Cited by 456Intimate Partner and Family ViolenceSexual Assault and Victimization StudiesElder Abuse and Neglect

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Disclosure of Intimate Partner Violence to Informal Social Support Network Members: A Review of the Literature

Sylaska, Kateryna M., Edwards, Katie M.·2014·Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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Abstract

This article presents a review of the published literature to date on rates, experiences, and correlates of victims’ disclosure of or help seeking for intimate partner violence to informal social support network members (e.g., friends, family, classmates, and coworkers). Research indicates that the majority of individuals disclose to at least one informal support and that victims’ disclosure is associated with a number of demographic (e.g., victims’ sex, age, race), intrapersonal (e.g., victims’ feelings of shame/embarrassment, perception of control over abuse), and situational (e.g., violence frequency and severity, if abuse is witnessed) factors. Following disclosure, victims experience a wide range of positive (e.g., believing the victim’s reports, validating the victim’s experiences) and negative (e.g. disbelieving, blaming the victim) social reactions, with positive reactions rated as the most common and most helpful forms of support by victims. Finally, a review of psychological correlates associated with reactions to disclosure indicates that positive social reactions are associated with more psychological health benefits and fewer negative health symptoms, whereas negative social reactions were associated with increased negative psychological health symptoms. Future research methodologies and implications for violence prevention, intervention, and policy are discussed.

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Authors: Sylaska, K. M., & Edwards, K. M.
Affiliations: University of New Hampshire (US)
Corresponding author: Sylaska, Kateryna M.
ORCID: Sylaska, Kateryna M.
Edwards, Katie M.
Venue: Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2013-07-24
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 3-21
ISSN: 1524-8380 (ISSN-L)
1552-8324
DOI: 10.1177/1524838013496335
OpenAlex: W2015651013
Cited by: 456
References: 68
Citations by year: 2026: 42 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 43 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11
FWCI: 21.63
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Trauma Violence & Abuse (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
University of New Hampshire Scholars Repository (University of New Hampshire at Manchester) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Elder Abuse and Neglect
Keywords: intimate partner violence, disclosure, informal support, help-seeking, victim reactions, shame and embarrassment, victim blaming, social validation, mental health outcomes, violence prevention
MeSH terms: Mental Disorders, Female, Helping Behavior, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Risk Factors, Self Disclosure, Sexual Partners, Social Support, Spouse Abuse, Crime Victims

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Disclosure of Intimate Partner Violence to Informal Social Support Network Members: A Review of the Literature

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