Why is research measuring violence, abuse and mental health important?
The purpose of improving the measurement of violence is to improve the evidence base needed to build a theory of change and to evaluate interventions. This means measuring violence in its context: both acts and harms; causal pathways in and out of violence; and the mitigation of harms. Many academic disciplines, professionals/practitioners, and public bodies are seeking to cooperate. But they lack a common vocabulary for precision measurement of increases and decreases in violence. Improving the measurement of violence by building a shared framework would improve cooperation.
The purpose of improving the measurement of violence is to improve the evidence base needed to build a theory of change and to evaluate interventions. This means measuring violence in its context: both acts and harms; causal pathways in and out of violence; and the mitigation of harms. Many academic disciplines, professionals/practitioners, and public bodies are seeking to cooperate. But they lack a common vocabulary for precision measurement of increases and decreases in violence. Improving the measurement of violence by building a shared framework would improve cooperation.
The challenges of measuring violence, abuse and mental health
The mental aspects of violence are harder to measure than its physical aspects. The measurement of violence varies between multiple academic disciplines, between multiple professional/practitioner groups and between multiple policy bodies, and can be a function of differences in the way that violence and abuse is defined. Each has developed a measurement framework specific to its needs. Yet, since a multi-agency response is widely recognised as needed to reduce violence and to mitigate its harms, there is a need for a shared framework across these multiple academic disciplines, professional/practitioner groups and policy bodies - whilst not under-estimating the significance of the need for specialist requirements
The mental aspects of violence are harder to measure than its physical aspects. The measurement of violence varies between multiple academic disciplines, between multiple professional/practitioner groups and between multiple policy bodies, and can be a function of differences in the way that violence and abuse is defined. Each has developed a measurement framework specific to its needs. Yet, since a multi-agency response is widely recognised as needed to reduce violence and to mitigate its harms, there is a need for a shared framework across these multiple academic disciplines, professional/practitioner groups and policy bodies - whilst not under-estimating the significance of the need for specialist requirements
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What has the VAMHN done around the theme of measurement?
Watch VAMHN Grantholder Dr Jude Towers (Edge Hill University) talk more about the importance, challenges and future research areas around the theme of Measurement, as well as what the Network has done to advance research around this theme. |
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Centering the priorities of people with lived experience
Centering the voices and priorities of survivors has always been central to the Network's agenda. Watch VAMHN Grantholder Dr Jude Towers, VAMHN Lived Experience Coordinator Lisa Ward and VAMHN Lived Experience Advisory Group Member Winnie talk about survivor perspectives and priorities around the theme of measurement. |
The VAMHN's Work on Measurement
In 2019 the VAMHN held it's first annual funding call on the theme of measurement. We received 23 high quality applications from across the UK, and we were pleased to award funding of up to £25k to four projects. You can read more about the findings of these projects below...
The Development of Measures to Assess the Long-Term Support Needs of Adult Sexual Assault Survivors
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To find out more about the background and key findings of this project, you can watch the video below featuring project lead Prof. David Gadd.
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You can also click on the report below to read the executive summary of this project.
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Prof David Gadd, Professor of Criminology at University of Manchester
Dr Rabiya Majeed-Ariss, Research Associate at Saint Mary’s SARC
Dr Maria Pampaka, Senior Lecturer in Social Statistics at University of Manchester
Oana Petcu, Research Assistant at University of Manchester
Dr Filippo Varese, Clinical lecturer in Psychology at University of Manchester
Dr Laura Watt, Research Associate at University of Manchester
David Gadd is a Professor of Criminology at the University of Manchester. He has over 25 years' of experience of conducting and analyzing in-depth interview research with offenders, and has written extensively on the subjects of domestic abuse, masculinities and crime, racial harassment, offender motivation and desistance from crime. To find out more about David click here.
Dr Rabiya Majeed-Ariss, Research Associate at Saint Mary’s SARC
Dr Maria Pampaka, Senior Lecturer in Social Statistics at University of Manchester
Oana Petcu, Research Assistant at University of Manchester
Dr Filippo Varese, Clinical lecturer in Psychology at University of Manchester
Dr Laura Watt, Research Associate at University of Manchester
David Gadd is a Professor of Criminology at the University of Manchester. He has over 25 years' of experience of conducting and analyzing in-depth interview research with offenders, and has written extensively on the subjects of domestic abuse, masculinities and crime, racial harassment, offender motivation and desistance from crime. To find out more about David click here.
Blog: No quick fix: the long-term needs of sexual assault survivors
Blog: Gender and sexual violence
Project website
- Published on the Policy@Manchester Blogs webpage on 2nd March 2020.
- This blog explores how gender intersects with social demographic characteristics to compound vulnerabilities and complicate access to services.
- Written by Dr Catherine White, Dr Rabiya Majeed-Ariss and Professor David Gadd
- To read the blog click here.
Blog: Gender and sexual violence
- Published on the Policy@Manchester Blogs webpage on 9th February 2022.
- This blog explain the findings of the project and makes recommendations for policy makers.
- Written by Laura Watt, David Gadd, Maria Pampaka, Filippo Varese and Rabiya Majeed-Ariss
- To read the blog click here
Project website
- This project website contains videos explaining the project's methodology. Additionally, the two online questionnaires produced from this project are available to view on the website. Organisations seeking to measure the long term needs of sexual assault survivors are welcome to adapt them for their own purposes.
- To access the project website, click here.
What difference does it make? An intersectional framework to measure mental health harms in women and men associated with different thresholds of violence and abuse: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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To find out more about the background and key findings of this project, you can watch the video below featuring project lead Dr Nadia Mantovani.
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You can also click on the report below to read the executive summary of this project.
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Nadia Mantovani, St George’s, University of London
Angela Sweeney, St George’s, University of London
Steve Gillard, St George’s, University of London
Sarah White, St George’s, University of London
Jacqueline Sin, St George’s, University of London
Joanna Sharpen, Against Violence and Abuse (AVA)
Emma Brett, Anglia Ruskin University
Dr Nadia Mantovani is a sociologist based at St George's, University of London. Her main areas of research include gender-based violence, the mental health harms of intimate partner violence on women, the responses to intimate partner violence in secondary mental health services, the adverse effect of child abuse on adult psychiatric service users, and interventions delivered to children and families with experience of domestic violence. To find out more about Nadia click here.
Angela Sweeney, St George’s, University of London
Steve Gillard, St George’s, University of London
Sarah White, St George’s, University of London
Jacqueline Sin, St George’s, University of London
Joanna Sharpen, Against Violence and Abuse (AVA)
Emma Brett, Anglia Ruskin University
Dr Nadia Mantovani is a sociologist based at St George's, University of London. Her main areas of research include gender-based violence, the mental health harms of intimate partner violence on women, the responses to intimate partner violence in secondary mental health services, the adverse effect of child abuse on adult psychiatric service users, and interventions delivered to children and families with experience of domestic violence. To find out more about Nadia click here.
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In the realm of mental health, the quest to understand and explore the impacts of violence transcends traditional boundaries. It delves deeper, reaching into social dynamics, relationships, and overall well-being. This pursuit is not confined to diagnostic labels; it extends to the broader repercussions that violence can have on individuals and communities. This is a journey marked by empathy, research, and a commitment to listening to the voices of wisdom—those who have endured the harrowing experiences of violence.
A large systematic review, authored by Mantovani and colleagues in 2023, offered a comprehensive examination of the mental health toll exacted by intimate partner violence among women. The findings of the review laid bare the grim statistics, but it also revealed a significant gap. The Survivor Panel, comprised of individuals who have walked the challenging path of surviving violence, sensed a void in the available data. The review, though informative, could not capture the nuances that mattered most to the survivors. This discrepancy ignited a call to action—a call for a paradigm shift in the way we approach research and practice in the field of mental health. |
Survivors’ perspectives highlight core issues that demand immediate attention. The way forward necessitates a significant shift. Clinicians and researchers must rise to the occasion by understanding trauma-specific experiences, such as somatization, dissociation, and flashbacks, and supporting survivors in their journey towards identity reconstruction and healing. Recognizing the intersection of identities, the impact of systemic and structural oppression, and the need for culturally responsive treatment are paramount in addressing trauma comprehensively.
Moreover, to reflect the survivor's perspective and their unique path to recovery, new psychosocial outcome measures must be created. These measures should extend beyond assessing mental health symptoms and instead capture the broader scope of trauma's effects, rooted in the survivor's strengths and recovery goals.
In this endeavour, mental health professionals are encouraged to look beyond the conventional and embark on a journey of empathy and enlightenment, seeking to truly understand and explore the profound impacts of violence. It's a journey that respects the wisdom of survivors and strives to make a positive difference in their lives.
PaRental intimate partner viOlence and abuse: measuremenT of the risk of Exposing Children and the menTal health impact: PROTECT study
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To find out more about the background and key findings of this project, you can watch the video below featuring project member Dr Debbie Smart.
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You can also click on the report below to read the executive summary of this project.
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Dr Ruth McGovern, Newcastle University
Dr Simon Scott Hackett, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust & Newcastle University
Ms Deborah Smart, Newcastle University
Dr Hayley Alderson, Newcastle University
Dr William McGovern, Northumbria University
Victoria Cooling, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Eileen Kaner, Newcastle University
Dr Deborah Smart is a Research Assistant in the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University with a research interest in the health and social care needs of vulnerable children, young people and families, their experiences of accessing services, and interventions that can provide support and offer opportunities.
Prior to becoming a researcher, Deborah gained 13 years experience in the community and voluntary sector, developing, delivering and managing interventions and services to young carers and their families in North East England. To find out more about Deborah click here.
Dr Simon Scott Hackett, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust & Newcastle University
Ms Deborah Smart, Newcastle University
Dr Hayley Alderson, Newcastle University
Dr William McGovern, Northumbria University
Victoria Cooling, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Eileen Kaner, Newcastle University
Dr Deborah Smart is a Research Assistant in the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University with a research interest in the health and social care needs of vulnerable children, young people and families, their experiences of accessing services, and interventions that can provide support and offer opportunities.
Prior to becoming a researcher, Deborah gained 13 years experience in the community and voluntary sector, developing, delivering and managing interventions and services to young carers and their families in North East England. To find out more about Deborah click here.
Estimating the lifetime cost of Sexual Violence and abuse in Essex, UK
To find out more about the background and key findings of this project, you can click on the report below to read the executive summary of this project.
Estela Capelas Barbosa, University of Bristol
Rebekah Brant, South Essex Rape & Incest Crisis Centre
Dr Estela Capelas Barbosa is a Senior Research Associate at City, University of London. Her current research involves secondary data analysis of administrative data collected by domestic-violence specialist services, probabilistic profiling of experiences of violence, lifetime societal costs of violence and in particular sexual violence and cost-effectiveness modelling of interventions to prevent violence.
Rebekah Brant, South Essex Rape & Incest Crisis Centre
Dr Estela Capelas Barbosa is a Senior Research Associate at City, University of London. Her current research involves secondary data analysis of administrative data collected by domestic-violence specialist services, probabilistic profiling of experiences of violence, lifetime societal costs of violence and in particular sexual violence and cost-effectiveness modelling of interventions to prevent violence.