Impacts of COVID-19 on the Coping Behaviours of Canadian Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Background Strict public health measures central to slowing the spread of COVID-19 have, unintentionally, exacerbated risks for women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) while impeding their usual coping strategies. The goal of this study was to understand how coping was influenced by COVID-19 for women who have experienced IPV and identify changes in coping strategies and gaps that need to be addressed to support coping. Methods A qualitatively driven, sequential, cross-sectional design, where quantitative data informed and was embedded within qualitative data collection, was used to explore the experiences of IPV (CAS-R-SF scale) and coping (Brief-COPE scale) specific to IPV of 95 Canadian women. A subset of 19 women was invited to complete an interview exploring coping strategies identified within the survey to contextualize and validate these findings. Results Survey data subjected to quantitative content analysis identified ten themes, all of which were explored in semi-structured interviews. Thematic interview findings included (1) influence of COVID-19 on coping, (2) coping during COVID-19, and (3) needed coping strategies. Conclusion COVID-19 had important impacts on the experiences and coping strategies of women who experience IPV. To better support this population in pandemic circumstances, in-person services should be prioritized with an emphasis on accessible and empathetic care. Public health measures in response to COVID-19, and the eventuality of future pandemics, should aim to be gender- and violence-informed.

The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic and Social Determinants of Health on the Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence. A Systematic Review

“…There was found no significant change in the prevalence of IPV in three studies that were conducted in countries of Africa ( 30 , 51 , 59 ), in two studies that were conducted in countries of Asia ( 19 , 56 ), in two studies that were conducted in countries of Europe ( 43 , 55 ) and in two studies that were conducted in countries of North America ( 38 , 39 ).…”

“…In thirty-eight of the studies, the prevalence of IPV was found to be higher during lockdown ( 13 , 15 , 16 , 20 , 21 , 23 - 27 , 29 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 40 - 42 , 44 - 50 , 52 , 53 , 57 , 60 - 69 ), while in ten the prevalence of IPV ( 14 , 17 , 18 , 22 , 28 , 32 , 33 , 36 , 54 , 58 ) was found to be lower during lockdown. In nine studies the prevalence of IPV did not have a significant change before and during lockdown ( 19 , 30 , 38 , 39 , 43 , 51 , 55 , 56 , 59 ) ( Table 1 ).…”

“…Three types of intimate partner violence were identified and all three of them were applied by the perpetrators to the victim, as it was found in thirty-two studies( 13 , 14 , 16 - 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 27 - 34 , 38 - 40 , 44 - 46 , 48 - 51 , 55 , 57 , 67 - 69 ). Those were psychological, physical and sexual IPV.…”

“…Those were psychological, physical and sexual IPV. Psychological IPV took the form of verbal abuse, insults, yelling, abusive language, control, coercion, humiliation, threats, intimidation, bulling, divorce threats, isolation from family and friends, financial restrictions( 13 , 14 , 22 - 36 , 38 - 40 , 42 , 44 - 50 , 55 , 57 - 61 , 67 - 69 ). Physical abuse was manifested as slaping, kicking, shoving, chocking, burning, throwing things, pulling hair pulling of knives and other sharp objects( 13 - 20 , 22 - 36 , 38 - 40 , 42 , 44 - 53 , 55 - 59 , 62 , 63 , 66 - 69 ).…”

Special Issue: 24th Nursing Network on Violence Against Women International (NNVAWI) Conference Proceedings June 21 ‐ 23, 2022

“…Researchers described conceptual attributes and factors that support resilience, including support, identity and regaining power (Shillington et al, 2022). Others shared findings from studies that explored the influence of resilience on survivors' decision‐making (Jackson et al, 2022) and related concepts, such as coping (Mantler et al, 2022) and seeking help (Baeza & Metheny, 2022), healthcare (Silva et al, 2022) or information (Finnbogadóttir et al, 2022). Resilience‐focused abstracts also included diverse perspectives from populations such as Indigenous Australian communities (Fiolet & Owen, 2022) and pregnant adolescents living with HIV in South Africa (Woollett et al, 2022).…”