Controlling behaviours and technology‐facilitated abuse perpetrated by men receiving substance use treatment in England and Brazil: Prevalence and risk factors

Abstract

Introduction and AimsControlling behaviours are highly prevalent forms of non‐physical intimate partner violence (IPV). The prevalence of perpetrating controlling behaviours and technology‐facilitated abuse (TFA) was compared by men receiving substance use treatment in England (n = 223) and Brazil (n = 280). Factors associated with perpetrating these behaviours towards their current/most recent partner and their association with other types of IPV were explored.Design and MethodsSecondary analysis from two cross‐sectional studies was performed. Data on socio‐demographic characteristics, infidelity, IPV perpetration and victimisation, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), attitudes towards gender relations and roles, substance use, depressive symptoms and anger expression were collected.ResultsSixty‐four percent (143/223) and 33% (73/223) of participants in England and 65% (184/280) and 20% (57/280) in Brazil reported controlling behaviours and TFA, respectively, during their current/most recent relationship. Excluding IPV victimisation from the multivariate models; perpetrating controlling behaviours was associated with a higher number of ACE, higher anger expression (England) and severe physical IPV perpetration (Brazil), and perpetrating TFA was associated with younger age. Including both IPV victimisation and perpetration in the multivariate models; perpetrating controlling behaviour was associated with experiencing a higher number of ACE, higher anger expression (England), emotional IPV victimisation (England) and experiencing controlling behaviour from a partner (England). The perpetration of TFA was associated with younger age and experiencing TFA from a partner.ConclusionsTechnological progress provides opportunities for perpetrators to control and abuse their partners. Controlling behaviours and TFA should be addressed to reduce IPV perpetration by males in substance use treatment. [Gilchrist G, Canfield M,Radcliffe P, d'Oliveira AFPL. Controlling behaviours and technology‐facilitated abuse perpetrated by men receiving substance use treatment in England and Brazil: Prevalence and risk factors. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:52–63]

Tailored integrated interventions for intimate partner violence and substance use are urgently needed

“… illustrate the importance of expectancies about the effects of alcohol in relation to IPV perpetration, consistent with previous work showing strong cultural expectancies that alcohol facilitates IPV . There is also need to take into account adverse child events in interventions to address IPV perpetration, as two studies in this special issue highlight the association between IPV perpetration and trauma . However, Madruga et al .…”

“…Gilchrist et al [18] illustrate the importance of expectancies about the effects of alcohol in relation to IPV perpetration, consistent with previous work showing strong cultural expectancies that alcohol facilitates IPV [19]. There is also need to take into account adverse child events in interventions to address IPV perpetration, as two studies in this special issue highlight the association between IPV perpetration and trauma [20,21]. However, Madruga et al [22] found that although witnessing parental violence was independently associated with being a victim of IPV, IPV perpetration was not associated with witnessing parental violence when experience of direct violence as a child was controlled for.…”

“…This nuancing of the types of violence and their relationship to substance use and the context surrounding an individual's experience could move the interventions for IPV field forward. For example, Gilchrist et al [20] highlight the use of controlling behaviours and technology facilitated abuse in men receiving substance use treatment and the need to address this type of abuse in interventions. Other researchers in this special issue are starting to explore how problematic drinking and executive functioning deficits interact in relation to IPV perpetration [42], supporting the need for interventions that address adaptive emotion regulation skills.…”

ADVANCE integrated group intervention to address both substance use and intimate partner abuse perpetration by men in substance use treatment: a feasibility randomised controlled trial

“…A recent meta-analysis of the effectiveness of perpetrator interventions to reduce IPA by men who use substances (five of the nine trials were conducted in community ( n = 4) or inpatient ( n = 1) substance use treatment settings) concluded that integrated interventions targeting both IPA and substance use were not superior in reducing IPA than substance use treatment alone [ 23 ]. Physical IPA was the main outcome reported in the majority of trials, despite the perpetration of emotional abuse, coercive control and technology-facilitated abuse also being highly prevalent in this group [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Factors associated with the severity of IPV perpetrated by substance using men towards current partner

“…Reports of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration by men in substance use treatment are high (Gilchrist et al , 2015; Gilchrist, Canfield, Radcliffe and d’Oliveira, 2017; Kraanen et al , 2014; Taft et al , 2010). IPV refers to any kind of violence against partners in intimate relationships including physical (hitting, kicking, shoving, etc.…”