The Impact of Police Response on Intimate Partner Violence Victims’ Social, Emotional, and Physical Well-Being: Results From the National Crime Victimization Survey

Abstract

This study examined whether police involvement in intimate partner violence (IPV) incidents is associated with victims’ socio-emotional problems, and emotional and physical toll symptoms for 1 month or longer post-victimization. Data from the 2010–2019 National Crime Victimization Survey suggest that police investigational effort, later contact with the police, suffering severe injury during victimization, and repeated victimization were positively associated with experiencing socio-emotional problems. Later contact with police and severe injury were positively associated with both emotional and physical toll symptoms, while the female sex was positively associated with emotional toll symptoms. The arrest of the abuser was negatively associated with physical toll symptoms. Findings highlight the need for policies and practices in response to IPV that consider the diverse needs of survivors of partner abuse to help reduce IPV-related trauma.