![]() Ĭollectively there are suggestions of increased risk of domestic violence, but results are not consistent across different locations. In Ottawa, Ontario, there were decreases in emergency department visits for domestic and sexual violence during the early stages of the pandemic. A study in Atlanta, however, showed increased rates of DV crimes in 2020 but those increases were highest in January of 2020, before the pandemic began. A survey making use of a list randomization experiment reported an 8.3% increase in DV in Peru. Another study reported an average 5% increase in DV incidence across 35 US cities from March to May 2020. For example, in one study across 14 cities in the US, DV police calls increased by 7.5% during March through May of 2020, with effects concentrated during the first five weeks after social distancing began. A systematic review of DV during the pandemic period showed eight studies with decreased rates of DV, and 29 studies with increased rates of DV, with an average increase of 6–7% compared with previous years. Not surprisingly then, some studies suggest the COVID-19 pandemic increased DV however, results are not uniform across cities and countries. ![]() Social isolation through stay-at-home orders could likely increase the time victims spend with abusers of DV. A study of Australian women in a cohabiting relationship reported an association between the COVID-19 pandemic and increased risk of relationship violence likely resulting from a combination of economic stress and social isolation. ![]() The stay-at-home orders also affected mental health (heightened risk of depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, and anger), which may impact domestic violence. There was an association between hardship and men’s violent and controlling behavior toward their wives and partners. For example, unemployment and economic hardship following the Great Recession of 2008 to 2009 were positively correlated with abusive behavior. An environment of civil and economic unrest has previously increased DV incidence. Unemployment rates in April of 2020 spiked to the highest level recorded in the United States since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Key risk factors for DV, including job loss, school closures, and business closures, were present with lockdown conditions. In response to the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, countries announced stay-at-home orders and closed schools and businesses. DV is a widespread issue in the United States, affecting an estimated 10 million individuals annually, with one in four women and one in nine men victims. Additional studies are needed to help explain why the association between stay-at-home orders and DV police call volume seems to only appear in some locations.ĭomestic violence (DV) generally refers to various types of violence (emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual) in the family or household, such as intimate partner violence (IPV), child abuse, and violence against any household member. Results suggest that the stay-at-home orders may have contributed to an increase in DV calls in some cities (Phoenix, and to a smaller extent LA, NYC), but the increase seen in Chicago (and to some extent Phoenix) persisted beyond the stay-at-home order and therefore may not be attributable to the stay-at-home orders. ![]() After lifting the stay-at-home order, changes in mean calls relative to pre-COVID-19 remained elevated in Chicago, slightly elevated in Phoenix, and returned to baseline in NYC and LA. Resultsĭuring the stay-at-home order, increases in mean DV calls relative to pre-COVID-19 were observed in Chicago (47.8%), Phoenix (18.4%), NYC (3.5%), and LA (3.4%), but a decrease in Philadelphia (-4.9%). 2020) using the interrupted autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time series model. May 2020) and the period after lifting the order (June – Dec. 2020) to model a forecast against the stay-at-home order period (Mar. We used the call volume for the pre-COVID-19 period (Jan. The stay-at-home orders were generally instituted for most US states in the second half of March 2020. We sought to complement the existing studies by characterizing changes in DV trends in US cities of Chicago, Los Angeles (LA), New York City (NYC), Philadelphia, and Phoenix using police call volume data from January 1st, 2018, through Dec 31st, 2020. Reports of increased rates of DV during the stay-at-home period have been suggestive of this but inconsistent across different locations. When COVID-19 stay-at-home orders were instituted, there were concerns that isolation may lead to increases in domestic violence (DV).
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