Battered woman syndrome develops in women who are victims of domestic abuse (physical, sexual, and psychological abuse), in which they develop psychological symptoms making it hard for them to regain control. Battered woman syndrome is labeled as a subcategory of posttraumatic stress disorder, with many women also meeting the clinical criteria for diagnosis.
Published in Chapter:
Domestic Violence and Child Abuse: The Unforeseen and Ongoing Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Brianna Victoria Blackwell (Marymount Manhattan College, USA)
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 19
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-3484-0.ch005
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed unforeseen consequences for those already experiencing domestic abuse, violence, or child abuse with intensified, new, and recurring stressors, which made individuals more susceptible to abuse. The stressors covered in this literature review include isolation, mental health issues, economic or job instability, parental stress or burnout, global social and economic crisis, school and protective services closures, limited access to childcare, the threat of contagion, grief, and increased alcohol and drug consumption or abuse. Due to the nature of government-mandated stay-at-home orders and mass closures intended to stop the spread of COVID-19, victims have had few options for outreach to friends, family, or to protective services. This literature review identifies the current stressors throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that can increase risk factors for domestic abuse, violence, and child abuse.