This study examined patterns of formal and informal help-seeking in relation to violence, abuse, and control reported by 696 women and 471 men. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted in 2004 as part of the General Social Survey on Victimization in Canada. Findings indicated that the most common informal sources of help for women were family, friends, and neighbors across all types of IPV and as the severity of violence and control increased so did help-seeking from formal sources. Among men, those who experienced moderate violence and control used both formal and informal sources of help. Men who reported less severe levels of physical violence were less likely than women to report or seek help. A wide range of health, social, and safety services and programs are needed to assist female and male victims of IPV.
These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on original papers published within the last 6 years. The information available on this web site is provided as a public service and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Department of Health Services, or the University of Arizona. To conduct an individual search or locate older articles use the Search Summary Database which includes over 600 articles related to sexual violence.
Treatment
Ansara, D. L., & Hindin, M. J. (2010). Formal and informal help-seeking associated with women’s and men’s experiences of intimate partner violence in Canada. Social Science & Medicine, (online).
Only those who were heterosexual and reported a current, ex-spouse or common-law partner were interviewed.
Azikiwe, N., Wright, J., Cheng, T., & D’Angelo, L. J. (2005). Management of rape victims (regarding STD treatment and pregnancy prevention): Do academic emergency departments practice what they preach? Journal of Adolescent Health, 36, 446-448.
Results showed that 60% of emergency departments screen for STDs. Additionally, 85.9% provide EC counseling, 87.7% administer the first dose in the emergency department, and 64.7% offer HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). Interestingly, only 67.9% of emergency departments have an EC policy and only 55.3% have a nonoccupational HIV PEP policy. As such, the majority of academic emergency departments are apparently offering EC counseling, EC treatment, and HIV PEP to victims of sexual assault, despite the absence of institutional policies.
David, W., Simpson, T. & Cotton, A. (2006). Taking charge: A pilot curriculum of self-defense and personal safety training for female veterans with PTSD because of military sexual trauma. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21, 555-565.
A group of twelve female veterans (average age 48.3 years) in treatment for PTSD at a VA hospital participated in this 12-week, 36-hour pilot treatment program. Each three-hour group session included one hour of psychoeducation and role-play; one hour of physical self-defense training with a male and a female instructor, and one hour of debriefing. Three female psychologists were present throughout each session. Data was collected from ten women: twice before the intervention, immediately after completion, and at three and six months after. Significant changes lasting over time included: being able to better identify risky vs. safe situations; less avoidance of social situations to avoid triggering memories; less hyperarousal; less depression; and increased self-efficacy. A strong bond developed among participants which may have helped all twelve complete the program.
This study was limited by a small sample size of self-selected participants who were carefully screened for psychological and physical stability. Further studies should be done to determine if equally positive results are found in other groups.
Reed, E., Silverman, J. G., Raj, A., Rothman, E. F., Decker, M. R., Gottlieb, B. R., et al. (in press). Social and environmental contexts of adolescent and young adult male perpetrators of intimate partner violence: A qualitative study. American Journal of Men’s Health.
This was a qualitative study that examined family, peer, school, and community contexts among male urban youth in New England who were perpetrators of IPV. Interviews were conducted with 25 young men from five school and community-based IPV intervention programs for male perpetrators. Themes that emerged from the interviews included; disruptive home environments, lack of positive male role models, peers who used substances, gang involvement, supporting behaviors of sexual mistreatment of females, lack of educational support, and impact of exposure to violence and/or fear of violence in their communities.
The qualitative findings only reflect the individual experiences of a small group of young men enrolled in IPV perpetration programs.
Wolak, J., Finkelhor, D., Mitchell, K. J., & Ybarra, M. L. (2008). Online "predators" and their victims: Myths, realities, and implications for prevention and treatment. American Psychologist, 63, 111-128.
This article summarizes current research on online sexual victimization and compares it to media accounts. The authors identify the known characteristics of online crimes, victims, and offenders, using data from the nationally representative Youth Internet Safety Surveys (YISS) and the National Juvenile Online Victimization Study (N-JOV). The YISS studies surveyed Internet users aged 10-17, and the N-JOV study collected information from law enforcement agencies on Internet-related sex crimes with underage victims.
The authors note that only 5% of crimes from the N-JOV study involved the use of force, and none involved children under the age of 12. They suggest that the emotional immaturity and strong sexual feelings of young adolescents may lead them to develop romantic attachments to people they meet online. The authors point out that traditional therapeutic treatment that emphasizes recovery from abuse may not be appropriate for youth who do not identify as victims, and that new models need to be developed. They recommend that prevention efforts with adolescents be targeted, age-appropriate, and include frank discussions of sexuality and the hazards of relationships with older people. Finally, they caution that the dynamic and evolving sphere of electronic communication, including text messaging and new online technologies, make continuing research into monitoring online environments essential to prevent victimization.