@article{ref1,
title="Changes in mental health, emotional distress, and substance use affecting women experiencing violence and their service providers during COVID-19 in a U.S. southern state",
journal="International journal of environmental research and public health",
year="2023",
author="Schweinhart, April and Aramburú, Camila and Bauer, Rachel and Simons-Rudolph, Ashley and Atwood, Katharine and Luseno, Winnie Kavulani",
volume="20",
number="4",
pages="e2896-e2896",
abstract="Research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed many unintended consequences of mandated safety precautions, including increased perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV), increases in substance use, and worsening mental health conditions. We conducted a repeated, cross-sectional survey of survivors of IPV, a longitudinal survey of service providers working in an IPV shelter, and interviews with both. We conducted surveys at the beginning of the pandemic and nearly half a year later to assess mental health and, for clients, substance use. <br><br>RESULTS showed that two small samples of survivors living in the shelter in 2020 and 2021 experienced both mental health decline and increased use of substances. Qualitative data from in-depth interviews suggest that COVID-19-related restrictions mirrored survivors' experiences of power and control in violent relationships. Further, IPV service providers-essential workers during COVID-19-experienced stress associated with reports of burnout and mental fatigue. This study suggests that community-based organizations can help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on survivors of IPV but should avoid adding additional work for staff as service providers experienced mental and emotional stress.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1661-7827",
doi="10.3390/ijerph20042896",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042896"
}