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Domestic Violence

From sexual or spousal abuse to child abuse and neglect, domestic violence entails any abusive behavior by one person to maintain power over another in a close relationship. The scope of RAND's research on domestic violence includes its effects on families and children, the link between substance use and domestic violence, domestic violence by or against military service members, and how clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder may be contributing factors.

Brochure
RAND Research on Harmful Interpersonal Behaviors
The U.S. Department of the Air Force seeks to prevent harmful interpersonal behaviors among airmen and guardians and keep victims of these behaviors safe. This document provides an overview of selected work that RAND has conducted in this area.
Nov 16, 2023
Report
Novel Methods to Assess the Military's Evolving Prevention Capabilities: Development and Pilot Test of the On-Site Installation Evaluation Process
This report describes the development, pilot test, and validity testing of a set of prevention capability metrics to improve the deterrence of sexual assault, sexual harassment, suicide, and domestic violence among military service members.
Jun 28, 2023
Research Brief
Domestic Abuse Prevention and Outreach Approaches for the Military Community
This study focused on identifying strategies to help prevent domestic abuse among service members and their spouses or partners before it occurs and strategies for outreach to high-risk groups that could be effective in the military environment.
May 16, 2023
Report
Preventing Domestic Abuse in the U.S. Armed Forces
Domestic abuse has severe consequences for service members, their families and, potentially, unit readiness. What strategies could help prevent domestic abuse before it occurs and help the military with communication to reach individuals who might have risk factors for domestic abuse?
May 16, 2023
Periodical
RAND Review: May-June 2023
The cover story commemorates RAND's 75th anniversary. One feature article explores what it would take to eliminate racial wealth disparities in the United States; another highlights a promising mental health first aid initiative in New York City.
May 12, 2023
Report
Evaluability Assessment and Evaluation Options for an Elder Abuse Shelter Model
RAND researchers conducted a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of the Weinberg Center's EAS in New York and designed three rigorous studies to test the impact of the Elder Abuse Shelter (EAS) model.
Mar 23, 2023
Research Brief
The Weinberg Center's Elder Abuse Shelter Model: Ready for Impact Evaluation
RAND researchers conducted a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of the Weinberg Center’s Elder Abuse Shelter (EAS) in New York and designed three rigorous studies to test the impact of the EAS model.
Mar 23, 2023
Periodical
RAND Review: September-October 2022
The cover story is a profile of RAND's new president and CEO. Other features explore how teachers and principals have been faring in the COVID era and how to improve media literacy among middle schoolers.
Sep 8, 2022
Blog
Talking to Russia, Racial Bias, Mine-Hunting Dolphins: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on preventing escalation of the war in Ukraine, how racial bias compounds over time, why the Navy should stick with its mine-hunting dolphins, and more.
Jul 29, 2022
Report
Preventing Intimate Partner Abuse
First developed in the 1970s, programs focused on intimate partner violence prevention are designed to hold perpetrators accountable for their behavior and to prioritize safety and justice for victims. What might help make these programs more effective?
Jul 27, 2022
Journal Article
Combating Coercive Control and Psychological Violence Against Women in the EU Member States
The study analyses the causes and consequences of coercive control and psychological violence against women.
Jul 19, 2022
Commentary
Abortion Is Power
The Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will affect much more than women's access to abortions. Abortions allowed women to escape abusive and even deadly relationships. Now that door is closing, state by state.
Jul 15, 2022
Commentary
Harmful Interpersonal Behaviors in the Department of the Air Force: Informing Prevention and Response
This Perspective describes and applies a conceptual model of prevention to such harmful behaviors as sexual harassment, sexual assault, racial/ethnic harassment and discrimination, hazing, and domestic abuse in the Department of the Air Force.
Apr 20, 2022
Journal Article
Nationally Representative Sample Shows an Increase in Domestic Conflict Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and associated social distancing increased stressors related to risk for domestic conflict, but increases in domestic conflict early in the pandemic have yet to be studied in community samples.
Feb 9, 2022
Tool
Empowerment-Based Domestic Violence Programming Within a Family Court Setting: An Implementation Guide
This guide supports the implementation of an empowerment-based domestic violence program within a family court setting. It was developed to share the best practices learned during an evaluation of the Safe Horizon Family Court organization.
Jan 6, 2022
Infographic
Empowering Domestic Violence Survivors Within the Family Courts
This infographic accompanies a tool that supports the implementation of an empowerment-based domestic violence program within a family court setting.
Jan 6, 2022
Journal Article
Data Activism Against Gender Violence in Latin America
Google searches may help researchers find missing data on gender violence.
Jul 23, 2021
Research Brief
Weinberg Center for Elder Justice Offers Potential Cost Savings and Other Benefits
The Weinberg Center is the first shelter designed for older adults experiencing abuse or mistreatment. In addition to counseling and medical care, clients can get help with their finances, are encouraged to socialize, and are introduced to outside social services. The Center has the potential to generate benefits and savings that far exceed its operating costs.
May 10, 2021
Report
Ending the use of physical and emotional violence against children and adolescents in Peru: A case study on the advocacy efforts of INFANT and ONNAS
Case study on the work of civil society organisations to introduce a law in Peru to ban the use of physical and psychological violence towards children.
May 10, 2021
Report
An Initial Evaluation of the Weinberg Center for Elder Justice's Shelter Model for Elder Abuse and Mistreatment
The authors describe the model of the Weinberg Center (the nation's first elder-specific shelter), examine some client outcomes, and begin to quantify the model's costs and benefits for individuals experiencing elder abuse or mistreatment.
May 10, 2021

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RAND Topic:
Domestic Violence

Topic Synonyms:
Child Abuse;
Domestic Abuse

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Sarah Zelazny

Policy Analyst

Sarah Zelazny (she/her) is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. Her background includes: patient experience; racial equity; community-level and clinical-level injury and violence prevention program development, implementation, and evaluation; gender-based violence research; harm reduction;…
Sierra Smucker

Policy Researcher

Sierra Smucker (she/her) is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research focuses on family health and wellbeing and protecting families' most vulnerable members. To that end, Smucker works in a range of topic areas including gun violence and substance misuse prevention, and domestic…

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