Controlling behaviours and technology-facilitated abuse perpetrated by men receiving substance use treatment in England and Brazil:Prevalence and risk factors

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Controlling behaviours are highly prevalent forms of non-physical intimate partner violence (IPV). The prevalence of perpetrating controlling behaviours and technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) was compared by men receiving substance use treatment in England (n = 223) and Brazil (n = 280). Factors associated with perpetrating these behaviours towards their current/most recent partner and their association with other types of IPV were explored. DESIGN AND METHODS: Secondary analysis from two cross-sectional studies was performed. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, infidelity, IPV perpetration and victimisation, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), attitudes towards gender relations and roles, substance use, depressive symptoms and anger expression were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-four percent (143/223) and 33% (73/223) of participants in England and 65% (184/280) and 20% (57/280) in Brazil reported controlling behaviours and TFA, respectively, during their current/most recent relationship. Excluding IPV victimisation from the multivariate models; perpetrating controlling behaviours was associated with a higher number of ACE, higher anger expression (England) and severe physical IPV perpetration (Brazil), and perpetrating TFA was associated with younger age. Including both IPV victimisation and perpetration in the multivariate models; perpetrating controlling behaviour was associated with experiencing a higher number of ACE, higher anger expression (England), emotional IPV victimisation (England) and experiencing controlling behaviour from a partner (England). The perpetration of TFA was associated with younger age and experiencing TFA from a partner. CONCLUSIONS: Technological progress provides opportunities for perpetrators to control and abuse their partners. Controlling behaviours and TFA should be addressed to reduce IPV perpetration by males in substance use treatment. [Gilchrist G, Canfield M,Radcliffe P, d'Oliveira AFPL. Controlling behaviours and technology-facilitated abuse perpetrated by men receiving substance use treatment in England and Brazil: Prevalence and risk factors. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:52-63]

Men’s and women’s exposure and perpetration of partner violence: an epidemiological study from Sweden

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the past 30 years, intimate partner violence (IPV) against women and its health consequences has become a well established research area and is recognized worldwide as a significant public health issue. Studies on IPV directed at men are less explored, however recently women’s use of IPV and men’s victimization is gaining growing attention. Earlier population-based studies performed in Sweden have primarily investigated men’s violence against women, while women’s use of violence and men’s exposure as well as the existence of controlling behaviours have been neglected research areas This explorative study investigated the exposure to and perpetration of intimate partner violence, the use of control behaviours and the associated risk factors among a sample of Swedish men and women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This cross-sectional population-based study included 173 men and 251 women of age 18–65 randomly selected among the Swedish population. A questionnaire based on the revised Conflicts Tactics Scale (CTS2) and the subscale ‘isolating control’ from the Controlling Behaviour Scale (CBS) was used to collect data on violence exposure and perpetration. Regression analyses were used for risk factor assessment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>More men (11%) than women (8%) reported exposure to physical assault in the past year, while more women reported exposure to sexual coercion. Duration of present relationship ≤ 3 years was identified as a significant risk factor for men’s exposure. Young age, lack of social support and being single, constituted risk factors for women’s exposure. Surprisingly many men (37%) and women (41%) also reported exposure to controlling behaviours.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In partner violence research, both men’s and women’s exposure should be explored however findings need to be interpreted with caution. This first study in a Swedish sample establishes the basis for future investigations on partner violence and coercive control tactics.</p

Evidence-Based Interventions for Mental Health Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence is one of the most prevalent forms of violence against women worldwide and is associated with a wide variety of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and psychosis. This chapter reviews the evidence for an association between intimate partner violence and mental disorders and then summarizes the results of a rapid review of evidence on interventions for the mental health consequences of intimate partner violence. Available research suggests a bidirectional association between intimate partner violence and mental health problems. Although a variety of interventions addressing the mental health consequences of intimate partner violence has been described, the literature largely focuses on women with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies of the mental health effects of intimate partner violence on women with severe mental illness, and studies conducted in mental health settings, remain limited. This chapter concludes with a summary of the strengths, limitations, and gaps in the evidence base, which require urgent research attention