
Intimate Partner Violence in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presented by Rebecca A Smith-Casey, JD, PsyD
Recorded on Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Access provided upon registration on “My Courses” page
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) includes “any behavior by an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviors” (Heise & Garcia-Moreno, 2002). It is estimated that more than 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual partner violence, or sexual violence by a nonpartner (Wu et al., 2020). Per Howard et al. (2022) globally 27% of women aged 15 and older who have ever been in a romantic relationship have experienced some type of IPV, with the highest prevalence rates identified in low-income countries.
Pre-pandemic research identified factors that increase the probability of IPV in relationships to include social relationships embodying power inequalities, including access to resources, which was a factor present during portions of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in 2020. Power inequities we see in abusive relationships were increased, especially as abusers lost control over other aspects of their life, which may result in the abuser compensating for their stress by exerting more control over the abused. Within a relatively short period of time around the world organizations providing services to survivors of IPV began seeing increases, as compared to the same time period in prior years, in the number of people (mostly women) seeking help. These increases were so well documented that the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (2020), stated that the world was seeing a growing shadow pandemic of violence against women.
Wyckoff et al. (2023) conducted in-depth interviews with 10 survivors of IPV who presented at a large public hospital or sought community IPV resources in Atlanta, GA between March and December 2020. The general themes were that movement restrictions, social distancing measures, and the repercussions of the pandemic influenced their relationship challenges, including the occurrence of new or a higher frequency and/or severity of IPV episodes.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was anticipated that, in the next decade, more than 100 million girl children would be married before reaching their eighteenth birthdays. However, an additional warning was issued indicating that, as a result of the pandemic, girls will be under even more serious threat over the next decade and that up to an additional 10 million girls could be at risk of becoming child brides (UNICEF, 2021). The FBI has noted that since the start of the pandemic there has been an explosion in technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV), which is defined as sexual abuse via electronic or digital means, and can include nonconsensual pornography (also known as “revenge porn”), deepfakes, cyber harassment, cyber stalking, cyber dating violence, and sexual extortion or “sextortion.”
The presentation will review the findings of research on IPV during and following the pandemic, with a focus on considering the implications for practice.
This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 2.0 CEs for Psychologists, 2.0 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 2.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, 2.0 NASP CPDs for School Psychologists, or 2.0 NBCC Clock Hours*. (*NBCC Clock Hours are available for live program attendance only.)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) includes “any behavior by an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviors” (Heise & Garcia-Moreno, 2002). It is estimated that more than 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual partner violence, or sexual violence by a nonpartner (Wu et al., 2020). Per Howard et al. (2022) globally 27% of women aged 15 and older who have ever been in a romantic relationship have experienced some type of IPV, with the highest prevalence rates identified in low-income countries.
Pre-pandemic research identified factors that increase the probability of IPV in relationships to include social relationships embodying power inequalities, including access to resources, which was a factor present during portions of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in 2020. Power inequities we see in abusive relationships were increased, especially as abusers lost control over other aspects of their life, which may result in the abuser compensating for their stress by exerting more control over the abused. Within a relatively short period of time around the world organizations providing services to survivors of IPV began seeing increases, as compared to the same time period in prior years, in the number of people (mostly women) seeking help. These increases were so well documented that the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (2020), stated that the world was seeing a growing shadow pandemic of violence against women.
Wyckoff et al. (2023) conducted in-depth interviews with 10 survivors of IPV who presented at a large public hospital or sought community IPV resources in Atlanta, GA between March and December 2020. The general themes were that movement restrictions, social distancing measures, and the repercussions of the pandemic influenced their relationship challenges, including the occurrence of new or a higher frequency and/or severity of IPV episodes.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was anticipated that, in the next decade, more than 100 million girl children would be married before reaching their eighteenth birthdays. However, an additional warning was issued indicating that, as a result of the pandemic, girls will be under even more serious threat over the next decade and that up to an additional 10 million girls could be at risk of becoming child brides (UNICEF, 2021). The FBI has noted that since the start of the pandemic there has been an explosion in technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV), which is defined as sexual abuse via electronic or digital means, and can include nonconsensual pornography (also known as “revenge porn”), deepfakes, cyber harassment, cyber stalking, cyber dating violence, and sexual extortion or “sextortion.”
The presentation will review the findings of research on IPV during and following the pandemic, with a focus on considering the implications for practice.
After attending this intermediate-level program, participants will be able to:
- Identify risk factors for Intimate Partner Violence.
- Discuss factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that increased risk of IPV and the impact that had on clients.
- Identify modalities to utilize to assess for and provide interventions for those who experienced IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.
General Admission: $30
The Chicago School Faculty/Staff/Alumni/Site Supervisors: $20*
The Chicago School Students: $15*
(Please email [email protected] for coupon code. Code must be entered at time of checkout to receive discount.)
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.
Rebecca A Smith-Casey, JD, PsyD – Forensic Psychologist and Assistant Professor at TCS
Rebecca Smith-Casey, J.D., Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, a certified school psychologist, and a current professor in the Master’s in forensic psychology program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is the author of the New Jersey Competency Assessment Tool (NJ-CAT). Rebecca is the principal psychologist at River Valley Psycholegal Consulting, where her work focuses on assessment in civil and criminal forensic matters, trauma, law enforcement evaluations, educational testing, diagnostic clarity, and providing gender affirming care for transgender youth.
Bitton, M.S. (2023). Intimate partner violence in the shadow of COVID-19 and its associations with stress, function and support among the Israeli general population. Stress and Health, 1-11.
Eaton, A.A., Ramjee, D. & Saunders, J.F. (2023) The Relationship between Sextortion during COVID-19 and Pre-pandemic Intimate Partner Violence: A Large Study of Victimization among Diverse U.S Men and Women. Victims & Offenders, 18(2), 338-355.
Evans, D.P., Hawk, S.R., & Ripkey, C.E. (2021). Domestic violence calls in Atlanta, GA Before and During COVID-19. Violence and Gender, 8(3), 140-147.
Heise, L., & Garcia-Moreno, C. (2002). Violence by intimate partners. In Krug, E.G., Dahlberg, L.L., Mercy, J.A.,Zwi, A.B., & Lorenzo, R. (eds). World Report on Violence and Health, Geneva, Switzerland.
Howard, L.M., Wilson, C.A., & Chandra, P.S. (2022). Intimate partner violence and mental health: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. World Psychiatry, 21(2), 311-313.
Lankarani, K.B. et al. (2022). Domestic violence and associated factors during COVID-19 epidemic: An online population based study in Iran. BMC Public Health, 22, 774-785.
Smith, R.N. et al. (2022). Intimate partner violence at a Level I trauma center during the COVID-19 pandemic: An interrupted time series analysis. The American Surgeon, 88(7), 1551-1553.
Wong, S., & Nowland, T. (2022). Practitioner experiences with domestic and family violence in COVID-19. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 43, 423-441.
Wu, Y., Chen, J., Fang, H., & Wan, Y. (2020). Intimate partner violence: A Bibliometric review of literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 5607-5624.
Wyckoff, K.G., Narasimhan, S., Stephenson, K., Zeidan, A.J., Smith, R.N., & Evans, D.P. (2023). “COVID gave him an opportunity to tighten the reins around my throat”: Perceptions of COVID-19 movement restrictions among survivors of intimate partner violence. BMC Public Health, 23, 199-212
Target Audience: Students, early career professionals, and licensed mental health professionals with an interest in IPV and/or trauma work.
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 2.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
School Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 2.0 hours of continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s School Psychology Program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this continuing professional development activity.
National Board. This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 2.0 NBCC Clock Hours. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 3036. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.