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Help-Seeking Behavior and Domestic Violence

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Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence

Synonyms

Disclosure; Formal and informal support seeking; Seek support

Definition

Help-seeking in a domestic violence context is a multistep process which involves (1) recognizing and defining the problem, (2) identifying and engaging with sources of formal or informal support, (3) disclosing experiences of violence, and (4) receiving formal or informal help (Goodson & Hayes, 2021; Liang et al., 2005; Stork, 2008; Sylaska & Edwards, 2014).

Background

Domestic violence (DV) refers to physical, sexual, emotional, economic, and/or psychological violence against a partner, child, or family member, and can have physical, psychological, and lethal consequences for survivors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Across the globe, estimates indicate that anywhere from 10% to 70% of women and girls and approximately 30% of boys and men will experience some form of DV in their lifetimes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020; Lelaurain et al., 2017). Despite the high...

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Correspondence to Gena K. Dufour .

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Dufour, G.K., Gerhardt, E., McArthur, J., Ternes, M. (2023). Help-Seeking Behavior and Domestic Violence. In: Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85493-5_741-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85493-5_741-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-85493-5

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