Intimate Partner Violence, Depression, and Social Support (Dissertation Sample)

Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION PAGEREF _Toc172641622 \h 1 1.1.Intimate Partner Violence, Depression, and Social Support PAGEREF _Toc172641623 \h 1 1.2.Aims and Objectives PAGEREF _Toc172641624 \h 4 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW PAGEREF _Toc172641625 \h 8 2.1. Different Forms of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Their Implications PAGEREF _Toc172641626 \h 8 2.2. Frequency and Severity of Intimate Partner Violence PAGEREF _Toc172641627 \h 9 2.3. Depression as a Consequence of Intimate Partner Violence PAGEREF _Toc172641628 \h 10 2.4. Mediating and Moderating Factors in the IPV-Depression Relationship PAGEREF _Toc172641629 \h 11 2.5. Interventions and Support Systems for IPV Victims PAGEREF _Toc172641630 \h 12 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY PAGEREF _Toc172641631 \h 14 3.1. Design PAGEREF _Toc172641632 \h 14 3.2. Participants PAGEREF _Toc172641633 \h 14 3.3. Procedure PAGEREF _Toc172641634 \h 16 Chapter 4: RESULTS AND ANALYSIS PAGEREF _Toc172641635 \h 17 CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSIONS and CONLUSION PAGEREF _Toc172641636 \h 25 5.1. Interpretation of Results PAGEREF _Toc172641637 \h 25 5.2. Implications for understanding the results and analysis of the study PAGEREF _Toc172641638 \h 26 5.3. Strengths and Limitations of the Study Design and Methodology PAGEREF _Toc172641639 \h 28 5.4. Future Research PAGEREF _Toc172641640 \h 29 5.5. Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc172641641 \h 30 5.6. Recommendations and Solutions PAGEREF _Toc172641642 \h 32 References PAGEREF _Toc172641643 \h 34 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a persistent problem in society with ramifications for physical, emotional, and social well-being (Machisa et al., 2017). IPV is defined as an act of violence committed by one partner against the other in an intimate setting, which may take the form of bodily assault, sexual violence, verbal abuse, or coercion (Brar et al., 2020). IPV is a cross-national problem that affects millions of families worldwide, yet protective and risk factors, as well as outcomes related to this type of violence can vary depending on, for example, cultural and socioeconomic situations (Chandan et al., 2020). IPV continues to be prevalent in the United Kingdom, with high rates of occurrence and documented harmful impacts on victims. For example, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 2.3 million adults aged 16 to 74 experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2020 (Okafor et al., 2021). Given the widespread nature of IPV and its impact on health, the purpose of this study is to establish a link between the frequency of IPV and its associations with depression and social support among UK adults. Using these aims, researchers can then determine what may be done to avoid or intervene in the problem, with the goal of improving outcomes for individuals affected by IPV. Intimate Partner Violence, Depression, and Social Support IPV is described as any pattern of behaviour in which one spouse dominates the personal relationship by using physical, sexual, or psychological force. This includes aggression, such as physical force or threats; sexual coercion, including threats to use force, making demands for sex, ignoring condoms or birth control, or forcing the use of a condom; psychological abuse, such as stalking, jealous rages, isolating the victim, degrading or humiliating them, or scaring them; and controlling behaviours, such as restricting the victim's movements and contacts with friends or other family members, possessing a firearm or others (Ogbe et al., 2020). Risk factors are characteristics of an individual that make him or her predisposed to having a specific undesirable condition, such as depression. Increased rates of either frequent or severe IPV, as well as poorer socioeconomic status or middle age, are potential risk factors for future IPV (Howell et al., 2018). For example, youths and those from low-income families are more likely to face additional stressors and limits, while those who are sensitive to IPV are more likely to acquire new and severe depression (Machisa et al., 2017). Cultural attitudes about gender roles and power may also influence how much the IPV victim reveals or seeks to disclose depressive symptoms (Paulson, 2022). Protective factors, on the other hand, can be defined as characteristics that reduce the likelihood of experiencing a negative trait or negate the effect of risk factors. Possible protective factors include social support, perceived availability of expert assistance, or a positive financial situation (Cho et al., 2020). In the United Kingdom specifically, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that approximately two million people have a long-term ailment resulting from IPV (Spencer et al., 2019). In the year preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, three million UK people aged 16-74 suffered domestic abuse, with women more likely to be victimised than males (Paulson, 2022). These authors highlighted the prevalence of IPV and the importance of prioritizing prevention and treatment for both victims and offenders (Shaffer et al., 2022). IPV often results in psychological and social consequences as well as physical symptoms. IPV victims' coping strategies can result in despair, anxiety, PTSD, and substance misuse (Lagdon et al., 2014). IPV can permanently instil fear, powerlessness, and low self-esteem, making it unable to execute even the most fundamental activities (Shaffer et al., 2022). Victims of IPV may withdraw from friends and family, lose their jobs, and become homeless, continuing a vicious cycle of abuse and mental illness (Paulson, 2022). Another particularly common outcome associated with IPV is depression, defined as a mental health disorder in which people experience low mood and detachment from life’s activities that used to interest them in the past (Stubbs & Szoeke, (2022). Furthermore, some studies have found a strong link between IPV and depression. For example, a systematic study by Devries et al. (2013) found that women who have experienced IPV are more likely to develop depression than women who have not. Dillon and his colleagues (2013) found a strong link between IPV severity and frequency and depressed start and intensity. These studies underscore the importance of further research into the practical workings of the link between IPV and depression in order to provide appropriate treatment to afflicted persons. There are several reasons that make UK adult IPV research critical. Specifically, identifying risk and protective factors for IPV is critical for developing effective interventions and policies to combat its prevalence and effects in the UK (Paulson, 2022). Many studies have looked at the relationship between rates of IPV and depression in UK adults. However, current research ignores IPV subtypes and their potential effects on mental health (Chandan et al., 2020). Thus, it would be useful to assess links between frequency of IPV subtypes, depressive symptoms, and social support for each of the different types of IPV measured in the CTS. One of the limitations of the current study is that the UK has not done enough research on various subtypes of IPV and how they are linked to depression, despite the fact that IPV poses physical, emotional, sexual, and economic hazards (Paulson, 2022). A large body of work currently considers IPV as one category that may conceal important distinctions between different types of abuse and how they affect mental health. Physical violence is defined as the purposeful use of force on a relationship, whereas emotional maltreatment refers to behaviours that reduce a person's worth or value (Machisa et al., 2017). Sexual abuse includes any form of sexual coercion, whereas economic abuse relates to the exploitation of a partner's finances. Previous study has demonstrated that these subtypes have varying effects on depression. For example, Devries et al. (2013) found that emotional maltreatment has a stronger long-term influence on the development of depression. Similarly, Mason and Du Mont (2015) discovered that sexual abuse was associated with higher levels of depression. Nonetheless, economic abuse received little attention, calling into question the information gap about its psychological effects. Thus, differentiating these kinds will allow future scholarly investigations to adapt therapies to the needs of IPV sufferers. Additionally, the role of social support as a protective factor against IPV and its psychological impacts warrants further investigation. While it is well-documented that social support can mitigate the adverse effects of IPV, there is limited research on how this protective effect varies across different IPV subtypes (Chandan et al., 2020). Understanding these dynamics could inform more tailored and effective interventions for IPV survivors, enhancing their resilience and mental health outcomes. Furthermore, existing studies often fail to comprehensively address demographic variables such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) in understanding the relationships between IPV, depression, and social support. This omission is critical, as these factors can significantly influence both the prevalence and impact of IPV (Spencer et al., 2019). For instance, younger individuals, women, and those with lower SES may experience more severe mental health consequences from IPV. Investigating these effects could provide a more nuanced understanding of associations between IPV, depression, and social support, and highlight vulnerable subgroups in need of targeted support. Aims and Objectives This research seeks to understand the association between intimate partner violence (IPV), depressive symptoms, and social support in adults living in the UK. This includes determining the rate of IPV victimisation, and establishing the pattern and degree of relations between IPV subtypes, depressive symptoms, and social support. This study examine...