Exploring Support for Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Background: Globally, one in three women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at least once in their lifetime. The overall purpose of this dissertation is to explore the support for female survivors of IPV by (1) examining established social support measurement tools, (2) exploring predictors of help-seeking practices, and (3) exploring the relationship among IPV support organizations. Background: Globally, one in three women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at least once in their lifetime. The overall purpose of this dissertation is to explore the support for female survivors of IPV by (1) examining established social support measurement tools, (2) exploring predictors of help-seeking practices, and (3) exploring the relationship among IPV support organizations. Method: To reach Aim 1, a systematic literature review was conducted through six search engines APAPsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE Ultimate, Science Direct and JSTOR by using key words related to tools and IPV. The peer-reviewed article published in English up to May 2022 were included. Aim 2 was reached through the multilevel multivariable analyses of secondary data focusing on six countries (Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Maldives, Timor-Lest, Nepal, and Tajikistan) by examining the relationship between help-seeking practices and sociodemographic characteristics of women IPV survivors. Aim 3 was addressed by exploring the relationship between IPV response organizations through network analysis. Results: Twenty-four studies met our criteria for the data extractions, of which 18 focused on the individual level social support tools, and six studies assessed the organizational level collaboration. Most existing tools measured perceived social support of IPV survivors whereas questions, although they were not tested for psychometric properties, were used to assess the organization-level collaboration. Some of these questions might be useful to apply in the examining relationships of IPV responses organizations. The study 2 results revealed mixed findings based on the country. The highest prevalence of physical IPV was observed in all countries except the Maldives. In some countries, the partner’s alcohol-attitude towards drinking was associated with more likelihood of seeking help, whereas the results were contradicted in some other countries. The findings from study 3 revealed that three organizations (a resource center, a district attorney office, and a non-profit legal organization), showed a higher density and centrality in the different types of relationships. Conclusions: The public health approach is needed to address IPV issues. Understanding risk and protective factors, and the influential actors among response organizations are needed to inform future public health policies, decision-makers, and researchers to create effective IPV interventions. Method: To reach Aim 1, a systematic literature review was conducted through six search engines APAPsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE Ultimate, Science Direct and JSTOR by using key words related to tools and IPV. The peer-reviewed article published in English up to May 2022 were included. Aim 2 was reached through the multilevel multivariable analyses of secondary data focusing on six countries (Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Maldives, Timor-Lest, Nepal, and Tajikistan) by examining the relationship between help-seeking practices and sociodemographic characteristics of women IPV survivors. Aim 3 was addressed by exploring the relationship between IPV response organizations through network analysis.

Results: Twenty-four studies met our criteria for the data extractions, of which 18 focused on the individual level social support tools, and six studies assessed the organizational level collaboration. Most existing tools measured perceived social support of IPV survivors, whereas questions, although they were not tested for psychometric properties, were used to assess the organization-level collaboration. Some of these questions might be useful to apply in the examining relationships of IPV responses organizations. The study 2 results revealed mixed findings based on the country. The highest prevalence of physical IPV was observed in all countries except the Maldives. In some countries, the partner’s alcohol-attitude towards drinking was associated with more likelihood of seeking help, whereas the results were contradicted in some other countries. The findings from study 3 revealed that three organizations (a resource center, a district attorney office, and a non-profit legal organization), showed a higher density and centrality in the different types of relationships.

Conclusions: The public health approach is needed to address IPV issues. Understanding the risk and protective factors and the influential actors among response organizations are needed to inform future public health policies, decision-makers, and researchers to create effective IPV interventions.