The following study is an exploratory analysis of intimate partner kidnapping. The current study will give a descriptive picture of the victim, offender, and incident characteristics of a form of intimate partner violence that has never been studied before, intimate partner kidnapping, as well as a form of physical violence often seen in the literature, intimate partner assaults. The study will use a combination of the National Incident Based Report System (FBI, 2009), and the American Community Survey (Census, 2012) to identify these characteristics and also to identify any potential relationships between structural-level correlates and rates of intimate partner violence. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of multiple forms of intimate partner violence using police data, as well as, understand their relationships to structural-level correlates of counties. The current study uses the National Incident-Based Reporting (FBI, 2009) system from the year 2009 in order to identify both types of intimate partner violence. It is rare that police data is used to study intimate partner violence, and the current study expands our knowledge of this violence by using a different type of data to study this area. Additionally, the American Community Survey (Census, 2012) estimates between 2005-2009 are utilized to measure the structural-level variables, including concentrated disadvantage, racial heterogeneity, immigrant concentration, and residential stability. Overall, this study finds that intimate partner kidnapping is a different form of violence than intimate partner assaults. Only one structural level variable, residential stability is significantly associated with intimate partner kidnapping, whereas, 3 of the 4 structural level iv variables are significantly related to intimate partner assaults and most in the direction expected. The conclusions suggest that intimate partner kidnapping may be a part of “coercive controlling violence” which involves severe amounts of control, isolation, and intimidation, and may not have the same relationships to structural-level correlates as other types of intimate partner violence, such as physical assaults.

The purpose of this study was to explore whether attributes of sex role identity and gender role stress differed between perpetrators of child sexual abuse (CSA) and perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). The primary research question posed in the research sought to determine if participants’ attitudes on gender role stereotyping or gender role stress were significantly different between perpetrators of CSA and perpetrators of IPV. Participants in this study were a convenience sample of adult males with histories of CSA and IPV from two different outpatient counseling programs. Participants completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory-Short Form (BSRI-SF) and the Male Gender Role Stress (MGRS) scales to investigate whether the gender role attributes and gender role stress scores of the perpetrators of CSA and IPV were (a) similar or different from each other and (b) whether they fell outside the norms established by the two standardized instruments. This study utilized multiple regression and one sample t-tests to analyze the data. There was a statistically significant relationship between perpetrator type and the BSRI-SF and MGRS scores. Additionally, perpetrators of CSA and IPV had lower scores on the MGRS scale than those men in previous research. Additional research was suggested to further explore the relationship between gender role stereotypes and gender role stress on the perpetration of CSA.

This study examined meditative practices among group participants and therapists, participating in the Domestic Violence Focused Couples Treatment (DVFCT) group using the phenomenology and systems frameworks. Specifically, this inquiry explored whether or not group participants and therapists experienced intrapersonal effects as well as relational effects from meditating, both within and outside of session. Little research examines the relational impact of meditating, or the use of meditation as a strategy for helping couples who experienced intimate partner violence. Systems theory and existing research regarding mindfulness meditation contributed to the development of interview questions. Five group participants and four therapists who facilitated the Domestic Violence Focused Couples Treatment group within the last two years were interviewed. The main theme that had emerged from the study were the differences between meditating during session versus out of session for all study participants. In the study, it was noticed that group participants also experienced more relational effects then were noticed by the therapists. While the experience for the therapists and group participants varied, some similarities were found consistently through their interviews. Also included are a discussion of the connections between these themes and the existing literature, the strengths and limitations of this study, and the implications for future research. / Master of Science

Background: Women around the world are subjected to violence in intimate relationships. Statistics indicate that one in three women has experienced intimate partner violence. The violence women are subjected to occurs in different forms and primarily behind closed doors in their homes. Nurses play a significant role in identifying violence in their interactions with these women, as they often withhold this information from healthcare providers. Aim: The aim was to describe nurse's experiences of identifying women exposed to violence. Method: A literature study based on eight qualitative scientific articles from the nurse's perspective and analysed with Friberg’s five-step model. Results: The result consists of two main themes and seven subthemes. It turned out that nurses often get emotionally affected when they hear the abused women talk about their experiences. Nurses' previous experiences have a significant role in the care encounter. Other factors that affect the nurses' ability to identify abused women are perceived to be lack of knowledge, lack of routine and lack of time. But also the dilemma of nurses believing that it is not their responsibility to identify abused women. Conclusion: Nurses have a lack of knowledge about the subject which results in them hesitating and not daring to ask the question about violence. The conclusion is that several factors affect the nurse in the identification of abused women. Nurses need to improve their knowledge of the subject and need clear guidelines from their workplace to be able to take their responsibility.

Thesis advisor: Corrine Y. Jurgens / Background: Reproductive coercion (RC) is a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) involving a partner’s control of a woman’s reproductive health decisions regarding pregnancy and childbearing. RC is associated with numerous negative health consequences; however, the impact on a pregnancy and developing fetus and association with adverse birth outcomes is not known.Design: Secondary analysis of Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data, 2012 – 2015, from five states. Purpose: To examine whether RC before pregnancy is associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing preterm birth (< 37 weeks gestational age), neonatal intensive care (NICU) after birth, and infant death. Method: Data on women ages 17 years and older who gave birth to a live infant (N = 18,728) were analyzed. Logistic regression procedures were used to determine the odds of preterm birth, infant death, and need for NICU care among women experiencing RC while controlling for known risk factors (age, race, ethnicity, education, marital status, depression, drinking, and smoking). The moderation effect of IPV on the relationship of RC and birth outcomes was tested by including an interaction term (product of RC and IPV) in the model. Results: No significant association between RC and preterm birth, need for NICU care, or infant death was detected. Additionally, exposure to IPV did not have a moderating effect on either the direction or magnitude of the relationship between RC and birth outcomes. Conclusions: Despite these findings, RC remains a significant concern for nurses caring for pregnant women and women of reproductive age. This study highlights a current gap in knowledge about the ways RC can affect a pregnancy and birth outcomes. Replication studies using more robust measures of RC and data collection approaches that can most accurately identify RC experiences are needed to increase understanding. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2022. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

In the United States, intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common cause of non-fatal injury for women. The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is an evidence-based maternal and early childhood health program where nurse home visitors seek to develop therapeutic relationships and provide health promotion interventions with low-income, young pregnant women and first time mothers and their children, from early in pregnancy until the child’s second birthday. In this program, nurses have a responsibility to identify women exposed to abuse and provide supportive interventions. The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of this work on nurse home visitors’ professional and personal selves. A secondary qualitative content analysis was conducted using a sample comprised of 27 nurses, 18 community partners, and 4 nurse supervisors from an original case study by Jack et al. (2012) for the development of a nurse home visitation IPV intervention. Conventional content analysis and constant comparative techniques were used to code 8 nurse focus group transcripts and 43 transcripts from face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with the community partners and supervisors. Nurses identify that clients are exposed to multiple types of violence. These experiences increase the complexity of delivering the NFP home visitation program. Nurses also experience high levels of uncertainty related to how to respond to disclosures, and how to address IPV. The presence of IPV also significantly impacts many facets of the nurse-client relationship. At times nurses struggle with wanting to “fix” the client’s relationship with her partner; yet understand this is not a healthy response. Setting boundaries and clearly defining one’s role in this work is complex, and many nurses experience high levels of anxiety, worry and fear for their clients. Supervisors and community members confirm nurses’ experiences but also provide strategies for reflective supervision and community level support. Nurse home visitors are in a unique position to provide care for women exposed to IPV and recommendations are provided for nursing education, practice and research in this field. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

This study investigated the relation between maternal self-efficacy, depression, and intimate partner violence among Mexican immigrant and Mexican mothers. The research was conducted using a parallel mixed methods approach including both qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of 136 mothers living in the United States and Mexico completed surveys, and 10 mothers participated in semi-structured interviews. In a regression on maternal depression, living in Mexico as opposed to the U.S., psychological violence, and maternal self-efficacy were significant predictors of maternal depression. In the qualitative data analysis, we found five main themes: perceptions, cultural influence, involvement, resources, and barriers. In this stage of the study, Mexican and Mexican immigrant mothers described in detail their experiences of being a mother, their perceptions of maternal self-efficacy, and the influence of intimate partner violence and depression on their effectiveness as mothers. Overall, Mexican immigrant families appeared to have healthier relationships and greater well-being than Mexican families.

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