1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The purpose of this article is to present the results of a critical literature review concerning the three cumulative contexts of vulnerability to IPV [intimate partner violence] among DEI [disabled, elderly, and immigrant] women. Moreover, […] researchers will attempt to identify similarities and distinctions regarding the forms and consequences for DEI women experiencing IPV as well as risk factors, explanatory theories, and prevention strategies related to this issue.» (p. 89)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The following databases were searched: PsychINFO, MEDLINE, SocINDEX, AgeLine, NCJRS, Social Services, Sociological Abstracts, and Erudit. ´The main key words used (in English and French) were the following: elderly women, immigrant women, women with disabilities, intimate partner violence, scope, consequences, risk and protective factors, explanatory theories, and prevention. Complementary research in the gray literature […] was also conducted, focusing on specialized websites. Additionally, researchers examined bibliographic references of the selected articles. […] The search turned up 1,466 articles, of which only 56 were kept […].» (p. 89)

Type de traitement des données :
Réflexion critique

3. Résumé

The review reveals the following results: «Vulnerability to IPV manifests itself among groups of DEI women in various ways, such as through increased risks of experiencing IPV, through forms of violence particular to the context of vulnerability but also through exposure to a variety of barriers that complicate the women’s capacity to escape the cycle of violence. IPV affects certain subgroups of DEI women in greater proportions, including women from developing countries and whose immigration is recent, who have severe disabilities, and who are from 50 to 64 years old. Although DEI women share factors that are universal to all forms of violence (e.g., maltreatment during childhood) with women from the general population, risk factors resulting from the context in which they live distinguish their experience with IPV. Preventive actions should be aimed particularly at reducing risk factors specific to the contexts of vulnerability. […] Further studies are needed to better develop knowledge on the accumulation of contexts of vulnerability, a reality that is almost excluded in the studies. It is important to make full use of existing data to perform cross-sectional analyses on the contexts of vulnerability to IPV.» (p. 98)