During and beyond the frequent lockdowns: Addressing the pandemic (COVID-19)–related family violence through informal social control. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdullah, Alhassan; Cudjoe, Ebenezer; Ryu, Wonjung; Emery, Clifton R
• Is Part Of: Developmental child welfare. Volume 3:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: family violence intervention -- informal social control -- child maltreatment -- family violence -- COVID-19; Child welfare -- Periodicals; Poor children -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Poor youth -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Poor children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Poor youth -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Poor youth -- Social conditions; Poor children -- Social conditions; Poor children -- Health and hygiene; Child welfare; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1177/25161032211046409
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2516-1032

Abstract

Growing literature on COVID-19 shows an increase in family violence and child maltreatment cases as a result of the public health preventive measures including lockdowns and movement restrictions. These restrictions negatively affect victims' ability to seek social services or leave the violent relationship. There are some indications of hope, however, as countries have begun easing restrictions which may enable victims to seek social services. Yet, the fluidity of COVID-19, emergence of complex variants of COVID-19 virus, continues restrictions on face-to-face engagements and evidence of re-entry into lockdown suggest that social services would not be fully available for victims of family violence. We offer a practical community intervention approach through informal social control for victims of family violence during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic.