Safety strategies employed when responding to intimate partner violence: a systematic review

Abstract

The research report sets out to provide evidence-based safety strategies adopted by those affected by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Where appropriate, other forms of interpersonal violence are considered in order to add breath to the evidence that supports practice offered to those affected by IPV. Globally, IPV is public health and human rights issue crossing over into the justice system and while the outcomes of IPV victimisation are well documented, it is less clear how victims who experience violence or abuse manage their experiences. The systematic review presented in this report initially scoped 3,540 papers moving through screen and quality assessment procedures. As a consequence the review yields 5 themes that centre on evidence for safety strategies adopted by those affected by IPV: Victims of Interpersonal Violence are likely to seek help from personal sources; Significant barriers for victims of interpersonal violence in seeking help; Victims use of an array of strategies to prevent or reduce harm from inter-personal violence; Victims of interpersonal violence engage in a variety of behaviours to manage their emotions; Type and severity of interpersonal violence affecting type of help sought by victims. While the implications of the study presented in this report are two-fold: research and clinical.