Abstract
Purpose
Intimate partner violence (IPV) can have devastating socioeconomic costs for survivors. Several policies exist to support survivors’ socioeconomic stability, but little research examines their impacts. The present study investigates whether three state-level workplace protections for IPV survivors – (1) right to reasonable accommodations; (2) confidentiality; and (3) protection from discharge for abuse-related work disruptions – are associated with increased employment and housing stability in a sample of mothers who have experienced IPV.
Method
Data on survivors came from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study; the analytic sample was limited to mothers who had experienced IPV. State policy protections were compiled and merged with Fragile Families data in order to indicate which mothers lived in states with certain protections. Three hierarchal logistic models that nested women (N = 1,296) within states (N = 37) tested associations of living in a state with each of the protective policies with employment status and housing hardship.
Results
All three policies were associated with increased likelihood of employment, but none related with reduced risk for housing hardship.
Conclusions
Reasonable accommodations, privacy protection, and protection from discharge help survivors keep their jobs. State efforts to implement widespread protections for IPV survivors offer promise for promoting socioeconomic stability, but additional policies are needed to promote stable housing.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, A. E., Tolman, R. M., Bybee, D., Sullivan, C. M., & Kennedy, A. C. (2012). The impact of intimate Partner violence on low-income women’s Economic Well-Being. Violence against Women, 18(12), 1345–1367.
Adhia, A., Gelaye, B., Friedman, L. E., Marlow, L. Y., Mercy, J. A., & Williams, M. A. (2019). Workplace interventions for intimate partner violence: A systematic review. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 34(3), https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2019.1609361. 10.1080/15555240.2019.1609361. PubMed.
Alexander, P. (2011). Childhood maltreatment, intimate Partner violence, work interference and women’s employment. Journal of Family Violence, 26(4), 255–261. Academic Search Main Edition.
Al-Modallal, H., Al-Omari, H., Abujilban, S., & Mrayan, L. (2015). Intimate Partner violence and female nurses’ employment: Disclosure and Consequences. Journal of Family Violence, 31(2), 161–166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9755-1.
Beeble, M. L., Bybee, D., & Sullivan, C. M. (2010). The impact of resource constraints on the psychological well-being of survivors of intimate partner violence over time. Journal of Community Psychology, 38(8), 943–959. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.20407.
Beecham, D. (2014). An exploration of the role of employment as a Coping Resource for Women experiencing intimate Partner abuse. Violence And Victims, 29(4), 594–606. https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-12-00086.
Breiding, M. J., Basile, K. C., Klevens, J., & Smith, S. G. (2017). Economic insecurity and intimate Partner and sexual violence victimization. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 53(4), 457–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.03.021.
Breiding, M. J., Ziembroski, J. S., & Black, M. C. (2009). Prevalence of rural intimate Partner violence in 16 US States, 2005. The Journal of Rural Health, 25(3), 240–246. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-0361.2009.00225.x.
Chan, C. S., Sarvet, A. L., Basu, A., Koenen, K., & Keyes, K. M. (2021). Associations of intimate partner violence and financial adversity with familial homelessness in pregnant and postpartum women: A 7-year prospective study of the ALSPAC cohort. PLoS One, 16(1), e0245507–e0245507. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245507.
Diemer, K., Humphreys, C., & Crinall, K. (2017). Safe at home? Housing decisions for women leaving family violence. Australian Journal of Social Issues (John Wiley & Sons Inc), 52(1), 32–47. Academic Search Main Edition.
Dillon, G., Hussain, R., Kibele, E., Rahman, S., & Loxton, D. (2016). Influence of intimate Partner Violence on Domestic Relocation in Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Young Australian Women. Violence Against Women, 22(13), 1597–1620. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801216628689.
Dutton, M. A., & Goodman, L. A. (2005). Coercion in intimate Partner violence: Toward a New Conceptualization. Sex Roles, 52(11–12), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-4196-6. 743. GenderWatch; ProQuest One Academic; Sociological Abstracts.
Gilroy, H., Maddoux, J., & McFarlane, J. (2021). Post-traumatic stress disorder and employment in women reporting abuse: 5-Year Data from a longitudinal study. Journal of Family Violence, 36(2), 131–141. Academic Search Premier.
Golden, S. D., Perreira, K. M., & Durrance, C. P. (2013). Troubled Times, troubled Relationships: How economic resources, gender beliefs, and Neighborhood disadvantage influence intimate Partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28(10), 2134–2155. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260512471083.
Griffing, S., Ragin, D. F., Sage, R. E., Madry, L., Bingham, L. E., & Primm, B. J. (2002). Domestic violence Survivors’ self-identified reasons for returning to Abusive Relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(3), 306–319. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260502017003005.
Henry, M., Mahathey, A., & Takashima, M. (2020). The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress Part 2: Estimates of Homelessness in the United States. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2018-AHAR-Part-2.pdf
Kessler, R. C., Andrews, G., Mroczek, D., Ustun, B., & Wittchen, H. U. (1998). The World Health Organization composite international diagnostic interview short-form (CIDI-SF). International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 7(4), 171–185. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.47.
Kulkarni, S., & Ross, T. C. (2016). Exploring employee intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosures in the workplace. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 31(4), 204–221. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2016.1213637.
Laharnar, N., Perrin, N., Hanson, G., Anger, W. K., & Glass, N. (2015). Workplace domestic violence leave laws: Implementation, use, implications. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 8(2), 109–128.
Lantrip, K., Luginbuhl, P., Chronister, K., & Lindstrom, L. (2015). Broken dreams: Impact of Partner Violence on the Career Development process for Professional Women. Journal of Family Violence, 30(5), 591–605. Academic Search Premier.
Legal Momentum (2015). State Law Guide on Domestic and Sexual Violence Workplace Policies. https://www.legalmomentum.org/library/state-law-guide-domestic-and-sexual-violence-workplace-policies-updated-sept-2015
Lindhorst, T., Oxford, M., & Gillmore, M. R. (2007). Longitudinal effects of domestic violence on employment and welfare outcomes. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 22(7), 812–828. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260507301477. PubMed.
Logan, T., Shannon, L., Cole, J., & Swanberg, J. (2007). Partner Stalking and Implications for women’s employment. J Interpers Violence, 22(3), 268–291. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260506295380.
Marçal, K. E. (2021a). Intimate Partner Violence Exposure and Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Housing Insecurity. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1. Academic Search Premier.
Marçal, K. E. (2021b). Perceived instrumental support as a mediator between maternal Mental Health and Housing Insecurity. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(12), 3070–3079. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02132-w.
New Hampshire Department of Justice (2020). STATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE POLICY. https://www.doj.nh.gov/criminal/victim-assistance/documents/domestic-violence-policy.pdf
NC Gen Stat § 50B-5.5, NC Gen Stat § 50B-5.5 (2011). https://law.justia.com/codes/north-carolina/2011/chapter50b/section50b-55/
Barbara Warner Workplace Domestic Violence Policy. Retrieved April 29 (2022). from https://ong.ohio.gov/information/policies/DomesticViolence_Policy2.pdf
Unlawful Discrimination in Employment, Public Accommodations and Real Property Transactions; Administrative and Civil Enforcement, Pub. L. No. Chapter 659A (2021). https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors659a.html
Pavao, J., Alvarez, J., Baumrind, N., Induni, M., & Kimerling, R. (2003). Intimate Partner Violence and Housing Instability. 4.
Reeves, C., & O’Leary-Kelly, A. M. (2007). The Effects and costs of intimate Partner Violence for Work Organizations. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 22(3), 327–344. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260506295382.
Rollins, C., Glass, N. E., Perrin, N. A., Billhardt, K. A., Clough, A., Barnes, J., Hanson, G. C., & Bloom, T. L. (2012). Housing instability is as strong a predictor of Poor Health Outcomes as Level of Danger in an abusive relationship: Findings from the SHARE Study. J Interpers Violence, 27(4), 623–643. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260511423241.
Sauber, E. W., Sauber, E. W., & O’Brien, K. M. (2020). Multiple losses: The psychological and Economic Well-Being of Survivors of intimate Partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35(15/16), 3054–3078.
Showalter, K. (2016). Women’s employment and domestic violence: A review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 31, 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2016.06.017.
Simmons, C., Lehmann, P., & Collier-Tenison, S. (2008). Men’s Use of Controlling Behaviors: A comparison of reports by women in a domestic violence shelter and women in a domestic violence offender program. Journal of Family Violence, 23(6), 387–394. Academic Search Main Edition.
StataCorp. (2021). Stata Statistical Software: Release 17. StataCorp LLC.
Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Finkelhor, D., Moore, D. W., & Runyan, D. (1998). Identification of child maltreatment with the parent-child conflict tactics scales: Development and Psychometric Data for a National Sample of American Parents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22(4), 249–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(97)00174-9.
Swanberg, J. E., & Macke, C. (2006). Intimate Partner Violence and the Workplace: Consequences and Disclosure. Affilia, 21(4), 391–406. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886109906292133.
Wilcox, P. (2000). Lone Motherhood: The impact on living Standards of leaving a violent relationship. Social Policy & Administration, 34(2), 176–190. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9515.00184.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Marçal, K.E., Showalter, K. & Maguire-Jack, K. The Impact of State Workplace Protections on Socioeconomic Outcomes of IPV Survivors. J Fam Viol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00542-6
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00542-6