Abstract
The term domestic violence refers to violent actions that take place in relationships and take place in circumstances that are considered to be domestic. The abuse may come in many forms, including sexual, physical, psychological, and emotional. Nonetheless, violence is a more inclusive phrase that may apply to physical and sexual aggression between intimate partners and sometimes between family members. The victims of domestic violence, along with their families and the larger society, are forced to bear tremendous emotional, social, and financial consequences as a result of the abuse. Generally, the results of domestic victimization indicate that women are more likely casualties of the heinous act than males.
Nevertheless, domestic violence may transpire in a variety of places, situations, and relationships. Particularly factors such as a woman’s age, the environment, attitude, inaccessibility to social support, and early exposure to violence can contribute to abuse. Still, the level of education might influence the likelihood of being a victim of domestic violence and her ability to escape a violent relationship. The long-term ramifications of domestic violence are adverse and mind-boggling. Precisely, it has been directly linked to mental and emotional disabilities, psychological and physical damage, and lifelong psychiatric diseases. Identifying appropriate evaluation and preventative methods is crucial for rectifying and mitigating this issue’s tremendous impact on society. Therefore, treating domestic violence victims requires rehabilitation, and they should be aided with emergency preparedness. Furthermore, psychoeducational activities and cognitive behavioral therapy are fundamental in alleviating the condition.
Introduction
Domestic violence is described as any occurrence, many incidents, or patterns of abusive conduct that fall into this category. It is generally agreed that domestic violence is not a phenomenon attributed to any particular kind or class of individuals. In modern society, people of color, gender, and socioeconomic background are susceptible to experiencing violence in their homes. Even though it is often believed that women are the most common victims of this crime, there have been several instances in which males and children have been victims. In general, it is considered that men are often victims of psychological and verbal abuse, whereas women are more likely to be subjects of physical violence.
On the same note, women are more likely to be exposed to despicable forms of abuse as compared to men. Nonetheless, the unfortunate reality is that males can be victims of physical violence. Additionally, this kind of violence is prevalent in homosexual and heterosexual relationships. As a consequence, the orientation of the perpetrator does not influence whether or not they engage in it. Therefore, domestic violence is a heinous act that, in most cases perpetrated by men with disturbing childhood experiences; in this way, ensuring impeccable child development can avert or limit the possibility of the subtle action occurring.
Prevalence of Domestic Violence
Typically, domestic violence is a menace that has encroached on the world today. Thus, it is usually acknowledged that men are generally liable to engage in domestic violence and that women are highly likely to experience bodily damage from their spouses. Projections of the incidence of violence, nonetheless, differ with its form and the executor. According to National Coalition (2022), 20 people per minute experience physical violence at the hands of their spouse in the preceding year and are female. Conversely, WHO (2021) indicated that about 1 in 3 (33 %) of women globally are female, and 98 % of abusers are male. On the same note, the rates of violence committed by men and women against their spouses vary.
For example, males are more likely to participate in various types of partner-directed violence, and their ferocity is more intense and likely to result in significant harm. Based on Scarduzio et al. (2017) analysis, male abuse encompasses verbal abuse, hostility, intimidation, and physical assault to exert dominance and control over a partner. In addition, the vile action implies an act undertaken impulsively in reaction to feelings of irritation and rage, with no genuine hope of reaching a predetermined goal. However, in most instances, aggressive women are more motivated by anger and frustration than by a particular purpose. Their combativeness is more likely to be conducted in self-defense or in response to harassment. Acknowledging the motives of perpetrators of domestic violence is essential to the creation of effective treatments for working with various offenders to avoid future acts of violence.
Nevertheless, there is ongoing discussion over the rates of violence towards males perpetrated by women in relationships. In this regard, there is a developing corpus of research on the nature and incidence of male abuse and domestic violence in gay partnerships. However, as Messinger (2017) insinuates, underrepresentation of victimization hinders attempts to comprehend and prevent violence against males and people in gay, lesbian, and transgender relationships due to fear of being prejudiced. As an impact, there is low reporting of an occurrence of domestic violence from the LQBTQ community.
Nonetheless, it is well known that women make up most of the domestic violence victims, and they continue to be the subject of the bulk of studies in the field. Globally, an intimate partner is responsible for the rape, physical assault, or stalking of an average of 24 individuals per minute (Domestic Violence, 2022). This number translates to millions of victims over a year. In addition, over one-third of women (29 %) in the United States have claimed rape, physical abuse, or stalking at the hands of a partner (Domestic Violence, 2022). Hence, this has negatively impacted their ability to make informed decisions as a result of the event.
Further, the majority of women who have had or now have an intimate relationship are prone to suffering physical, sexual, or psychological abuse. Typically, the degree and intensity of violence inflicted by ex-partners are more vicious and gross as compared to that inflicted by present partners. In this way, women who suffered violence from ex-partners were more likely to disclose scars and a sense that their lives were in danger. Assaults performed by a spouse have been reported to cause more severe injuries than assaults conducted by non-spouses. Simultaneously, the period between a relationship break-up and divorce is a perilous time for domestic violence amongst former partners.
Of late, the notification rate for occurrences of domestic abuse is low. Recent estimates indicate that less than 10% of violence victims reported the most recent episode of domestic abuse to the police, despite the fact that the reporting rate has grown over the years (Huecker et al., 2022). One potential reason for the decreased reporting frequency is that victims of physical or sexual violence perpetrated by existing partners are less likely to see the act as a crime than if a random person executes it. Some other explanations include perceiving the event as too inconsequential to report. Moreover, guilt or humiliation, a desire to deal with the situation alone, the repercussions of suing, and social norms have been other factors that have contributed to a reluctance to report. Furthermore, apprehension about having to reminisce about the altercation by recounting the story to different parties have further accounted for the reluctance to notify the police.
Different Types of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence can manifest in various aspects depending on different situations. They include physical, psychological, financial, and even sexual assault (Myhill, 2017). An aggressor will use various strategies to maintain control over their relationships and maintain a state of constant dread in their partners, which will discourage them from standing up to the abuser. Domestic violence on the physical level often occurs and may worsen in frequency and intensity. It may take the form of pushing, shoving, slapping, attacking with a weapon, restraining, abandoning a person in a hazardous situation, or declining to assist a person who is hurt or ill. Sexual abuse involves any nonconsensual sexual actions or sexual humiliation.
Furthermore, provocations of harm, physical or social isolation, excessive possessiveness, deprivation, harassment, indignity, calling names, baseless allegations, denouncing, making false promises, ruining trust, or driving fast to intimidate are all examples of emotional and psychological abuse. Emotional abuse can often lead to bodily violence. Financial abuse is another kind of abuse that is seldom spoken about today; sometimes, it is referred to as an invisible form of abuse. Thus, abuse of one’s financial situation may take many forms, including limiting access to one’s money and assets, creating housing difficulties, maliciously interfering with one’s ability to participate in the labor force or educational opportunities, and preventing access to resources.
Victims of Domestic Violence
Some community members may be more susceptible to the incidence, intensity, and kind of domestic violence, as well as the availability of support and the ability to escape such abusive situations. Hence, some groups are more susceptible than others, for example, those in secluded regions. The intensity of crimes seems to vary with socioeconomic status, age, and culture. Depending on their age, geography, ethnicity, status as an Indigenous person, and English language proficiency, certain women may be more susceptible to becoming victims and less capable of leaving abusive relationships.
Expectant Women
Pregnant women may be at higher risk for domestic violence. In fact, based on Domestic Violence (2022), nearly 60% of women who had suffered abuse at the hands of an ex-partner were pregnant at some point during the marriage. In addition, the severity of violence against pregnant women is higher, and the beginning of pregnancy was found to increase the number of people who were mentally tortured when attacked (Almeida et al., 2017). Women with lower educational levels, underprivileged neighborhoods, and unexpected or undesired births are at the highest risk.
People Living in Rural and Distant Locations
Areas where people reside, have been a significant factor in the prevalence of domestic violence. Little (2017) underscores that most people who live in remote and rural areas are subject to higher rates of violence than their counterparts who live in metropolitan settings. This is because accessibility to services might be restricted for indigenous and non-indigenous persons in distant and rural locations because of their remoteness and the restricted options for local resources. The isolation of certain regions draws only a small number of skilled experts, limiting the provision of vital services and impeding service delivery. It also raises concerns over the maintenance of privacy and security. These variables exacerbate the isolation that abuse victims already suffer.
Older People
The incidence of violence and abuse against aged people varies. To be precise, the rate can be higher in older women than in older men. It is perceived that the victim’s spouse or partner perpetrates such incidences of elder abuse. Most elderly victims of bodily, psychological, or financial abuse are long-term victims, generally inflicted by a spouse in a care obligation connection with the victim. Abuse targets often suffer from impairments in decision-making and physical health. Significant preventive factors that minimize the likelihood of violence against older women have been renowned for helping families and social ties.
People with Disabilities
People with physical or intellectual impairment have a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. Specifically, disabled women are more exposed to such altercations compared to women who do not have a disability. Furthermore, the violence these disabled women encounter is more likely to be severe and last for more extended periods. A significant number of physically disabled women who are victims of domestic abuse do not seek assistance, have limited access to adequate support, and have fewer opportunities to exit abusive situations.
Violence in Dating and Relationships
Young women are most susceptible than young men to experience sexual, psychological, and physical abuse at the hands of lovers or friends. In this way, general polls showed that adolescents and young suffer abuse from their partners, who are their boyfriends or girlfriends, and 19% of domestic violence comprises an armament (National Coalition, 2022). In the same notion, one in four women and one in seven males have experienced physical abuse from a lover at least once (National Coalition, 2022). Furthermore, dating violence, including both physical and psychological violence, is prevalent among teenage females with a history of child sexual abuse, and its occurrence is proportional to the intensity of their abuse as children.
LGBTQ Community
Individuals of the LGBTQ community have been mostly excluded from the domestic abuse awareness movement due to its predominant emphasis on heterosexual relationships. A recent study indicates that members of the LGBTQ community are victims of domestic abuse at equal or even greater rates than their straight counterparts. For example, in comparison to heterosexual women, 43.8% of lesbian and 61.1% of bisexual women have suffered abuse and stalking at the hands of an intimate partner at some point in their lives (National Coalition, 2022). In comparison to heterosexual males, 26% of homosexual men and 37.3% of bisexual men have succumbed to abuse or stalking at the hands of an intimate partner in their lives (National Coalition, 2022). Additionally, in male same-sex partnerships, a relatively low percentage of males who experienced near-fatal violence contacted the police.
Several facets of intimate relationship abuse may be specific to the LGBTQ population. Threatening to divulge a partner’s sexual orientation may be used as a form of abuse in violent relationships and may also serve as an obstacle to the victim seeking assistance. Prior exposure to psychological or physical trauma, such as intimidation and hate crimes, may reduce the likelihood that LGBTQ victims of domestic abuse would seek assistance.
At the same time, more loving relationship violence may be experienced by transgender persons than by gay or lesbian people. This way, transgender sufferers of intimate partner abuse are far more likely to endure attacks, bullying, and police brutality. Particular types of abuse occur in partnerships when one spouse is transgender, such as using inappropriate pronouns such as “it” about the transgender partner and making fun of the transgender partner’s looks.
The Risk Factor for Domestic Violence
Domestic violence has many causes and contributing factors. There are a variety of risk variables that have been linked to domestic violence offenders. Some of these are age, poor academic performance, low income or exclusion from the labor market, social hardship and isolation, and exposure to or participation in violent or criminal behavior as a teenager. Similar risk variables have been related to a higher incidence of violent behavior and other types of crime.
Attitudes toward Aggression
Establishing measures to continue influencing public perceptions against domestic abuse is crucial. Amir-ud-Din (2021) research emphasized that men are more likely to participate in violence against women if they are chauvinist and misogynist towards women and conventional gender role ideas. Such a view legitimizes violence as a means of settling disagreement or as a private affair. Males with lower levels of acceptance for gender equality are also more likely to have views that promote violence. Conversely, women who adhere to established gender roles are less likely to report abuse.
Situational Variables
Although not a direct cause, certain situational conditions may enhance the likelihood of domestic violence. These causes include relationship issues, financial difficulties or jobless, and recent traumatic events or situations, such as a family member’s death. Alcohol is a significant risk factor for domestic violence, and women whose partners regularly drink extreme amounts of alcohol are more likely to encounter violence. Alcohol’s participation in domestic violence is an even worse problem in most communities. A person’s likelihood of being a victim of violence rises with a high risk of alcohol use.
Further, there is substantial evidence of a correlation between excessive drinking and hostility. However, not all alcoholics exhibit aggressive behavior. One reason for alcohol involvement in domestic violence is that alcohol use may promote the transition from oral to physical abuse because it reduces inhibitions and heightens emotions of anger. Alcohol use, whether by the perpetrator or the victim, may enhance the intensity of domestic violence incidents, the severity of injuries, and the likelihood of death, with over half of intimate partner murders being alcohol-related.
Early Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence
Generally, subjecting children to any form of domestic violence can affect them until they come off age. For instance, such engagements will be associated with the developmental trajectories of the child. Henceforth, victimization can cause young people to advance unsuitable norms regarding violence and aggression and to design behaviors. Therefore, the inclinations to which they have been introduced ramps the likelihood that a person will enter a violent relationship as an adult, either as the abuser or the victim (Liming & Grube, 2018). Primarily, young people who were abused as children are twice as likely to have been forced to have sex and hence are certain to have coerced their partner to have sex later in life (Liming & Grube, 2018). In this regard, most offenders view it as a way to repay their childhood predicament.
Access to Support Services and Networks
Difficulties gaining access to vital social connections may also increase the likelihood that an individual will become a victim of domestic abuse or remain to suffer violence since they are reluctant to escape an abusive relationship. There is additional evidence that people with strong social circles are unlikely to be fenders of domestic abuse. While these unofficial support systems are essential, they are seldom capable of meeting the requirements of offenders, and some possible barriers can avert a person from seeking assistance from service providers. Specifically, a lack of available services or fear of retaliation; and a lack of understanding of the victim’s rights; hence they can channel their frustration towards people by abusing them.
Consequences of Domestic Violence
Domestic abuse during pregnancy can result in several detrimental outcomes for the mother and child. It may result in low birth weight and premature delivery, two of the leading causes of death. Domestic abuse may result in instantaneous and long-term developmental problems, mental retardation, intellectual challenges, language impairment, cognitive problems, behavioral concerns, sudden infant death syndrome, and respiratory problems (Tsirigotis & Łuczak, 2017). Victimized women are more likely to initiate prenatal care later in their pregnancies. Smoking has also been linked to aggression during pregnancy due to its use to relieve stress and overcome sadness. Additionally, smoking increases the risk factors for low birth weight and other possible complications.
Mistreating mothers has adverse impacts on the child; as a matter of fact, it mentally harms the youngster. Children who have observed violence between their parents have emotions of dread, powerlessness, panic, and sleep difficulties. Children’s exposure to domestic violence has been linked to various additional challenges. According to Lloyd (2018), these problems manifest in multiple ways, the most common of which include poor connections with peers, increased loneliness at school, and a lower probability of associating with other children. Notwithstanding, some of the stress caused by exposure to domestic abuse might result in health problems.
Domestic violence can expose children to developing adverse medical conditions. Pregnant women who have had or are suffering domestic abuse are more likely to have had children diagnosed with diseases, some of which can be chronic such include asthma (Landeo-Gutierrez et al., 2020). In this sense, a consistently increased stress response may reduce stress hormones that inhibit the asthma-causing inflammatory response. Moreover, abuse when a woman is pregnant, may result in stress, drug and alcohol usage, and physical injuries. As a consequence, they can affect the woman’s health throughout pregnancy, the delivery result, and their child’s health. Due to the added stress that may be put on a relationship and each partner’s mental health, wellness, and lifestyle in the time directly after the birth of a child, there is also a higher risk.
Assessment for Domestic Violence Victims
When evaluating persons subject to domestic violence, it is important to remember that a threat or gesture may be just as frightening as a violent act. Whenever one interacts with clients who have experienced trauma situations, the therapists need to establish a constructive professional relationship. Furthermore, training, safety planning, and legal advocacy may elevate victims and help them make educated choices for themselves and their families. During treatment, the practitioner must endeavor to comprehend the client’s relationship triggers and degree of capacity to create an alliance. The doctor must also be aware of potential problems with trust and safety, particularly for domestic violence victims.
The therapeutic relationship will be highly effective when evaluating a client’s primary presenting issue. Many may claim despair, suicidal behavior, nervousness, or panic attacks, but not the actual traumatic incident. After a traumatic experience, a client may be mentally disordered. Thus the clinician must determine whether the client is operating at a minimum level of psychological stability. It might be crucial to learn about the client’s symptoms that prompted them to seek therapy, as previously described, and their presenting condition. This will allow the doctor time to establish trust and rapport with the patient before asking more invasive inquiries regarding the trauma.
Treatment of Domestic Violence Victims
The rehabilitation of domestic abused and battered people may be diverse. The clinician must determine whether a client is in danger of losing their life or physical integrity or if they pose a threat to others. The customer should be aided with emergency preparedness, including creating a plan for the victim and any children involved. This safety preparation may entail packing an emergency kit or removing firearms from the house. Similarly, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a method of therapy that may aid in the treatment of panic disorder and aims to assist abused individuals in developing emotion control, tolerance, communication, and distress tolerance skills. Additionally, it may be beneficial as it alleviates participants’ despair, pessimism, and decreased mental distress. As a result, such patients who undergo the program may exhibit improved social adjustment and mental health.
Psychoeducational activities are another sort of treatment that may be applied. These programs may focus on parental skills and proper punishment, positive expression of feelings, self-esteem development, and psychological well-being. In the same way, boosting interpersonal child behavior, safety planning, establishing future objectives, and how to sustain and build effective relationships can be vital. This therapy may also include children and parents and strengthen parent-child relationships. These approaches may assist with comfort and support, solving problems, and interaction
In some cases, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be beneficial because contorted views can be questioned and altered. It further emphasizes cognitive coping and processing, as well as the development of a support network and a positive culture. The client may be taught about the characteristics of abuse, emotional and behavioral responses to abuse, and relaxation techniques. CBT appears to be effective for persons attempting to moderate their aggression (Nicholson, 2017). The client might be instructed in suitable coping mechanisms and use relaxing techniques. CBT may also be used to alleviate symptoms such as sadness and anxiety, beneficial improvements in emotional discomfort, and a rise in overall happiness.
Conclusion
Domestic violence may be experienced by a variety of people regardless of age, sex, gender, socioeconomic situation, or any of the other numerous factors that might play a role in its manifestation. The behavior can disproportionately impact anyone; however, it is typical for women and occurs at alarmingly high rates; in many of these situations, children are also involved. Psychologically, mothers and children are impacted in a variety of different ways. These people may get help in the form of various treatments, any one of which can be used to aid them in managing the symptoms they are experiencing. It is critical to get therapy off to a good start by conducting an assessment, during which the clinician should develop a working relationship with the patient and try to forge a connection. During therapy, the patient will have the possible benefit as a result of this healing activity.
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