Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United States
“Stay home, save lives” has been shown to reduce the impacts of COVID-19; however, it is crucial to recognize that efforts not to stress healthcare systems may have unintended social consequences for domestic violence. This commentary addresses domestic violence as an important social and public hea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291120300589 |
| _version_ | 1819295537309941760 |
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| author | Candace Forbes Bright Christopher Burton Madison Kosky |
| author_facet | Candace Forbes Bright Christopher Burton Madison Kosky |
| author_sort | Candace Forbes Bright |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | “Stay home, save lives” has been shown to reduce the impacts of COVID-19; however, it is crucial to recognize that efforts not to stress healthcare systems may have unintended social consequences for domestic violence. This commentary addresses domestic violence as an important social and public health implication of COVID-19. As a pandemic with a high contagion level, necessary social distancing measures have been put in place across the world to slow transmission and protect medical services. We first present literature that shows that among the effects of social distancing are social and functional isolation and economic stress, which are known to increase domestic violence. We then present preliminary observations from a content analysis conducted on over 300 news articles from the first six weeks of COVID-19 “lockdown” in the United States: articles predict an increase in domestic violence, report an increase in domestic violence, and inform victims on how to access services. Assessing the intersection of the early news media messaging on the effect of COVID-19 on DV and the literature on social isolation and crisis situations, we conclude the commentary with implications for current policy related to (1) increased media attention, (2) increased attention in healthcare systems, (3) promoting social and economic security, and (4) long-term efforts to fund prevention and response, as well as research implications to consider. The research is presented as ongoing, but the policy and procedure recommendations are presented with urgency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:43:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-694b89351b4745b89a6308d81d1713b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:43:47Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-694b89351b4745b89a6308d81d1713b32022-12-21T17:14:44ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112020-01-0121100069Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United StatesCandace Forbes Bright0Christopher Burton1Madison Kosky2Corresponding author.; East Tennessee State University, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PO Box 70644, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USAEast Tennessee State University, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PO Box 70644, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USAEast Tennessee State University, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PO Box 70644, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA“Stay home, save lives” has been shown to reduce the impacts of COVID-19; however, it is crucial to recognize that efforts not to stress healthcare systems may have unintended social consequences for domestic violence. This commentary addresses domestic violence as an important social and public health implication of COVID-19. As a pandemic with a high contagion level, necessary social distancing measures have been put in place across the world to slow transmission and protect medical services. We first present literature that shows that among the effects of social distancing are social and functional isolation and economic stress, which are known to increase domestic violence. We then present preliminary observations from a content analysis conducted on over 300 news articles from the first six weeks of COVID-19 “lockdown” in the United States: articles predict an increase in domestic violence, report an increase in domestic violence, and inform victims on how to access services. Assessing the intersection of the early news media messaging on the effect of COVID-19 on DV and the literature on social isolation and crisis situations, we conclude the commentary with implications for current policy related to (1) increased media attention, (2) increased attention in healthcare systems, (3) promoting social and economic security, and (4) long-term efforts to fund prevention and response, as well as research implications to consider. The research is presented as ongoing, but the policy and procedure recommendations are presented with urgency.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291120300589COVID-19Intimate partner violenceDomestic violenceSocial isolationCoronavirus |
| spellingShingle | Candace Forbes Bright Christopher Burton Madison Kosky Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United States Social Sciences and Humanities Open COVID-19 Intimate partner violence Domestic violence Social isolation Coronavirus |
| title | Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United States |
| title_full | Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United States |
| title_short | Considerations of the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic violence in the United States |
| title_sort | considerations of the impacts of covid 19 on domestic violence in the united states |
| topic | COVID-19 Intimate partner violence Domestic violence Social isolation Coronavirus |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291120300589 |
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