The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

This thesis presents three interrelated papers, examining different sides of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on survivors and professionals.

Paper 1 is a systematic literature review that explores the experiences of professionals working within specialist domestic abuse services during the pandemic. Thirteen papers were reviewed, and key themes identified include the increase in domestic abuse incidents, challenges in service delivery, psychological impacts on staff, and ethical dilemmas. The review highlights the operational difficulties and emotional strain resulting from the transition to remote support. It also highlights the need for further research into longer-term impacts, diverse global contexts, and innovative approaches to remote support.

Paper 2 presents an empirical study using semi-structured interviews with nine survivors of IPV during pregnancy, focusing on coping strategies and help-seeking during the pandemic in the UK. The study found that survivors predominantly adopted avoidant and appeasement based coping strategies, with limited access to formal support. Key findings also revealed systemic failures, such as missed opportunities for intervention, lack of IPV knowledge within services and ineffective legal processes. The study emphasises the need for more intersectional research on IPV, particularly in relation to race, culture and socioeconomic status, and highlights the importance of considering help-seeking behaviours over time, once survivors have left their abusive relationships.

Paper 3 is an executive summary intended for dissemination to the participants and the public. It provides a concise overview of the findings from Paper 2, with a focus on practical implications for improving support services for survivors.