Conceptual Factors That Support Safety Behaviors Among Abuse Survivors: A Literature Review

Abstract

Debate continues on the appropriate theoretical framework for understanding behavior change in abusive intimate partner relationships. The purpose of this review was to identify theories applied to relationship abuse experiences of survivors, to uncover conceptual factors that support safety behaviors, and to discuss how results can be used to inform the development of a conceptual framework for evaluation of interventions for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). A rapid review of peer-reviewed published articles on IPV, safety behavior, and theory through two online databases (i.e., PubMed, Scopus) identified 1,604 citations; 143 articles underwent full-text data extraction, and 32 meet criteria for inclusion. Outcomes focused on safety behaviors but also included decision-making, coping strategies, stages of change, ending abuse, and leaving the relationship. The Transtheoretical Model was used most frequently. Despite variation in specification of outcomes of interest, elements that contributed to safety behaviors were similar across articles and included intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors. More work to identify the scope and relationship of conceptual factors that facilitate safety behaviors is needed. The limited published literature provides valuable insights into the range of factors, but homogeneity of samples across articles limited our ability to draw concrete conclusions regarding factors facilitating safety among diverse populations and settings.