Impacts of the coronavirus epidemic on experiences of domestic violence and the use of services (KOVÄ)

Tampere University is taking part in a study that examines the impacts of the coronavirus epidemic on experiences of domestic violence and the use of services. The project is lead by The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and partners are Tampere University and the University of Turku. The research group in Tampere is lead by the associate professor of social policy Marita Husso.

The objective of the study is to examine what kind of impacts the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictive measures related to it have on the occurrence of domestic violence, insecurity, guidance to services and restrictions on the availability of the services. The study focuses on situations in which persons who have experienced domestic violence have sought help for domestic violence from Nollalinja, a shelter or community care intended for those who have experienced violence.

Background

The pandemic prevented people from leaving their homes and restricted their contacts with the outside world. Home may become a trap and further worsen the situation for those who experience domestic violence.

There has been discussion about the occurrence of domestic violence during the coronavirus epidemic regarding whether there has been an increase in domestic violence and whether the virus has affected its occurrence and the use of the services. The occupancy rate of the shelters decreased considerably during the coronavirus pandemic of spring 2020, and a slight decrease could be seen in the number of calls to Nollalinja. At the same time, the use of many other social welfare and health care services also decreased in Finland.

According to international studies, the fear, the uncertainty and the sense of lack of control associated with pandemics create an environment that can exacerbate and trigger different forms of violence. In domestic violence, it is typical that the perpetrator isolates the victim by controlling the victim and reducing the victim’s opportunities to tell other people about the situation. The perpetrator may also restrict the victim's possibilities to seek help. Understanding the mechanisms behind these dynamics helps to develop actions that mitigate the adverse effects.

Typically, domestic violence may have continued for a long time before the victim seeks help. This provides opportunities to study the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic both at the acute stage of the pandemic and afterwards.

Research questions

The study seeks answers to how the coronavirus pandemic, the restrictive measures related to it and factors related to the incidence of the Covid-19 virus affect domestic violence.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the forms, severity and frequency of violence?

How are the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the occurrence of domestic violence explained?

How does the coronavirus pandemic affect seeking help and getting help?

Implementation

The data used in the study has accumulated naturally from the activities of the Nollalinja helpline and the shelter services, the organisation of both of which is the responsibility of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. In addition, new research material will be collected by interviewing customers and professionals from the shelters and from community care provided in work against violence.

The data based on the anonymous service monitoring form used by the Nollalinja helpline consists of approximately 3,500 forms from the period between January and June. The data continues to accumulate.

The shelters (29 in total) have regularly reported the situational picture of the impacts of coronavirus on clients' lives. At the acute stage of the pandemic, the professionals at the shelters completed the form every week and later, every two weeks. The data continues to accumulate.

In the study, the interviews with people experiencing domestic violence are conducted at shelters and in community care for those experiencing domestic violence.

Research Collaboration

The research project includes cooperation with the Finnish National Crime Victim Survey. Crime Victim Survey implement a module about the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on intimate partner violence.

More information about the Finnish National Crime Victim Survey (in Finnish)