Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Intimate Partner Survivors

• In Event: Older Adult Intimate Partner Violence Survivors: Current Research to Examine Safety and Service Needs CANCELLED

Abstract

Emergent evidence indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an increase in IPV, though there has been limited primary data collection with survivors. We surveyed 374 past 12-month IPV survivors in Houston, Texas and examined the role of shared pandemic and IPV economic and demographic risk factors. Participants were majority female (77.3%) and racially and ethnically diverse. Nearly all participants- 94.7%- experienced past 12-month psychological IPV, and 77.3% experienced physical IPV. Rates for sexual IPV were 32.4%, 50% of participants endorsed economic IPV and 26.2% experienced coerced labor by an intimate partner. Over 40% of participants experienced coercive control. For the majority of participants (55.5%) violence increased when the pandemic began. We examined risks for different types of IPV victimization by demographic groups. Rates of sexual IPV victimization (p= 0.02) economic IPV (p= 0.03) and coercive control (p=0.04) differed by age group with highest rates reported by those 46 and older. Rates differed significantly by race and ethnicity for sexual IPV (p = 0.001) and reproductive coercion (p =0.01) both having the lowest rates for White participants. Findings highlight the unique economic and safety risks for older survivors and people of color during the pandemic.

Author

• Jeff Temple, The University of Texas Medical Branch