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

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine frequency and correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV) severity perpetrated by heterosexual men receiving treatment for substance use towards a current partner in the past 12 months. Design/methodology/approach A secondary analysis of a self-reported questionnaire (n=162) completed by men receiving treatment for substance use in England and Brazil was conducted. Types of IPV perpetration (emotional, physical and/or sexual IPV) and frequency of occurrence were assessed. A five level ordinal variable for IPV perpetration severity was created: no IPV, minor; moderate, low severe and high severe. Psychological and cultural correlates of perpetration severity were explored using ordinal logistic regression. Findings Approximately four in ten men reported perpetrating IPV towards their partner in the past 12 months, one in ten reported perpetrating severe IPV (including hitting with something, kicking or beating, choking or burning, threatening with/using a weapon, sexual IPV and frequent emotional IPV) during this period. A number of correlates of perpetration severity were identified: experiencing childhood physical abuse, witnessing IPV in childhood, perpetrating IPV in previous relationships, committing violence towards another man, controlling behaviours, technology-facilitated abuse, depressive symptoms, having a substance using partner, receiving treatment for illicit drug use, hazardous drinking and poly-drug use. Research limitations/implications Despite the small sample size, small to large positive associations were observed between reporting IPV perpetration and several factors. These factors could be targeted to improve identification and assessment of IPV among men receiving treatment for substance use. Originality/value A strength of this study methodology is the use of a specific 12 months time frame for the perpetration of IPV towards current partner. The categorisation of levels of IPV perpetration based on types and frequency of violence occurrence was an additional valuable contribution of this study.

The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Mental Health and Suicidal Behaviors: A Study from Portuguese Language Countries

“…These results also demonstrated a strong association between physical and emotional abuse, suggesting that the experience of multiple types of adversity in childhood is highly associated (Descartes et al, 2020;Edwards et al, 2003;Felitti et al, 2019;Karatekin, 2017;Mersky et al, 2013;Riedl et al, 2020), and, specifically, that physical abuse co-occurs with psychological abuse (Descartes et al, 2020;Dias et al, 2015). Exposure to domestic violence was also strongly associated with substance abuse in the household, an association also found in previous studies (Canfield et al, 2020;Fals-Stewart, 2003). This result may be explained by the fact that substance abuse (e.g., alcohol) may affect brain structures responsible for the inhibitory control of behaviors, inducing primitive forms of behavior, such as aggressive impulses.…”

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

“…Of those who disclosed they were ineligible, 51.9% stated there was no IPA in their relationship or they were not in a relationship; but this was not formally assessed by the researcher. We know from previous research in England that around four in ten men in substance use treatment had perpetrated IPA towards their current partner in the past 12 months [ 13 ], therefore we believe that this eligibility rate of the men approached does not reflect need. One European trial of a 16-session integrated intervention delivered in a substance use treatment service used similar recruitment methods to ADVANCE, including a two-stage screening process [ 58 ].…”

“…The relative risk for IPA was 2–3 times higher among patients who had relapsed following treatment (26–43% compared to 6–12%). Among men currently in treatment for substance use for varying lengths of time, 34–40% had perpetrated IPA towards a current or former female partner in the past 12-months [ 13 , 14 ]. Such findings, together with the chronic, relapsing nature of substance use disorders [ 15 ], suggest that while treatment for substance use alone may reduce IPA, it may not be enough to stop IPA altogether.…”

The feasibility of delivering the ADVANCE digital intervention to reduce intimate partner abuse by men receiving substance use treatment: protocol for a non-randomised multi-centre feasibility study and embedded process evaluation

“…However, we anticipate that since they have faced the same stressors as others, the IPA prevalence will also have increased. Previously, we estimated that 50% of men in substance use treatment who had female partners had perpetrated IPA towards them in the past year [ 41 ], a rate far higher than that of men in the general population [ 12 , 14 ] and higher than the elevated rates reported in IPA studies conducted during the pandemic (e.g. [ 31 , 32 ]).…”