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Aggressive and Violent Behavior during Covid-19

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 16866

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carmela Mento

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Guest Editor

Psychiatric Unit Policlinico Hospital, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
Interests: clinical psychology; oral health; psychological assessment in medical setting; psychological assessment in eating disorders and bariatric surgery; mental pain and suicide risk; adolescent mental health; women's mental health; autistim spectrum disorder in adults; psychoanalysis and health care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Spatari Giovanna

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Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
Interests: occupational medicine; gender medicine

Prof. Dr. Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello

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Guest Editor

Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Psychiatric Unit Policlinico Hospital, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
Interests: augmentation strategies in partial- and no-responder mental disorders; mainly schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorders; the role of negative emotions in mental health/illness and in physical illnesses, anger and aggression as transnosographic; dimensional factors; comorbidity issues; the role of urban/built environment on mental health/illness and psychiatry genetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Violence, in its physical or sexual form, or as emotional abuse and stalking, is a typical gender-centered experience. The lockdown and quarantine period arising from the global pandemic has increased the risk of domestic violence due to the forced cohabitation with aggressive partners. A further danger has been recorded in the emergency room regarding aggression against healthcare professionals. Additionally, the Covid-19 period has a role in the development of the psychiatric consequences of the pandemic, described as acute mental stress, irritability, increased domestic violence, as well as alcohol and substance abuse. In particular, during Covid-19 restriction in the first and second quarantines, the emergence of these issues around the world reveals the need for multidisciplinary programs of clinical consulting (including psychologists, psychiatrists, legal and occupational health professionals) for the prevention of aggressive acts and psychological trauma in multiple domains of gender violence.

Prof. Dr. Carmela Mento
Prof. Dr. Spatari Giovanna
Prof. Dr. Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello
Guest Editors

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Keywords

aggressive behavior
intimate partner violence
aggression in healthcare setting
lockdown
psychological violence

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management: Case-Study of Filicide in an Italian Woman

by Antonia Sorge, Giovanni Borrelli, Emanuela Saita and Raffaella Perrella

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 6967; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19126967 - 07 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2448

Abstract

Background: At an international level, the risk assessment and management process of violent offenders follows a standard method that implies well-defined theoretical models and the use of scientifically validated tools. In Italy, this process is still highly discretionary. The aim of this study is to highlight the advantages deriving from the use of risk assessment tools within the framework of a single case study; Methods: Recidivism risk and social dangerousness of an Italian woman perpetrator of filicide were assessed through the administration of the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) instrument supported by Historical Clinical Risk-20 Version 3 (HCR-20 V3); Results: The administration of LS/CMI showed that, in this single case, the subcomponents represent a criminogenic risk/need factor are: Family/Marital, Companions, Alcohol and Drug Problem and Leisure; while constituting strengths: employment and the absence of a Pro-criminal Orientation and an Antisocial Pattern; Conclusions: Data collected through LS/CMI indicated life areas of a single case, which should be emphasised not only to assess the risk of re-offending and social dangerousness but also for a social rehabilitation programme more suited to the subject. This study demonstrates that the LS/CMI assessment tool is suitable for the Italian context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aggressive and Violent Behavior during Covid-19)

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15 pages, 338 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Couple Conflict and Intimate Partner Violence during the Early Lockdown of the Pandemic: The Good, the Bad, or Is It Just the Same in a North Carolina, Low-Resource Population?

by Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Grace E. Schroeder, Ryan A. Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Annelise Mennicke, Yu-Jay Harris, Sharon Sullivan, Glori Gray and Robert J. Cramer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2608; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19052608 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1925

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced couples to navigate illness-related stressors and unique public health responses, including extended lockdowns. This study focused on under-resourced North Carolina residents (n = 107) who self-reported changes in relationship conflict (Increased, Decreased, Stayed the Same) and intimate partner violence (IPV) during the pandemic. We expected high rates of increased conflict and IPV since the start of the pandemic. We then sought to determine the associations between dyadic changes in conflict and reports of IPV and pandemic-related experiences and responses. Participants completed a brief online survey assessing their demographics, COVID-19 exposure/stressors, and pandemic responses. As expected, reports of increased couple conflict were related to difficulties getting needed social support, loss of health insurance, more fear and worry, stress, pain, and greater use of alcohol and/or illicit drugs, related to the coronavirus. Participants reporting increased conflict were also more likely to be unemployed. Conversely, reports of decreased conflict were associated with being ill from the virus (48.9%), having health insurance, and working part time. Substantial amounts of IPV were reported (62.2% of the sample); however, increased conflict and IPV were unrelated. Those reporting No IPV were less likely to be receiving public assistance but more likely to have home responsibilities due to the virus. They also reported increased social interactions and less use of alcohol than those reporting IPV perpetration. Findings highlight key associations among pandemic experiences and responses, IPV, and couple functioning in an under-resourced sample. Efforts to facilitate coping, resilience, and tolerating uncertainty may facilitate cooperative and safe couple functioning throughout the pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aggressive and Violent Behavior during Covid-19)

11 pages, 341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

When “Stay at Home” Can Be Dangerous: Data on Domestic Violence in Italy during COVID-19 Lockdown

by Benedetta Barchielli, Michela Baldi, Elena Paoli, Paolo Roma, Stefano Ferracuti, Christian Napoli, Anna Maria Giannini and Giulia Lausi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 8948; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18178948 - 25 Aug 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4039

Abstract

The global pandemic caused by a new strain of Coronavirus has brought the Italian government to adopt quarantine, isolation, and lockdown strategies as restrictive measures to reduce the virus spread. Being forced to stay at home could significantly increase the likelihood of episodes of home-based violence and could also be accompanied by a limited possibility of complaints or defense by the victim. The present study aimed to document, through the use of newspaper articles, the characteristics of domestic violence during the lockdown period related to COVID-19 in Italy (from 9 March 2020 up to 18 May 2020) and compare the results with the same period in 2019. The results showed an increase in domestic violence during the lockdown period compared to the same period the year before and highlighted the differences between the dynamics and violent behavior between the two periods examined. The results and limitations of this research are discussed with reference to the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aggressive and Violent Behavior during Covid-19)

Review

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17 pages, 643 KiB

Open AccessReview

Intimate Partner Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of the Phenomenon from Victims’ and Help Professionals’ Perspectives

by Giulia Lausi, Alessandra Pizzo, Clarissa Cricenti, Michela Baldi, Rita Desiderio, Anna Maria Giannini and Emanuela Mari

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6204; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18126204 - 08 Jun 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6152

Abstract

Social isolation is considered one of the main risk factors leading to intimate partner violence episodes; this evidence also emerged during the application of stay-at-home policies to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, we aimed to collect data on intimate partner violence over the last year, comparing data reported by victims with data collected by help professionals. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, through keywords related to abuse, pandemic and containment measures, 3174 articles were identified for screening. After full-text reading and risk of bias analysis, 19 studies were included, and a thematic synthesis was conducted according to two categories: “studies with victims” and “studies with help professionals”. The results of the present review showed that there were significant differences between the data provided by victims and the data collected by health care facilities and police departments; additionally, differences among different forms and severity of victimization emerged. The results have been discussed according to the literature; in particular, we reflected on how containment measures have apparently made it more difficult for victims to report, thus making the existence of the dark figure of crime even more salient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aggressive and Violent Behavior during Covid-19)

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