لا يزال عنف الشريك الحميم يمثل أزمة مستمرة بين الأمريكيين ، وبالنسبة للعديد من النساء اللائي يعانين من سوء المعاملة على يد شريك ، يمكن أن يؤدي ذلك إلى تعاطي المخدرات أو الإدمان.
يمكن أن يحدث العنف في أي علاقة
عندما يفكر معظم الناس في إساءة العلاقات ، فمن المحتمل أن يتصوروا الإساءة اللفظية والجسدية في سياق الزواج ، في حين أن هذا هو الموقف الذي يمكن أن يحدث فيه عنف الشريك الحميم ، فهو بالتأكيد ليس الوحيد.
أصبح عنف الشريك الحميم ، الذي كان يُعرف باسم العنف المنزلي ، مصطلحًا أوسع نطاقًا لا يشمل الأزواج فقط في تعريفه ، بل يشمل أيضًا الأزواج السابقين ، وشركاء المواعدة ، وشركاء المواعدة السابقين [1].
هذا يوسع نطاق العنف في العلاقة ليشمل بشكل كامل المواقف التي يمكن أن يحدث فيها هذا النوع من الإساءة. يمكن أن تبدأ في مرحلة المراهقة ، والمعروفة باسم عنف المواعدة بين المراهقين ، أو يمكن أن تحدث بين شخصين بالغين مروا في مواعيد قليلة.
ومع اتساع نطاق فهمنا لمن يمكنه تجربة هذا النوع من العنف ، فقد اتسع أيضًا فهمنا لما يمكن أن يبدو عليه هذا العنف.
كما أوضحت جمعية المستقبل بلا عنف ، فإن عنف الشريك الحميم هو "نمط من السلوكيات العدوانية والقسرية التي قد تشمل الإصابة الجسدية ، والإيذاء النفسي ، والاعتداء الجنسي ، والعزلة الاجتماعية التقدمية ، والمطاردة ، والحرمان ، والترهيب ، والتهديدات" [2].
So, what was once known as the abuse of a spouse has broadened to show that violence can occur in many ways and in different types of relationships.
A Heightened Concern During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Every year, millions of women across the nation are impacted by intimate partner violence. About 1 in 4 women have suffered sexual or physical violence or have been stalked by an intimate partner. Even more troubling, approximately 11 million women said that they had these experiences before age 18 [1].
And the problem has only worsened over the last year as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe. Many people lost their jobs and were unable to buy groceries, pay their rent, or afford other necessities. The stress and isolation caused by the pandemic have been crushing, and, as researchers at the University of California, Davis found, it intensified intimate partner violence in some relationships [3].
“The pandemic, like other kinds of disasters, exacerbates the social and livelihood stresses and circumstances that we know lead to intimate partner violence,” said Clare Cannon, lead author of the study.
The researchers surveyed nearly 400 adults for ten weeks starting in April 2020. Of those who said that they were experiencing some form of violence in their relationship, 74% were women. And the people who reported experiencing intimate partner violence had higher levels of stress than those who did not report any violence.
While the researchers note that this does not show that the stress of the pandemic causes intimate partner violence, it does suggest that being exposed to more stress can create an unsafe environment in certain situations.
Linking Addiction to Intimate Partner Violence
Research shows that when a person has been abused by their spouse, it increases their chances of developing a substance use disorder, while people who have suffered intimate partner violence are 70% more likely to drink alcohol heavily compared with people who haven’t experienced violence in a relationship [1].
In some cases, the urge to abuse drugs or alcohol is an unhealthy coping tool in the face of what likely feels like a hopeless situation. More than half of women who are abused by an intimate partner are diagnosed with a mental health concern. Drinking heavily or abusing drugs is often a way of self-medicating symptoms of depression, panic disorders, or anxiety disorders. It can also be a way to numb painful feelings or memories associated with the abuse.
But the American Society of Addiction Medicine explains that partners may also coerce women into using substances as a means of abuse and control. When a woman is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, her partner is better able to control her decision-making and actions, allowing them to continue the cycle of abuse.
The long-term negative consequences of addiction can be even more devastating for women in the presence of intimate partner violence because getting help can be incredibly challenging. They may not have the financial or social support they need to end the relationship and seek addiction treatment.
It may seem difficult to find the support you need, but there are resources that can help. If you are experiencing intimate partner violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If you are an adolescent girl who is experiencing teen dating violence, call the Love Is Respect hotline at 1-866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522.
