Introduction
Domestic violence (DV) is currently one of the major public health concerns that needs to be discussed and analyzed. Also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), it can be defined as a set of behaviors and tendencies used by one of the partners in order to control, manipulate, and maintain power over another one. Domestic violence is generally categorized into several types, which include physical, psychological, sexual, combined physical and psychological, and combined sexual with psychological and/or physical violence (Potter et al., 2020). Numerous health and safety problems have been related to the issue of intimate partner violence, aggravated by the fact that many victims tend to stay silent about being abused (Chandan et al., 2019). These abusive relationships and their consequences significantly undermine the quality of life for such individuals.
Literature Review
Research on the consequences of domestic violence and behaviors of the victims has revealed a number of important facts. A multinational study conducted by Porter et al. (2020) has demonstrated that combined abuse categories “were associated with markedly higher odds ratios of symptoms than singular abuse categories” (p. 658). Combined psychological and physical IPV was the second highest odds ratio indicator (Porter et al., 2020). Other studies by Piquero et al. (2021), Jetelina et al. (2020), and Pentaraki and Speake (2020) have shown that there has been an increase in the number of domestic violence incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the authors have not identified the exact causes of this increase, the analysis of the statistics and the context of officially reported IPV allows us to make several suggestions about the nature of this change. For example, the lockdown orders and the increase in the time spent at home are considered to be the factors that contributed to victims’ decisions to contact the relevant law enforcement authorities.
Physical and Mental Health Consequences
The devastating effect of domestic violence, both on physical and mental health of the victims has been discussed by many sociological scholars, health professionals, and psychologists. Some of the main physical health consequences for abused individuals are different types of injuries, the severity of which can vary from bruises, swelling, and scratches to broken bones and bullet wounds (Campbell et al., 2018). In addition, abused individuals are more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are also almost two times more likely to be diagnosed in DV victims than in individuals who were assaulted or abused in non-intimate relationships (Potter et al., 2020). A large percentage of injuries reported by abused women have also been proved to cause “neurological changes that contribute to central nervous system (CNS) symptoms” (Campbell et al., 2018, p. 763). These symptoms include frequent headaches, speech problems, weakness, memory loss, impaired coordination, and cognitive impairment and are associated with a wide range of disorders diagnosed in this population.
Domestic violence has also been connected to certain risks for the victims’ reproductive abilities. Researchers have found that women’s experiences of an abusive relationship and domestic violence, both physical and sexual, has a direct relation to low birthweight pregnancies, which, in turn, poses risks for the infants’ life and health (Musa et al., 2021). Therefore, it can be argued that solving the issue of intimate partner violence is an essential step in reducing child morbidity and mortality rates. Other reproductive issues DV victims may face include cervical cancer, menstrual cramps, vaginal infection, and urinary tract infection (Musa et al., 2021). A prolonged relationship with a physically and sexually abusive partner can also cause intestinal and digestive health issues. Extreme disruptions in the victims’ lives, as well as stress, trauma, and shock that they experience, increase their risks of developing conditions such as stomach ulcers and abdominal pain.
Victims’ mental health is another aspect that is significantly affected by their DV experiences. Research has shown that victims of intimate partner violence often struggle with depression and anxiety resulting from extreme stress, constant fear, and an overall sense of insecurity (Chandan, 2019). These experiences and tensions can often have a long-term effect, manifesting in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Alcohol use disorder or substance abuse are also among the devastating health outcomes of domestic violence, as victims often use alcohol and drugs as an escape. All these conditions and factors increase the DV victims’ chances of having suicidal thoughts or even attempting suicide.
Safety Issues
Undeniably, domestic violence experiences can directly affect the DV victims’ lives and personal safety. As mentioned above, one of the direst consequences they suffer from is the tendency of having suicidal thoughts, with a large percentage of victims eventually committing suicide. The findings by Potter et al. (2020) show that “combinations of different forms of violence (psychological and physical, or sexual and psychological and/or physical)” are more likely to cause suicidal intentions in victims (p. 655). They are also more common than singular forms of intimate partner violence, which increases the risks of suicidal attempts among victims.
Another severe consequence that endangers the lives of the victims is the fact that intimate partner violence can often result in homicide. Studies have found that the history of domestic violence was a factor present in the majority of homicide cases in a Mid-South city (Iratzoqui & McCutcheon, 2018). These incidents did not only concern the murder of an abused individual. According to Iratzoqui and McCutcheon (2018), many cases involved female offenders who attempted or committed the murder of their partners were victims of an abusive relationship who had suffered from their partners’ violent behaviors. Thus, the history of domestic violence was highly associated with homicide outcomes, and factors such as their partner’s firearm use increased the likelihood of severe consequences for the victim.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that research on domestic violence has revealed a number of devastating outcomes for the victims’ health, safety, and overall quality of life. These include both short-term consequences, such as fractures, hematomas, and bruises and long-term ones, such as chronic pain, severe brain injuries, and intestinal and reproductive conditions. Victims’ mental health is also significantly affected, since DV experiences have been highly associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, and actual suicide. Hence, the victims’ safety is endangered, and their quality of life is severely reduced. Since the main academic focus has been on the health outcomes of intimate partner abuse for women as the main victims, there is a lack of research that attempts to analyze the experiences of male victims. Therefore, it can be suggested that further research can focus on identifying and analyzing the factors that impact health consequences for both male and female victims of intimate partner violence.
References
Campbell, J. C., Anderson, J. C., McFadgion, A., Gill, J., Zink, E., Patch, M., Callwood, G., & Campbell, D. (2018). The effects of intimate partner violence and probable traumatic brain injury on central nervous system symptoms. Journal of Women’s Health, 27(6), 761-767.
Chandan, J. S., Thomas, T., Bradbury-Jones, C., Russell, R., Bandyopadhyay, S., Nirantharakumar, K., & Taylor, J. (2019). Female survivors of intimate partner violence and risk of depression, anxiety and serious mental illness. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 217(4), 562-567.
Iratzoqui, A., & McCutcheon, J. (2018). The influence of domestic violence in homicide cases. Homicide Studies, 22(2), 145-160.
Jetelina, K. K., Knell, G., & Molsberry, R. J. (2020). Changes in intimate partner violence during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA. Injury Prevention, 27(1), 93-97.
Musa, A., Chojenta, C., & Loxton, D. (2021). The association between intimate partner violence and low birth weight and preterm delivery in Eastern Ethiopia: Findings from a facility-based study. Midwifery, 92(2), 102869.
Pentaraki, M., & Speake, J. (2020). Domestic violence in a COVID-19 context: Exploring emerging issues through a systematic analysis of the literature. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 8(10), 193-211.
Piquero, A. R., Jennings, W. G., Jemison, E., Kaukinen, C., & Knaul, F. M. (2021). Domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic – Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Criminal Justice, 74(2), 101806.
Potter, L. C., Morris, R., Hegarty, K., García-Moreno, C., & Feder, G. (2020). Categories and health impacts of intimate partner violence in the World Health Organization multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence. International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(2), 652-662.