Social support and the intimate partner violence victimization among adults from six European countries

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Dias, NG (Author) Other; Costa, D (Author) Other; Soares, J (Author) Other; Hatzidimitriadou, E (Author) Other; Ioannidi Kapolou, E (Author) Other; Lindert, J (Author) Other; Sundin, O (Author) Other; Toth, O (Author) Other; Barros H (Author) FMUP; Sílvia Fraga (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Family Practice

Vol. 36

Pages: 117-124

ISSN: 0263-2136

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 20 Citations

Scopus - 21 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Q-CTG

DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmy042

Abstract (EN): Social support may buffer the negative effects of violence on physical and mental health. Family medicine providers play an essential role in identifying the available social support and intervening in intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aimed at assessing the association between social support and the IPV victimization among adults from six European countries. This is a cross-sectional multi-centre study that included individuals from Athens (Greece), Budapest (Hungary), London (UK), stersund (Sweden), Porto (Portugal) and Stuttgart (Germany). Data collection was carried out between September 2010 and May 2011. The sample consisted of 3496 adults aged 1864 years randomly selected from the general population in each city. The revised Conflict Tactics Scales was used to assess IPV victimization. Social support was assessed with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Participants reporting physical assault victimization experienced lower social support (mean SD) than their counterparts, 66.1 13.96 versus 71.7 12.90, P < 0.001, for women; and 67.1 13.69 versus 69.5 13.52, P = 0.002 for men. Similar results were found regarding sexual coercion victimization, 69.1 14.03 versus 71.3 12.97, P = 0.005 for women and 68.0 13.29 versus 69.3 13.62, P = 0.021 for men. This study revealed lower levels of social support among participants reporting lifetime and past year victimization, independent of demographic, social and health-related factors. Results showed a statistically significant association between low social support and IPV victimization. Although the specific mechanisms linking social support with experiences of violence need further investigation, it seems that both informal and formal networks may be associated with lower levels of abusive situations.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8