Perpetration of intimate partner violence and COVID-19-related anxiety during the second lockdown in Portugal: the mediating role of anxiety, aepression, and stress

Olga Cunha, Sónia Caridade, Andreia de Castro Rodrigues, Ana Rita Cruz, Maria Manuela Peixoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: The restrictions imposed during lockdown by COVID-19 pandemic entailed increased risks for the perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV). Widespread fear and uncertainty related to the virus and the policies adopted to contain it have been linked to a set of social, emotional, and economic stressors that can increase the risk of IPV. The present study aims to assess the association between COVID-19-related anxiety, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress), and IPV perpetration in the community, as well as to assess the mediating role of psychological distress and depression, anxiety, and stress in the relationship between COVID-19-related anxiety and the perpetration of IPV. Methods: A sample of 336 participants (282 females, Mage = 34.91, SD = 11.72) was recruited from the Portuguese population through an online self-report questionnaire, completed after the second lockdown (from April and July 2021). Results: High rates of IPV perpetration during the confinement, in particular psychological and physical IPV, were found. COVID-19-related anxiety and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) were related to higher levels of IPV perpetration. Psychological distress and stress mediated the relationship between COVID-19-related anxiety and total IPV perpetration and psychological distress and depression mediated the relationship between COVID-19-related anxiety and psychological IPV perpetration. Conclusions: This study highlights the mediating role of psychological distress on IPV perpetration. Practical implications for intervention policies in IPV perpetration will be discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Family Violence
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Keywords

  • Coronavirus anxiety
  • Depression
  • Intimate Partner Violence
  • Mediation
  • Perpetration
  • Psychological Distress

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Perpetration of intimate partner violence and COVID-19-related anxiety during the second lockdown in Portugal: the mediating role of anxiety, aepression, and stress'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this