Michigan State University School of Social Work researchers have shed light on the severe impact of Intimate Partnership Violence (IVP) while highlighting the systemic barriers preventing racial and ethnic minority survivors from seeking help.
IVP against women is a serious public health problem that carries life-long, detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of survivors, according to researchers. IPV polyvictimization refers to experiencing multiple types of abuse, including physical and sexual violence, stalking, and psychological aggression by intimate partners.
This study also found several disparities in help-seeking trends based on the severity of the IPV, along with the race/ethnicity of the survivors. “I've noticed that although every victim suffers from many health problems caused by IPV, certain racial and ethnic groups seek less help than other groups, resulting in even worse health,” said Dr. Hyunkag Cho, associate professor and director of the doctoral program at MSU’s School of Social Work.
Why Some Survivors Seek Less Help
According to Dr. Cho, racial and ethnic minority survivors are often less likely to report IPV incidents to law enforcement due to distrust of the legal system. In addition, those groups may seek less mental health services after IPV incidents such as seeking help from psychologists, medical doctors and social workers.
Several factors contribute to this disparity, including financial burdens, culturally embedded stigmas around mental health and reliance on faith-based coping strategies such as prayer. The underrepresentation of Black service providers and mistrust of White service providers can also further impede Black survivors of IPV from accessing much needed mental health services, according to Dr. Cho.
The Role of Medical & Social Work Professionals
To better address the needs of survivors Dr. Cho suggests, “Medical professionals need to have ongoing training regarding screening, detecting and treating symptoms associated with abuse, working together with IPV advocates and social workers.” Early detection and prevention can be key to impeding further victimization and worse health outcomes, and service providers should pay attention to the gendered patterns of polyvictimization and their associations with health, according to Dr. Cho.
Cultural competence is also essential, Dr. Cho noted. Service providers who demonstrate cultural humility can create better experiences for survivors, which in turn increases trust and future help-seeking behavior. “When survivors find service providers who look like them, speak like them, and/or feel like them, they will be eager to visit them to share so many stories that can help service providers better understand the context of IPV incidents.” This all culminates to more individualized and focused, higher quality services.
Improving Support Systems for Survivors
“I hope my research can foster effective collaboration among various service providers, including police departments, hospitals, and community service agencies,” said Dr. Cho. Uniting those fields can be crucial for delivering tailored services that acknowledge the unique circumstances of survivors who utilize these services, he said.
In addition, Dr. Cho hopes his research can improve cultural competence in healthcare and social services, which can continue paving the way for improved support services for survivors, “which will improve the likelihood of disclosure to IPV to healthcare workers, he explained.