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Cited by 182Intimate Partner and Family ViolenceDisaster Management and ResiliencePosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Investigating the increase in domestic violence post-disaster: An Australian case study

Parkinson, Debra·2019·Journal of Interpersonal Violence
DOI 10.1177/0886260517696876
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Abstract

Interviews with 30 women in two shires in Victoria, Australia, confirmed that domestic violence increased following the catastrophic Black Saturday bushfires on February 7, 2009. As such research is rare, it addresses a gap in the disaster and interpersonal violence literature. The research that exists internationally indicates that increased violence against women is characteristic of a postdisaster recovery in developing countries. The relative lack of published research from primary data in developed countries instead reflects our resistance to investigating or recognizing increased male violence against women after disasters in developed countries. This article begins with an overview of this literature. The primary research was qualitative, using in-depth semistructured interviews to address the research question of whether violence against women increased in the Australian context. The sample of 30 women was aged from 20s to 60s. Recruitment was through flyers and advertisements, and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and checked by participants. Analysis was inductive, using modified grounded theory. Seventeen women gave accounts of new or increased violence from male partners that they attribute to the disaster. A key finding is that, not only is there both increased and new domestic violence but formal reporting will not increase in communities unwilling to hear of this hidden disaster. Findings are reported within a framework of three broad explanations. In conclusion, although causation is not claimed, it is important to act on the knowledge that increased domestic violence and disasters are linked.

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  • Violence against women, including IPV, increases in the wake of natural disasters and emergencies.

    “Concern that the incidence of IPV would increase during the pandemic also recognises scholarship showing that violence against women, including IPV, increases in the wake of natural disasters and emergencies (Harville et al., 2011;International Rescue Committee, 2019;Parkinson, 2019;Parkinson & Zara, 2013;Schumacher et al., 2010).”

    From COVID-19 lockdowns, intimate partner violence and coercive control. (2021) · cites this paper as Parkinson, 2019

  • Lockdown measures imposed to curb COVID-19 were likely to result in increases in violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence.

    “advocates in the domestic and family violence (DFV) sector recognised that stay-at-home orders were likely to result in increases in violence against women, in particular intimate partner violence (IPV).”

    From COVID-19 lockdowns, intimate partner violence and coercive control. (2021) · cites this paper as Parkinson, 2019

  • Evidence indicates that after disasters and epidemics, women's physical and mental health-including their risk of new or worsening domestic violence-is linked to isolation, financial instability, and rising relationship and family conflict.

    “There is strong evidence to suggest that women's physical and mental health, including the risk of first-time or escalating domestic violence, is connected to the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, including social isolation, economic instability, and increasing relationship and family conflict (Campbell & Jones, 2016; Parkinson, 2019).”

    From Domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic—evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as Parkinson, 2019

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Authors
Parkinson, D.
Affiliations
Monash University (AU)
Corresponding author
Parkinson, Debra
ORCID
Parkinson, Debra
Venue
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2017-03-20
Volume
34
Issue
11
Pages
2333-2362
ISSN
  • 0886-2605 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-6518
DOI
10.1177/0886260517696876
OpenAlex
W2599538341
Cited by
182
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
FWCI
7.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Interpersonal Violence (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Australian Agency for International Development
  • Monash University
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Disaster Management and Resilience
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords
domestic violence, violence against women, Black Saturday bushfires, 2009 bushfires, interpersonal violence, disaster recovery, underreporting of domestic violence, Victoria, Australia
MeSH terms
Adult, Disasters, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Victoria, Women's Health, Domestic Violence, Battered Women, Crime Victims, Young Adult

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