Intimate partner sexual violence and violent victimisation among women living homeless in Madrid (Spain)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discover the extent to which women living homeless in Madrid (Spain) have been victims of intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV), analysing the connection between stressful life events (SLE) relating to violent victimisation and having suffered sexual assault by a partner. This study took place using a sample of women living homeless in Madrid (n = 136). The results obtained show that a high percentage of the women living homeless who were questioned had been victims of IPSV. The women interviewed, who had been victims of IPSV, had suffered, to a greater extent, SLEs relating to situations of violent victimisation, both during childhood and adolescence as well as in adulthood. The episodes of violent victimisation that seem to be the most common forerunners to IPSV are incidents of sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence.

Evolution of the accommodation situation among women living homeless in Madrid, Spain: A longitudinal study.

“…A certain correlation has also been found between suffering a lower number of stressful live events and the improvement of accommodation among the interviewees, although this did not seem to be related to access to independent accommodation. Having had multiple and/or severe stressful life events from an early age appears as a risk factor for sliding into homelessness (Johnson et al, 2015; Rivas-Rivero et al, 2021; Rodríguez-Moreno et al, 2021), longer periods of homelessness (Koegel et al, 1995; Stein et al, 2002), and an increase of the revolving door to homelessness (Roca et al, 2019). Facing multiple and/or severe stressful life events from early ages is a risk factor for the chronicity of people in situations of poverty and social exclusion (Koegel et al, 1995; Rodríguez-Moreno et al, 2021; Stein et al, 2002), as this circumstance seems to have a negative effect on the acquisition of skills that help them to strike up stable relationships (Whitfield, 1998), giving rise to adverse family stories that could limit their ability to receive protective support in crisis situations (Herman et al, 1997; Susser et al, 1987).…”

“…In addition, the suffering of multiple and/or severe stressful life events (SLE) from an early age has been identified as a risk factor for sliding into homelessness (Rivas-Rivero et al, 2021; Rodríguez-Moreno et al, 2021), remaining in that situation (Koegel et al, 1995; Stein et al, 2002) and in the revolving door to homelessness (Roca et al, 2019). Sadly, people living homeless tend to have suffered an extraordinarily high number of SLEs throughout their lives (Hatch & Dohrenwend, 2007; Rivas-Rivero et al, 2021; Rodríguez-Moreno et al, 2021; Zugazaga, 2004), largely prior to them becoming homeless (Rodríguez-Moreno et al, 2021).…”

“…In addition, the suffering of multiple and/or severe stressful life events (SLE) from an early age has been identified as a risk factor for sliding into homelessness (Rivas-Rivero et al, 2021; Rodríguez-Moreno et al, 2021), remaining in that situation (Koegel et al, 1995; Stein et al, 2002) and in the revolving door to homelessness (Roca et al, 2019). Sadly, people living homeless tend to have suffered an extraordinarily high number of SLEs throughout their lives (Hatch & Dohrenwend, 2007; Rivas-Rivero et al, 2021; Rodríguez-Moreno et al, 2021; Zugazaga, 2004), largely prior to them becoming homeless (Rodríguez-Moreno et al, 2021). In the opinion of different authors (Guillén et al, 2020; Hatch & Dohrenwend, 2007; Muñoz et al, 2004; Zugazaga, 2004) it is not only the economic factors that have a strong impact on homelessness, but also health factors and problems in social relationships can equally share in causing the appearance and/or continuation of homelessness.…”

Discriminación, violencia y exclusión social. Una aproximación a la realidad de las personas en situación de sinhogarismo y exclusión residencial.

“…Las personas en situación de sinhogarismo y exclusión residencial (en adelante, PsSH) ilustran una de las formas más extremas que la exclusión social adquiere (Rivas-Rivero et al, 2021). Los trabajos publicados sobre sinhogarismo inciden de manera especialmente relevante en dos aspectos.…”

Effects of perceived discrimination on health, social support, and risk of mental ill-health among women experiencing homelessness in Spain: A longitudinal study.

“…People who experience homelessness suffer extreme poverty and social exclusion, with women representing a particularly vulnerable group among the said population (Arangua et al, 2005; Guillén et al, 2021; Rivas-Rivero et al, 2021), given that homeless women have characteristics, needs, and life experiences that differ from those of their male counterparts (Suarez et al, 2018; Vázquez, Panadero, & Pascual, 2019). There is a tendency to blame people experiencing homelessness for their situation, considering the issue of homelessness as an individual problem rather than a systemic, structural issue (Vázquez et al, 2021).…”