Intimate partner violence within LGBTQ+ samples: a systematic review

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prominent problem within relationships (Centers for Disease Control, n.d.). As more research is conducted on IPV, it has become apparent that the prevalence of females perpetrating IPV is similar to the rates of males (Archer, 2000), which challenges the feminist theories of men’s IPV that assert it is strongly related to patriarchy. This debate over sex differences in perpetration rates means LGBTQ+ populations become ignored due to contradicting many of the popular theories for IPV perpetration and victimization, creating a gap in research. Therefore, this systematic literature review was conducted in an attempt to highlight the prevalence of IPV within LGBTQ+ relationships. The main aim of this systematic literature review is to investigate the prevalence of IPV within same-sex relationships and its behavioral manifestations. Further implications for research will also be considered

Do the different historical and cultural diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia have social and treatment implications?

The aim of this paper is to critically discuss whether different historical and cultural diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia have social and treatment implications. This paper also discusses what it means to have the diagnosis of schizophrenia and to what psychologists may gain from individuals having these diagnoses; the essay in particular discusses monetary gain for the National Health Service and government or power. Possible faults of diagnosing schizophrenia using just biological and psychological precursors due to reliability are also critically debated in an attempt to discuss the implications of this diagnosis. Furthermore, this piece of work discusses that over time as the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia changes, more people could be diagnosed. It also highlights how culture can affect diagnostic criteria; such as the fact you can be diagnosed with the condition in one culture and not have that diagnosis in another culture. After looking at the literature it appeared that the changes to the criteria does in fact have serious implications for individuals. A conclusion was drawn before suggestions for further research was made in terms ways to get a better insight into the implications when diagnosed with a condition such as schizophrenia

Prevalence of intimate partner violence and the increased health risks in the LGBTQ+ community

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, and people questioning their sexual or gender identity (LGBTQ+) community is vastly under researched in comparison to within heterosexual relationships. Prevalence rates have varied but it is becoming clear within the literature that this is a significant social issue. This paper will first discuss the prevalence of IPV within the LGBTQ+ community before moving on to consider the health risks of IPV. It is essential to consider the specific needs of those within this community to be able to understand and tailor support to reduce this issue

Barriers to support in LGBTQ+ populations

The experiences of heterosexual female victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) are well documented in research and policy (Langenderfer-Magruder, Whitfield, Walls, Kattari & Ramos, 2016). In addition, heterosexual men are starting to receive more research attention in terms of their victimisation experiences (e.g. Hines & Douglas, 2011; Próspero & Kim, 2009). In terms of gender and sexuality, the LGBTQ+ community is severely underrepresented in IPV research, policy, and victim support provision (Morin, 2014). It is this victim support provision that is most crucial to this community; there is little point in raising awareness of IPV victimisation in the LGBTQ+ community through research and policy change, if the support for victims is inadequate or unavailable

How dark personalities perpetrate partner and general aggression in Sweden and the UK

Objective: Research has demonstrated, in western nations, men and women are both perpetrators and victims of intimate partner violence. However, to the best of our knowledge, IPV and the Dark Tetrad (Machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism, subclinical psychopathy, and subclinical sadism) have not been included in this research fully. Methods: We investigated how these dark personalities influenced the perpetration of intimate partner violence in a cross-cultural study between Sweden and the United Kingdom through surveys with university students. We furthermore compared IPV perpetration with same-sex aggression of a non-romantic partner to explore sex- and aggression-specific effects. Results: In a sample of 342 participants, our main findings were: (1) the only significant difference in IPV perpetration was women were more verbally aggressive; (2) men reported more verbal and physical same-sex aggression of a non-romantic partner; (3) men scored higher on all the Dark Tetrad personalities regardless of culture, while the Swedish sample scored significantly higher on subclinical narcissism and sadism; (4) the Dark Tetrad and aggression perpetration were significantly correlated; (5) different Dark Tetrad personalities predicted different forms of aggression perpetration with some gender differences; and (6) being high on subclinical psychopathy predicted most types of aggression regardless of target. Implications: Our study highlights that dark personalities engage in particular types of aggression, which helps to determine how and when distinctive personalities aggress for potential interventions

Transitioning in higher education: An exploration of psychological and contextual factors affecting student satisfaction

© 2017 UCU. In view of recent changes in the higher education sector, such as increased tuition fees, a greater focus has been placed on widening participation initiatives and monitoring student satisfaction. The aims of the current study were twofold: (1) to explore whether pre-entry programmes foster successful transition to higher education, and (2) to examine longitudinally the factors associated with course satisfaction. Eighty-eight first-year psychology students completed a questionnaire measuring academic self-efficacy, social identity and student satisfaction at the start (Time 1, November 2015) and end (Time 2, March 2016) of the academic year. Findings indicated that students who participated in a pre-entry programme reported higher academic self-efficacy and satisfaction compared to typical route students. Moreover, academic self-efficacy predicted student satisfaction at the start of the academic year, whereas in-group affect (a facet of social identity) predicted this at the end of the academic year. The current findings indicate that pre-entry programmes may have a positive impact on students’ sense of academic self-efficacy. On a more general level, the findings also suggest that academic self-efficacy and social identity may be key indicators of student satisfaction. This highlights the complexities of the concept of ‘student satisfaction’, and demonstrates the utility of examining multiple factors relating to student satisfaction across different time points

Review of domestic violence perpetrator programmes in the UK

Domestic violence is a social issue that is controversial and politically charged. Unlike many other academic and practitioner based areas there is a lack of discourse meaning current interventions are often not informed by a scientific evidence base. The aim of the current study was to review the current provision of domestic violence perpetrator programmes (DVPP) within the UK. This research was part of a worldwide review into DVPP provision with each team focusing on specific geographical areas. The objective of the current review was to address the following key research question: what are the characteristics of DVPP within the UK? This included reviewing the population they serve (e.g. male or female; age range), source referral (e.g. court-mandated, voluntary/self-referred) and the program characteristics (e.g. length of program, number of sessions, modality, curriculum informing the program). Questionnaires were sent to all known organisations delivering perpetrator programme which included prison, probation, and charities. This was supplemented with a review of the available literature on programmes where available. Findings are discussed in line with the importance of research informed and evidence based practice. Furthermore, we seek to highlight the importance of the communication between researcher and practitioners, establishing a more collaborative approach on this issue can inform better provision for perpetrators

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK.

BACKGROUND: A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials. METHODS: This analysis includes data from four ongoing blinded, randomised, controlled trials done across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Participants aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned (1:1) to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or control (meningococcal group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccine or saline). Participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group received two doses containing 5 × 1010 viral particles (standard dose; SD/SD cohort); a subset in the UK trial received a half dose as their first dose (low dose) and a standard dose as their second dose (LD/SD cohort). The primary efficacy analysis included symptomatic COVID-19 in seronegative participants with a nucleic acid amplification test-positive swab more than 14 days after a second dose of vaccine. Participants were analysed according to treatment received, with data cutoff on Nov 4, 2020. Vaccine efficacy was calculated as 1 - relative risk derived from a robust Poisson regression model adjusted for age. Studies are registered at ISRCTN89951424 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606, NCT04400838, and NCT04444674. FINDINGS: Between April 23 and Nov 4, 2020, 23 848 participants were enrolled and 11 636 participants (7548 in the UK, 4088 in Brazil) were included in the interim primary efficacy analysis. In participants who received two standard doses, vaccine efficacy was 62·1% (95% CI 41·0-75·7; 27 [0·6%] of 4440 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group vs71 [1·6%] of 4455 in the control group) and in participants who received a low dose followed by a standard dose, efficacy was 90·0% (67·4-97·0; three [0·2%] of 1367 vs 30 [2·2%] of 1374; pinteraction=0·010). Overall vaccine efficacy across both groups was 70·4% (95·8% CI 54·8-80·6; 30 [0·5%] of 5807 vs 101 [1·7%] of 5829). From 21 days after the first dose, there were ten cases hospitalised for COVID-19, all in the control arm; two were classified as severe COVID-19, including one death. There were 74 341 person-months of safety follow-up (median 3·4 months, IQR 1·3-4·8): 175 severe adverse events occurred in 168 participants, 84 events in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 91 in the control group. Three events were classified as possibly related to a vaccine: one in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, one in the control group, and one in a participant who remains masked to group allocation. INTERPRETATION: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials. FUNDING: UK Research and Innovation, National Institutes for Health Research (NIHR), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lemann Foundation, Rede D'Or, Brava and Telles Foundation, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Thames Valley and South Midland's NIHR Clinical Research Network, and AstraZeneca

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK

Background A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials. Methods This analysis includes data from four ongoing blinded, randomised, controlled trials done across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Participants aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned (1:1) to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or control (meningococcal group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccine or saline). Participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group received two doses containing 5 × 1010 viral particles (standard dose; SD/SD cohort); a subset in the UK trial received a half dose as their first dose (low dose) and a standard dose as their second dose (LD/SD cohort). The primary efficacy analysis included symptomatic COVID-19 in seronegative participants with a nucleic acid amplification test-positive swab more than 14 days after a second dose of vaccine. Participants were analysed according to treatment received, with data cutoff on Nov 4, 2020. Vaccine efficacy was calculated as 1 - relative risk derived from a robust Poisson regression model adjusted for age. Studies are registered at ISRCTN89951424 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606, NCT04400838, and NCT04444674. Findings Between April 23 and Nov 4, 2020, 23 848 participants were enrolled and 11 636 participants (7548 in the UK, 4088 in Brazil) were included in the interim primary efficacy analysis. In participants who received two standard doses, vaccine efficacy was 62·1% (95% CI 41·0–75·7; 27 [0·6%] of 4440 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group vs71 [1·6%] of 4455 in the control group) and in participants who received a low dose followed by a standard dose, efficacy was 90·0% (67·4–97·0; three [0·2%] of 1367 vs 30 [2·2%] of 1374; pinteraction=0·010). Overall vaccine efficacy across both groups was 70·4% (95·8% CI 54·8–80·6; 30 [0·5%] of 5807 vs 101 [1·7%] of 5829). From 21 days after the first dose, there were ten cases hospitalised for COVID-19, all in the control arm; two were classified as severe COVID-19, including one death. There were 74 341 person-months of safety follow-up (median 3·4 months, IQR 1·3–4·8): 175 severe adverse events occurred in 168 participants, 84 events in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 91 in the control group. Three events were classified as possibly related to a vaccine: one in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, one in the control group, and one in a participant who remains masked to group allocation. Interpretation ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials

A review of domestic violence perpetrator programs in the United Kingdom

The aim of the current study was to conduct a review of current intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrator provision within the UK. The objective of the review was to explore the characteristics of intervention programs currently within the UK. Using a questionnaire based design we explored characteristics of current programs including program structure, program logistics, facilitator characteristics and facilitator insights around the programs. A number of organisations completed the questionnaire (N = 21) and a review of existing literature was performed to explore the general characteristics of programs being delivered within the UK. Within the sample we found the feminist approach was still influential but that facilitators also reported a need to ensure programs are more inclusive in their service provision to represent the diversity of perpetrators found. An unexpected finding from this study was the resistance of many organisations to engage with the research through an apparent suspicion of the agenda and motivation of the research team