What happens when the very measures put in place to keep us safe and healthy instead place us at risk for harm? For women in abusive relationships, the stay-at-home strategy for controlling the spread of COVID-19 can do just that.

A perfect storm of risk factors for escalating violence.

High stress levels, loss of a sense of control, unemployment, increased time together—all are known to increase the frequency and intensity of intimate partner violence (IPV). A study of IPV rates before and after Hurricane Katrina found a 98% increase in physical IPV and a 35% increase in psychological IPV against women after the hurricane, with stressors as one of the strongest predictors for increased violence. IPV rates are known to rise with unemployment rates; a study of IPV during the economic recession of 2007-2008 found that a rapid rise in unemployment led to increased violence and controlling behaviors. And multiple studies have found that IPV incidents occur at much higher rates on weekends and during the summer—times when couples spend more time together. With Covid-19, people are suddenly unemployed and experiencing stress due to economic hardship, fear of illness, and uncertainty about the future. And couples are now spending all their time together under these increasingly stressful conditions.

In fact, UN secretary general António Guterres has noted a surge in domestic violence globally. In France there has been a 30% increase in calls to domestic violence hotlines, in Australia a 75% increase in Google searches for help with domestic violence. In the US, police departments report increases of up to 30% in domestic violence incidents and have noted an increase in the intensity of the violence as well.

Intimate partner violence is about power and control.

Intimate partner violence thrives on isolation. Trapped at home and cut off from support systems, women suffering IPV are at the mercy of their abusers. And because they are under constant surveillance, women can’t connect with support systems and are left to navigate the ongoing trauma alone.

Under normal circumstances, women have some relief when the abuser leaves the house. Now there is no time when they can let their guard down. Living in a state of hypervigilance increases the risk of physical and mental health disorders, including PTSD.

Cut off from emergency help.

After a physical attack, survivors are often only able to call for help when an abuser leaves the home; a study of police response to domestic violence incidents found that the abusers were still on the scene when officers arrived only 7% of the time. Fear of catching COVID-19 may keep many survivors from going to the emergency department, which means they won’t get needed medical care. It also means that more survivors will miss the opportunity to establish a connection to vital services; medical providers are often the first to connect survivors with social services, mental health care, and other resources.

Fewer options for leaving.

It’s difficult and dangerous to leave while the abuser is at home. Many women have lost jobs due to the pandemic, leaving them without the economic resources needed to leave. Shelters are overwhelmed, though still open. Homes of family or friends that were part of an escape plan may no longer be open to them as people are isolating from others.

Strategies for those in abusive relationships to stay safe during the pandemic.

  • Identify the safest rooms in the house, those you can escape from via a door or window and where there are no weapons. Try to move to them during arguments. Don’t wear scarves or necklaces that can be used for strangulation. Hide weapons—not just the obvious; think about what items can be easily weaponized.
  • You are the expert for how to deescalate anger and threats in your relationship. Whatever strategies you need to use to get through this difficult time, use them. You may have to temporarily submit to your abuser to keep yourself or your family safe. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a smart move for survival.
  • Most importantly, if your partner begins to make threats of death, either yours or their own, take them seriously and leave as soon as possible, taking any children in the home with you.

If you know anyone who may be at risk for IPV, reach out.

Don’t wait to hear from those who may be at risk during this time. Call them or set up a virtual face-to-face meeting. Be careful when communicating. Assume the abuser is present and can hear your conversations. The same goes when communicating by email—always assume anything you write will be read by the abuser. Even if you can’t talk openly, maintaining a connection throughout the crisis can provide crucial emotional support and perhaps an opening for a survivor to let you know they need urgent help.

Sheltering at home is stressful for all of us—separated from family and friends, our usual pastimes and routines disrupted or unavailable, even the simple task of grocery shopping a complicated calculation of risk vs. benefit. But we do it to stay safe. For those who suffer IPV, there is no safety. One in three women in this country experience some form of IPV in their lifetime. Someone you know could be among them.

Resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

By Karen Roush, PhD, RN, FNP-BC