Economic Abuse Within Intimate Partner Violence: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on the measurement of, impact of, and interventions for economic abuse within intimate partner relationships. Current assessment measures for economic abuse, along with estimates of the prevalence of economic abuse, are reviewed and critiqued. Research exploring the impact of economic abuse on the victim’s mental health and psychological well-being, family formations and parenting practices, and children’s behaviors and youth outcomes are presented. Recently developed interventions, including financial literacy program models, are discussed and emphasized as a critical service to increase victims’ economic self-efficacy, financial literacy, and financial behaviors. Finally, the review provides detailed recommendations on incorporating economic abuse as a central component of domestic violence research, practice, and policies.

The Forgotten Survivor: The Articulated Needs of Survivors of Psychological and Economic Abuse Who Stay

“…My aim in this study is to address two primary gaps in extant knowledge regarding intimate partner violence (IPV): first, that scholars have thus far focused more extensively on physical violence rather than psychological, emotional, and economic abuse; and second, that strategies provided by practitioners and helpline workers tend to be focused on help for those who leave, rather than directed toward those who choose to stay in the relationship (Stylianou 2018;Voth Schrag 2019). Contemporary research reveals a disparity in terms of how victims who make the decision to remain in a relationship with their abuser are treated.…”

“…In addition, scholars have identified a lack of scholarly research on best practices for assisting individuals who choose to stay in a psychologically or economically abusive relationship. Stylianou (2018) notes, historically, economic abuse has been the most understudied form of abuse and it is critical that the field focus on better understanding the nature and consequences of nonphysical abuse. Similarly, Voth Schrag (2019) posits, there remains a gap in our understanding of the experiences for survivors of economic abuse who have not sought formal support services and that garnering this understanding is essential in developing effective community-level prevention programming.…”

The Role of Social Support in the Link Between Economic Abuse and Economic Hardship

“…Scholars have identified specific batterer behaviors aimed at sabotaging economic efforts and maintaining economic power and control as a distinct type of IPV (Adams et al 2013;Stylianou 2018a). Evidence of unique consequences and specific patterns of behavior have led scholars to call for economic abuse (EA) to be considered as a separate form of abuse deserving specific attention to its dynamics, patterns, and impacts (Adams et al 2008;Postmus et al 2012Postmus et al , 2018Stylianou et al 2013).…”

“…EA is comprised of tactics that hinder economic self-sufficiency and harm economic self-efficacy through financial exploitation, economic control, and employment sabotage (Adams et al 2008;Postmus et al 2012;Weaver et al 2009). These include preventing or limiting work or school hours, stealing income or cash gifts, harassment at work or school, damaging credit history, and dominating family finances by demanding receipts, preventing access to money, or making unilateral decisions (Adams et al 2008;Stylianou 2018a;Moe and Bell 2004;Sanders 2015;Voth Schrag et al 2018;Weaver et al 2009). These behaviors are linked to employment and housing instability, increased use of public assistance, greater material hardship, and increased economic dependence on abusive partners for financial stability (Adams et al 2013;Goodman et al 2009;Voth Schrag 2016).…”

Administering the U.S. Family Violence Option: The role of stigma in waiver recommendations

“…Past exposure to violence may predispose women to poverty, while at the same time, poverty may increase likelihood of intimate partner victimisation (Goodman et al., 2009). Many women are also victims of economic abuse, which targets the financial security of victims with a goal of creating economic dependency on the perpetrators (Stylianou, 2018). Women experiencing economic dependence are often unable to leave abusive partners (Postmus, Hoge, Breckenridge, Sharp‐Jeffs, & Chung, 2018; Vázquez, Rivas, Suarez, & Panadero, 2018).…”