Psychological and Physical Intimate Partner Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Aggressive Attitudes, Abusive Behavior, and Coercive Control
Luminița PopescuABSTRACT. In this article, I cumulate previous research findings indicating that the risks of increased depression and anxiety symptoms are among individuals undergoing COVID-related abuse or reduced social support. I contribute to the literature on intimate partner violence by showing that abusive partners have increased harm during the COVID-19 outbreak by perpetrating psychological and physical intimate partner violence. Throughout May 2021, I performed a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases, with search terms including “intimate partner violence + COVID-19,” “domestic violence + COVID-19,” “family violence + COVID-19,” and “abusive partners + COVID-19.” Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were used that ensure the literature review is comprehensive, transparent, and replicable. As I inspected research published in 2020 and 2021, only 348 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria. By eliminating controversial findings, outcomes unsubstantiated by replication, too imprecise material, or having similar titles, I decided upon 33, generally empirical, sources. Subsequent analyses should develop on economic stress and social isolation as risk determinants for intimate partner violence. Future research should thus investigate how COVID-19 lockdown policies have resulted in heightened rates of intimate partner violence and mental ill health. Attention should be directed to how elevated COVID-19-related stress is associated with intensified partner violence throughout the lockdown.
Keywords: intimate; partner; violence; COVID-19; pandemic; lockdown
How to cite: Popescu, L. (2021). “Psychological and Physical Intimate Partner Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Aggressive Attitudes, Abusive Behavior, and Coercive Control,” Journal of Research in Gender Studies 11(2): 32–46. doi: 10.22381/JRGS11220212.
Received 25 June 2021 • Received in revised form 23 December 2021
Accepted 26 December 2021 • Available online 30 December 2021
