Date
8-21-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Human Services: Emphasis in Trauma, Resilience, & Self-Care Strategies
Department
Human Services
First Advisor
Ryan Chukuske
Second Advisor
Jerrod Brown
Abstract
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pervasive, worldwide problem with devastating physical, psychological, and economic consequences. IPV can happen to anyone—male or female, straight or LGBTQ, wealthy or poor. However, most reported cases of IPV involve women as victims. Furthermore, women are more likely to experience chronic violence, severe IPV, criminal harassment, or be killed (Stewart et al., 2021). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2021), 26% of women around the world have experienced violence (physical and/or sexual) from a current or former intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.
Given the pervasiveness of IPV and its serious consequences, it is imperative that Human Service Professionals (HSP) understand which interventions are most effective. The purpose of this paper was to review the literature on the most effective interventions for both survivors and perpetrators of IPV. The author searched for and then synthesized the literature published within the last ten years using the Concordia University library and Google Scholar. This review examined the effects of IPV on the survivor. Next, it explored the risk factors associated with being both a perpetrator and a survivor of IPV. This study then reviewed the interventions currently being practiced to prevent IPV, to help survivors heal from it, and to prevent perpetrators from repeating IPV. Finally, this study explored IPV in relationship to culture and sexuality. Ultimately, this paper recommended that interventions be trauma-informed, individualized, and culturally competent to best serve IPV survivors and perpetrators.