While no longer novel, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to change our daily interactions as we witness the re-implementation of numerous measures to limit its spread by government and public health authorities. These measures vary by region with the most common tool have been physical distancing, mandatory mask wearing, and lockdowns with the common refrain to stay home as much as possible. However, these stay-at-home measures have also increased the level of isolation between individuals, magnifying the vulnerability of some populations at-risk of domestic violence also known as intimate partner violence [IPV]9. While IPV encompasses a large array of behaviours, Statistics Canada(2018) defines it as violence committed in an intimate relationship including name calling,physical/sexual assault, and homicide. Additionally, perpetrators of IPV frequently use coercion,intimidation, threats, and surveillance to ensure compliance and allow them to exert control.
One of the impacts many of us have experienced during the pandemic is an increased amount of time spent at home with the average Canadian spending more time at home than before. While this has frequently been a consequence of public measures aimed at protecting lives it has also increases the risk many in abusive situations face at home. The stress and uncertainty many of us have experienced as apart of the impacts of COVID-19 may also increase the likelihood of individuals facing as well as the amount and severity of the abuse.7,6 While the full extant of this impact remains unknown an August survey of victim surveys conducted by the Ending Violence Association of Canada found that 37% of gender-based violence staff working during the pandemic have observed an increased in prevalence and severity of violence.11 While the causes vary between events, disasters such as the Ebola outbreaks Haitian earthquake and Hurricane Harvey have been found to correlate with increased levels of IPV both during and after, with increased severity corresponding to higher levels.1
In addition to the impacts of stress and uncertainty, the social isolation many of us have experienced during this time can have devastating impacts for those experiencing IPV as their social and support networks are drastically reduced or completely cut-off and is believed to have impacted those living with IPV in two different ways. The first is this is for the individual themselves who often loose“safety valves” or reasons to be away from home such as work, hobbies, or family that may have acted as a respite from the violence or an opportunity to seek support with a reduced fear of being monitored by their partner.3 This can leave individuals feeling as if they have little to no escape, making the violence feel all the worst as they are forced to spend more time at home with their abuser, best surmised by one shelter worker saying “Safety plans are more about how to stay than how to escape”compared to before.5 The second aspect is that these same stresses and uncertainty associated withCOVID-19 are also likely to affect partners, leading to an increased likelihood of anger, boredom, and frustration.5,10 Additionally, individuals faced with high levels of stress may be more likely to act violently towards those close to them, especially if this has been a tendency prior to the events of the pandemic.5,6 The result is more severe and more frequent acts of violence that we’ve observed during this pandemic; however, the more alarming is that without coordinated efforts and supports this trend is unlikely to decrease based on historical observations of similar disasters.6
While the isolation created by the pandemic has increased the prevalence and severity of violence it has also altered the tactics used by perpetrators of IPV by facilitating more coercive tactics with a fifth of gender-based violence agencies reporting they had observed this change in tactics and a resulting increase in control over the perpetrator’s partner.5 Many of the restrictions implemented have facilitated this trend with stay-at-home measures requiring individuals to spend more time at home in situations that are not always safe. The reason for this facilitation is not intentional but a side-effect of measures meant to keep people apart as we try to limit the spread of the virus. The increased time at home means that reaching out for help may not longer be possible without alerting a partner,which in turn may lead to further violence. With many services forced to alter their delivery platforms to remote and online formats, it is important to be cognisant that this may not be accessible for all as finding a safe space to disclose their experiences without leaving home. Additionally, abusers may take advantage of the closures to prevent their partners from leaving, further isolating them, and allowing more violent acts to occur that might have otherwise been noticed by friends, colleagues, or family. 8This is especially concerning given that data has shown that women are both more likely have lost a job as a result of the pandemic and are more likely to be the ones experiencing IPV. 4,7
As we continue to reimplement pandemic related restrictions, governments, public health agencies, and organizations will need to collaborate to work against domestic violence. This will require immediate actions such as working to ensure shelters can remain open and available to those in need,better funding mental health and crisis services to longer term actions aimed at challenging elements of society the permit or foster gender-based violence and harmful relationships. As individuals this may mean being aware of potential red flags, learning how to reach out and offer help to those around you,and taking the time to learn about how intimate partner violence affects us all.
References
1. Abramson, A. (2020, April 8). How COVID-19 may increase domestic violence and child abuse.American Psychological Association. Retrieved fromhttps://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/domestic-violence-child-abuse
2. Allen, M. & Jaffray, B. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on Canadian victim services.Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/article/00065-eng.htm
3. Barbara, G., Facchin, F., Micci, L., Rendiniello, M., Giulini, P., Cattaneo, C., Vercellini, P., &Kustermann, A. (2020). COVID-19, lockdown, and intimate partner violence: Some data froman Italian service and suggestions for future approaches. Journal of Women’s Health, 29(10).Retrieved from https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/51.5189/JWH.2020.870
4. Connley, . (2020, May 14). Coronavirus job losses are impacting everyone, but women are taking aharder hit than men. CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/14/coronavirus-job-losses-disproportionately-impact-women.html
5. Dubinski, K., & Margison, A. (2020, August 25). National survey finds domestic violence duringpandemic was more frequent and severe. Canadian Broadcast Corporation. Retrieved fromhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/national-survey-domestic-violence-end-violence-now-anova-1.498028
6. Kofman, Y.B., & Garfin, D.R. (2020). Home is not always a haven: The domestic violence crisis amidthe COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy,12(S1), S199-S201. Retrieved from https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2020-37317-001.pdf
7. Peterman, A., Potts, A., O’Donnell, M., Thompson, K., Niyati, S., Oertelt-Prigione, S., & Gelder, N.(2020). Pandemics and violence against women and children. Center for Global DevelopmentRetrieved from https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/press/pandemics-and-violence-against-women-and-children/pandemics-and-vawg-april2.pdf
8. Stark, E. (2012). Looking beyond domestic violence: Policing coercive control. Journal of Police CrisisNegotiations, 12(2), 199-217. Retrieved fromhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/153236.2012.72116?casa_token=hSqMEVN3O8AAAAAA:X1kJ5RS0AJB3fdV2u12SV8JWFyVrMXoG8_uxkY3BSuKfdl6bsrMaDtF_WvPW3jX0UMeY6MXkgqbJ0g
9. Statistics Canada. (2018). General social survey on Canadians' safety (victimization). Retrieved fromhttps://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54893/06-eng.htm
10. Taub, A. (2020, April 6). A new COVID-19 crisis: Domestic abuse rises worldwide. The New YorkTimes. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/world/coronavirus-domestic-violence.html
11. Trudell, A.L. & Whitmore, E. (2020). Pandemic meets pandemic: Understanding the impacts ofCOVID-19 on gender-based violence services and survivors in Canada. Ending ViolenceAssociation of Canada & Anova. Retrieved fromhttp://www.anovafuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Full-Report.pdf