fostered forgiveness and self-compassion, and helped them cope with the long-term effects of trauma including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. / Graduate

Background: Little is known about the perspectives of South Asian mothers with regards to the experience of intimate partner violence (IPV), including risk and protective factors, impacts of exposure, and help-seeking. This thesis is comprised of two sub-studies. In the first study, a scoping review was conducted to identify and map the literature on IPV amongst South Asian women residing outside of South Asia. The second study consists of a qualitative project to explore how IPV is perceived among South Asian mothers living in Ontario, Canada. Methods: The first study was a scoping review conducted using the 5-stage framework outlined by Arksey and O’Malley, and later advanced by Levac et al. Four health and social science databases, including Embase, CINAHL, Medline, and PsychINFO were systematically searched from inception to June 2020 using the themes “intimate partner violence” and “South Asian.” Studies were screened for inclusion based on pre-determined eligibility criteria, and relevant data with regards to study location, journal type, and sample characteristics were abstracted by two independent reviewers. Studies were organized and synthesized into thematic categories. Then a qualitative descriptive study was conducted with a purposeful sample of 6 South Asian mothers from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, recruited from a sub-sample of the SouTh Asian biRth CohorT Study (START). Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore their perceptions and experiences of IPV in their community. The interview data were analysed using reflective thematic analysis. Findings: The scoping review revealed that most studies qualitatively explored the experiences and perceptions of IPV amongst women of the South Asian diaspora; however, there was a paucity of quantitative literature to ascertain the impacts of exposure to IPV. Similarly, there was a dearth of literature on the prevention of IPV in this population. Other research gaps included the lack of clinical samples, the underrepresentation of some South Asian ethnicities over others, and the overrepresentation of studies conducted in the USA. The qualitative descriptive study revealed that among this sample of South Asian mothers, they expressed that in-laws play a significant role in contributing to violence from in-laws, which can lead to IPV, and in increasing a woman’s risk of experiencing IPV by adhering to traditional gender roles. Participants identified that the IPV can manifest as unequal sharing of responsibilities between partners and women’s education can be protective against IPV. Participants believed that their concern for their children’s well-being along with cultural expectations of South Asian females, played a key role in the decision to seek help for IPV. Participants identified that physicians could play an important role in helping women who have experienced IPV by asking about IPV and offering resources. Discussion: This scoping review, which identified and mapped IPV literature, and qualitative study, which investigated the perceptions of IPV amongst South Asian mothers, contribute to the body of IPV literature amongst women in the South Asian diaspora. The findings can help inform future research directions, and can contribute to the general understanding of stakeholders, such as service providers for IPV, about how IPV is understood, experienced, and addressed among South Asian mothers. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an insidious societal problem with potentially lethal ramifications. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread conditions and virus risk mitigation procedures like social distancing and stay-at-home orders exacerbated factors that contribute to IPV such as poverty and substance use. Though anyone can experience IPV, mothers carried unparalleled burdens in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic such as increasing childcare responsibilities, growing financial difficulties, and worsening mental health, and many of these factors have been linked to experiencing IPV. The growing body of literature indicates a rise in IPV during COVID-19, but little has been empirically established on the interactions between IPV, motherhood, and COVID-19. This study used inductive thematic analysis of open responses to an online survey completed by a sample (n = 55) of mothers in U.S. metropolitan areas who were at least 18 years old and who had experienced IPV in the last five years. Data were organized by respondents' perceptions of the pandemic's impact (positive, negative, or no impact) on their interactions with abusive partners, overall well-being, and feelings of safety. Responses indicating a negative impact were sorted into three themes: Pandemic Circumstances Creating or Exacerbating Problems, Adapting Abuse Tactics to Fit Pandemic Circumstances, and Strategically Managing Abusive Situations. Responses indicating no impact were sorted into two themes: No Impact (General) and No Contact. Responses indicating a positive impact were sorted into two themes: Feeling Safer During the Pandemic and Improving Mother-Child Situations. Furthermore, respondents identified mental health care, legal or judicial assistance, and financial support as needed resources during the height of COVID-19 shutdowns. Findings can be used to aid mothers in future pandemics as well as natural disasters, wars, and similar environmental conflicts.

Objective: Shared Decision-Making (SDM) as a clinical approach allows patients and physicians to discuss the best treatment options for the patients' improved health outcomes. Over the past two decades, SDM has improved the quality of health by reassuring patients that they have a voice when considering treatment options. The objective of this study is threefold: to examine parents' perceptions of engaging in SDM with their physicians about their treatment options; to engage in the SDM process when their children's mental health conditions were the subject of SDM; and to assess the comfort level of parents engaging in SDM, based upon their highest levels of education. Specifically, the researcher was interested in how parents' racial demographics influenced their involvement in the SDM process. Methods: The researcher reviewed in-depth the 2016-2017 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). In that study, interviewers asked parents of different races how they engaged in SDM with their physicians, when discussing their health and their children's mental health issues. The three questions dealt with parents' experiences with SDM and their physicians, parents' experiences with SDM when discussing their children's mental health conditions, and how parents' highest educational attainment might impact their comfort levels in engaging in SDM with their physicians. The researcher conducted a Univariate descriptive statistic, Cronbach Alpha Score, ANOVA, T-test and Tukey poc test to make valid conclusions in answering the question, "How does shared decision-making between patient and physician differ by race?"