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Women of all ages can be exposed to violence both within and outside of the home, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to analyze violence against women (VAW) before and during the first year of the pandemic in Portugal. Crimes perpetrated against female victims from 17 years old and younger to 65 years old and older were analyzed by comparing requests for help in 2019 and 2020. A total of 12,045 requests for help for VAW were received by the Portuguese Association for Victim Support and analyzed in the current study. The findings reveal a 16% increase in requests for help in 2020 and a 95% increase when the lockdown was implemented. That said, the most reported, intimate partner violence (IPV), showed a decrease of 5% in 2020. Furthermore, compared to 2019, requests for help concerning criminal offenses involving psychological violence in non-IPV contexts increased 79% in 2020, especially for victims 17 years old or younger (116%), and attempted femicide/femicide requests for help increased 53%. We are still in the early stages of understanding how the pandemic will affect this situation. Future directions concerning support of female victims during the pandemic are outlined.

Purpose This paper aims to characterize the type of support provided to victims of violence against women and domestic violence (VAWDV) during the first lockdown, assessing the training of professionals to use remote support (RS). Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional study involves a sample of 196 support professionals, mainly women (91.8%) and who integrate the Portuguese National Support Network for victims of domestic violence (NSNVDV) (Mean age = 36.49; SD = 10.52). Findings Telephone emerges as the main RS communication media used in the lockdown (43.9%) and the emergency state periods (57.1%). Participants reported to have never used any social applications (41.8% vs 41.8%) or videoconference (46.4% vs 58.2%), in both periods assessed, i.e. lockdown and emergency state, respectively, and 82.7% assumed to have no training with RS to assist VAWDV victims. However, support professionals recognized several advantages in using RS such as dealing with isolation, reducing inhibition, fear and shame and in promoting the victims’ empowerment. Research limitations/implications Given the exploratory nature of this study, only descriptive analyzes were conducted. Originality/value During the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about effective RS given by professionals to victims of VAWDV in the Portuguese context. The paper aims to add knowledge to the studied field.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the relationship between the five-factor model of personality and its association with aggression in 30 men and eight women who are suspects of domestic violence. The results show a positive correlation between neuroticism and hostility, a negative correlation between openness to experience and overall aggression, a negative correlation between agreeableness and physical aggression and anger, and a negative correlation between conscientiousness and anger. These results show us the need for personality assessment in domestic violence suspects and future research about personality and aggression.

O objectivo da presente investigação é adaptar a checklist Avaliação de Risco de Violência Conjugal: Versão para Polícias (SARA: PV, Kropp, Hart, & Belfrage, 2005) para a população portuguesa. Este instrumento avalia o risco de violência conjugal, identificando os factores que estão associados ao risco reincidência da violência. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o SARA: PV e o Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS, Straus, 1979), na versão portuguesa. A amostra foi recolhida pela GNR e pela PSP. Participaram 87 vítimas de violência conjugal. Os resultados mostram que os factores de risco associados à história de violência conjugal estão mais presentes do que os associados ao ajustamento psicossocial. Os agressores com história de violência conjugal apresentam resultados mais elevados nos resultados do SARA: PV. Os resultados mostram, ainda, correlações significativas e positivas entre ambos os instrumentos, indicando boas qualidades psicométricas na sua adaptação à população portuguesa.

Introduction: Traumatic events in a lifetime have an impact on the connection with others [1] and on emotional regulation in adults [2]. In the present study, we aim to analyse the relationship between traumatic events and the connection with others and to verify the relationship between traumatic events and emotional regulation. Materials and methods: The study design is descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional. The sample consisted of 63 Portuguese adults divided into two groups according to whether participants had experienced traumatic events (G1: n ¼ 28, 44.4%) or not (G2: n ¼ 35, 55.6%) with ages between 18 and 61 years old (M ¼ 28.78, SD ¼ 12.61). The link to the study was disclosed by e-mail and in social networks. Participants answered online to a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) [3], the Adult Attachment Scale-R (AAS-R) [4], and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) [5]. The study was conducted in accordance with all the ethical principles. Results: There were significant statistical differences between G1 and G2 on the total scale of the CTQ [F (1,61) ¼ 11.510, p ¼ .001], and in the subscales Emotional Abuse, Anxiety, and Trusting Others. The total score of the CTQ showed a negative correlation with the Trusting Others (r¼-0.299, p<.05) and a positive correlation with the total score of the DERS (r ¼ 0.281, p<.05), and with Limited Access to Regulatory Strategies (r ¼ 0.337, p<.05). There was a positive association between Emotional Abuse and Anxiety (r ¼ 0.413, p<.05). The Emotional Neglect and the Physical Neglect showed correlations with the DERS, Inability to Engage in Goal-Directed Behaviour, Difficulty to Control Behaviour, and Limited Access to Regulatory Strategies. Discussion and conclusions: Participants who didn't experience trauma revealed higher scores of connections with others. Our results also demonstrate that victims of trauma in childhood develop dysfunctional patterns of emotions [6]. This research highlights the negative consequences of child abuse in adults, concerning emotional regulation and connecting with others.

Background Being a victim support worker (VSW) involves exposure to victims' suffering, pain, and traumatic events, which may trigger the risk of VSWs developing mental health problems. Psychosocial risks (PSR) and work-related stress are considered the most challenging issues in occupational safety and health, considering they impact individuals, organizations, and economies. Methods The purpose of the present study was to identify the PSR in a sample of 196 Portuguese victim support workers (VSW) (Mean age = 36.49; SD = 10.52). A questionnaire with socio-demographic characteristics, variables related to VSW's job, and the Portuguese medium version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II (COPSOQ II) were used to assess these professionals' perception of PSR factors. Results The results reveal that although VSW recognizes some psychosocial factors favourable to their health and well-being, they also identify some PSR that place them at intermediate and severe risk, i.e., emotional and cognitive demands, which are the main areas of risk to the VSW. VSW over 38 years old scored higher in job insecurity, burnout, and offensive behaviours. Conclusions These findings give important insights into the areas that must be enhanced in this context involving VSW. Additionally, the results highlight the relevance of encouraging a healthy and supportive work environment, preventing and promoting the health and well-being of VSW, particularly when considering the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

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