Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Survivors’ Help-Seeking

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors often do not seek critically needed help. A good understanding of the relationship between the pattern of violence and help-seeking is critical to developing adequate services for the survivors, as well as for reaching out to those who do not seek help. This study used the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey to examine how IPV survivor's help-seeking varies, depending on the characteristics of the survivors and the pattern of victimization. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, with the survivors' help-seeking and use of formal or informal help as the dependent variables. The study results show that women are the primary victims of IPV, that the pattern of victimization is associated with both whether survivors seek help or not, and which help sources they utilize, if any. IPV consequences are also associated with survivors' help-seeking, as are demographic factors such as age, gender, race, and immigration status.

Migrant Women’s Help-Seeking Decisions and Use of Support Resources for Intimate Partner Violence in China

“…Therefore, a thorough examination of potential predictors should include sociodemographic characteristics, interpersonal or relational variables, and factors associated with the socio-cultural context of the population (Liang et al, 2005). A list of individual and relationship factors has been reported to be predictive of help-seeking behaviors, including age (Cho et al, 2017); income (Barrett et al, 2019;Barrett & St Pierre, 2011); education (Parvin et al, 2016;Tenkorang et al, 2016); employment status (Vives-Cases & La Parra, 2017); marital status (Linos et al, 2014); and different types of violence (Cho et al, 2017;Choi et al, 2018). In addition to including these important individual and relationship factors, in the present study we also included factors that reflect the geosocial context in which migrant women are situated, migration-related factors, and knowledge and beliefs related to the current anti-Domestic Violence (DV) Law in China.…”

“Where Is the Women’s Center Here?”: The Role of Information in Refugee Women’s Help Seeking for Intimate Partner Violence in a Resettlement Context

“…While benefits of seeking services and support are clear, immigrant women face numerous barriers that discourage disclosures of IPV. Being foreign-born, among other demographics, is associated with decreased formal help seeking (Cho et al, 2017). Barriers impeding help seeking include lack of familiarity and awareness of services in a new context, social isolation, gender role expectations, shame, silence, and discrimination (Adams & Campbell, 2012; Dutton et al, 2000).…”

Patterns and Usefulness of Safety Behaviors Among Community-Based Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

“…Women with children report both delaying and seeking services in an effort to do what is best for their children; for example, services may be delayed because of a desire to keep their family together and services sought when they realize the impact of IPV on their children (Stephens & Melton, 2017). Survivors from minority cultural groups may find formal institutions particularly unhelpful because of concerns around confidentiality, a lack of cultural appropriateness in services, and language limitations (Cho, Shamrova, Han, & Levchenko, 2017;Flicker et al, 2011;Lee & Hadeed, 2009). Criminal justice remedies for IPV have been embraced through law and policy as the primary strategy for intervening with offenders of IPV, despite mixed evidence as to their effectiveness (Belfrage et al, 2012;Campbell et al, 2003;Cho & Wilke, 2010;Felson & Paré, 2005;Hirschel, 2008).…”

“…In cases of mandatory arrest, victims may be arrested themselves or coerced to obtain additional formal services, such as a no-contact order, as a result of their partner's arrest (Davies & Lyon, 2014). There is a belief that immigrant and minority racial and/or sexual status women may be less likely to seek formal help for fear of bias from police officers and the criminal justice system (Anyikwa, 2015;Cho et al, 2017;Edwards, Sylaska, & Neal, 2015).…”