The author(s) shown below used Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and prepared the following final report: Document Title: Practical Implications of Current Intimate Partner Violence Research for Victim Advocates and Service Providers Author(s): Barbara J. Hart, J.D., Andrew R. Klein, Ph.D. Document No.: 244348 Date Received: December 2013 Award Number: 2010M_10065 This report has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice. To provide better customer service, NCJRS has made this Federally- funded grant report available electronically. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Practical Implications of Current Intimate Partner Violence Research for Victim Advocates and Service Providers Barbara J. Hart, J.D. Andrew R. Klein, Ph.D. January 9, 2013 Findings and conclusions of the research reported here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of policies of the U.S. Department of Justice or Health and Human Services. This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Practical Implications of Current Intimate Partner Violence Research for Victim Advocates and Service Providers Table of Contents Introduction: How to Use this Guide ..................................................... 8 I. What is Intimate Partner Violence? ................................................. 11 Why Does IPV Occur? .......................................................................... 12 How Should IPV be Measured? ........................................................... 13 Are Coercive and Controlling Behaviors Linked to IPV? ................. 14 Are Sexual Abuse and Rape Part of IPV? ........................................... 15 Is “Reproductive Coercion” Part of IPV? ........................................... 18 Is Stalking Part of IPV? ........................................................................ 19 Is Economic Abuse Part of IPV? .......................................................... 20 How Can IPV Economic Abuse be Measured?................................... 21 Is Isolation Part of IPV? ........................................................................ 22 Are Men and Women Equally Likely to Be Victims or Perpetrators of IPV? ...................................................................... 23 Is Women’s Use of IPV Different from Men’s? .................................. 24 II. What Are the Victimization Rates for Intimate Partner Violence? .......................................................................................... 26 Are Certain Populations at Increased Risk for IPV? ......................... 28 Are Separated or Divorced Persons at Higher Risk for IPV?........... 29 Are Pregnant Women at Increased Risk for IPV? ............................. 30 Are Women with Disabilities at Increased Risk for IPV? ................. 31 Are Women who are Deaf at Increased Risk for IPV? ...................... 33 Are Rural Women at Increased Risk for IPV? ................................... 34 Are Elders at Increased Risk for IPV? ................................................ 35 Are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trangender People at Increased Risk for IPV? ................................................................................... 36 Are IPV Rates Higher among Veterans and Active Duty Military? 39 How Many Children are exposed to IPV? ........................................... 39 How Many IPV Victims are Killed Each Year? ................................. 41 How Many IPV Victims Attempt/Complete Suicide? ........................ 43 III. What is the Impact of IPV on Victims? ........................................ 46 What are the Costs of IPV? .................................................................. 46 What is the Impact of IPV on Victim Health? .................................... 48 1 This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. What is the Health Impact of IPV on Victim Mental Health? .......... 50 Is the Health Impact of IPV Different for Men than Women? ......... 51 Why May the Adverse Mental and Physical Health Effects of IPV Remain Long after the Abuse Has Ended? ......................................... 52 What Are the Special Risks of IPV against Pregnant Women? ........ 53 What is the Relationship between Abuse during Pregnancy and Post- Partum Depression? .............................................................................. 54 Can Prenatal Exposure to IPV Adversely Affect the Health of the Child? ...................................................................................................... 54 Is There a Link Between Abortions and IPV? .................................... 55 Are Abused Women at Special Risk for HIV Infection? .................. 56 What are the Effects of Economic Abuse? .......................................... 57 Does IPV Contribute to Homelessness? ............................................... 58 What is the Impact on Children Who are Exposed to IPV? ............. 60 Does Exposure to IPV Increase Likelihood that a Child Will Become Involved with IPV as an Adult? ........................................................... 63 Are Children Exposed to IPV More Likely to Suffer Child Abuse? 64 Is Abnormal Sexual Behavior by Children Linked to Exposure to IPV? .................................................................................................. 65 How Can the Impact of Child IPV Exposure Be Measured? ............ 66 IV. Who Abuses? .................................................................................... 67 What Age are Abusers? ......................................................................... 67 Are Abusers Likely to be known to Law Enforcement Already? .... 68 Are Abusers Likely to be Drug and/or Alcohol Abusers? ................ 69 Are Abusers likely to be Mentally Ill or have Certain Personality Traits? .................................................................................................... 70 Are Veterans/Military Personnel More likely to Abuse? .................. 71 Are Veterans/Military Personnel Who Abuse Different from Civilian Abusers? .................................................................................................. 72 Are Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and/or Conduct Disorder More Likely to Become Abusers? ............ 74 Do Abusers Stick with One Victim? .................................................... 74 How Many Abusers are Likely to Reabuse? ...................................... 74 When are Abusers Likely to Reabuse? ............................................... 75 Which Abusers are Likely to Reabuse? .............................................. 76 Are IPV Stalkers Likely to Reabuse? .................................................. 77 Is Substance Abuse a Significant Risk Factor for Reabuse? ............ 79 Are there other Common Risk Factors Associated with Reabuse? . 79 What Factors are Not Associated with Reabuse? ............................... 80 2 This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Are Victims Accurate Predictors of Reabuse? ................................... 80 Which Abusers are Most Likely to Try to Kill their Intimate Victims? ................................................................................................. 82 What are Other Lethality Risk Markers? .......................................... 83 Can Police Accurately Assess the Risk for Victim Lethality? ........... 83 What are the Risk Markers for Severe Injury?.................................. 85 V. Do Victim Characteristics Predict IPV Victimization? ................ 86 Are IPV Victims Also Perpetrators? ................................................... 86 Does Victim Substance and Alcohol Abuse Increase the Likelihood of Intimate Partner Victimization? .......................................................... 87 Do Alcohol and Substance Abuse Impede Victim Ability to Protect Themselves and Family? ....................................................................... 88 Are there Specific Risk Factors for Women Veterans/Military Personnel? ............................................................................................... 89 Are there Specific Risk Factors for IPV for Pregnant Women?....... 89 What is the Link Between Social Supports and IPV Victimization? ........................................................................................ 90 VI. Do Victims of IPV Seek Assistance and Services? ...................... 92 When Do IPV Victims Seek Assistance? ............................................. 94 VII. What Protective Factors and Coping Skills Mitigate the Adverse Impact of IPV? ......................................................................................