Authors: Olena Antonaccio, Ekaterina Botchkovar, Anastasiia Timmer, Robert Johnson, Lorine Hughes

Research shows that intimate partner violence (IPV) can increase during the times of violent conflicts and wars. Little is known, however, about the predictors of IPV victimization in vulnerable countries currently experiencing ongoing war and violence, such as Ukraine. Using a random sample of Ukrainian adults, this study examines how traumatic events related to war, daily stressors, alcohol use, and mental health issues contribute to IPV victimization, as well as the role of social support in preventing such victimization. Results reveal that certain traumatic events and conditions, independently or in combination, are more important predictors of IPV victimization than others. We provide recommendations for policy and practice aimed at addressing the most critical risk factors for IPV victimization in a war-torn society.

Authors: Jullianne Regalado, Jamie Yap, Anastasiia Timmer, Laura Iesue, Ali Jawaid

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought greater attention to the victimization experiences of Asians and their potential vulnerability to violence. While there has been research on the victim-offender overlap in different contexts, less is known about the role of victimization and other important risk factors in predicting violence among Asian adults since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study draws on international survey data collected recently among adults in six countries and employs negative binomial regression models to assess the role of risk and protective factors in violence engagement among Asians. Findings reveal that physical and verbal abuse are important predictors of violent behavior among Asian adults. Different stressors and mental health issues are also found to contribute to violence, while social support serve as a crime preventative factor. The implications of the current study and policy suggestions are discussed.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has witnessed a surge in certain types of violence, with recent studies suggesting pandemic stressors being responsible for this increase. Little research has explored potential gender differences in how pandemic-related stressors have shaped violent behaviors cross-nationally, however. We draw on General Strain Theory and use survey data collected among adults in six countries to examine gender differences in the effects of pandemic strain on violence, depression, and negative affect. No gender differences were observed in the effect of strain on violence in Denmark, Guatemala, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Ukraine, and the United States. Yet, in certain countries, pandemic strain had a stronger effect on mental health and emotions for men or women. Gender variations in the effect of depression and negative affect on violence were also observed. We provide suggestions for gender-specific policies and programs addressing the detrimental effects of pandemic strain.

This panel delves into the multifaceted consequences of global disasters and cross-national variations in violence. Drawing on empirical data and theoretical frameworks, this panel explores predictors of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, particularly in Ukraine's most vulnerable populations during the war. We also consider the unique intersections of war and COVID-19-related stressors, emphasizing the influence of traumatic events, daily stressors, mental health issues, and social support networks. By examining the intersection of these factors, the research illuminates the complex dynamics of violence in diverse contexts. By illustrating this nuanced relationship, we hope to provide informed, targeted interventions and policies to mitigate the adverse effects of violence in crisis-affected populations.

The primary goal of this study is to build up-to-date evidence to understand better and address the consequences of a broad range of gender-based violence experiences among internally displaced individuals and refugees in Ukraine. The research questions used to guide this study include: What is the prevalence of gender-based violence experienced by internally displaced persons and refugees in Ukraine in the pre-migration, migration, and post-migration stages? Who are the primary actors and circumstances resulting in gender-based violence at these different stages? How have unique intersections between war and gender-based violence impacted individuals in the short and long term?

Issues with crime, violence, and insecurity have been at the center of the political arena throughout Latin America, but especially in El Salvador. El Salvador has one of the highest rates of homicide in the region and, indeed, the world. It is also home to one of the most significant and violent gangs in the world, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), which is believed to be responsible for most of the violence. While the research on violence within the region is well documented and policymakers alike have adopted various strategies to address violence, nobody has considered whether the age distribution of the population is associated with this rise in homicide rates. In essence, is experiencing a youth bulge a critical element to this uptick in violence? Accordingly, does a change in youth demographics indicate future drops in homicide rates in the country? We utilize the concept of the age-crime curve in criminology to examine variations in the age-crime curve in El Salvador, along with the distribution of homicides over several decades. We also incorporate other correlates of violence and violence-reduction techniques.

United Nations NGO Committee on the Status of Women

Feminist Approaches to Justice: Economic Empowerment and Justice for Women

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly reshaped people’s daily lives and changed multiple aspects of society. Recent research has shown that individual behaviors including crime and deviance have also been affected. Whereas prior studies revealed that certain criminal and violent behaviors have increased since the pandemic, little is known about the specific causes including pandemic related factors leading to these changes. Our study uses the US component of the international survey about the COVID-19 pandemic and crime to better understand how the pandemic related stressors and various emotions affected the likelihood of crime and violence. Using negative binomial regression, we found that certain stressors were more important than others in increasing the likelihood of criminality. In addition, different positive and negative emotions were associated with crime, with some emotions serving as important links between stress and criminal behavior. We also discuss policy recommendations based on our findings.

Presenters: Hannah Tessler, Jullianne Regalado, Hannan Latif, Anastasiia Timmer, Laura Iesue, Ali Jawaid

Objective: The current study explores exposure to direct and vicarious war victimization experiences on violent behavior.
Design: Using a random sample of 1,247 adult Ukrainian citizens from two large cities collected in 2017, we examine potential theoretical mechanisms that help explain the relationship between war victimization and offending.
Findings: Analyses are pending. Based on prior research we expect exposure to war victimization (both direct and vicarious) to be a straining experience that leads to violent behavior. Moreover, we expect the link between war victimization and violence to be mediated by various negative affective states such as anger and PTSD. In addition, we also anticipate delinquent peers and self-control to be important moderating mechanisms of the link between war victimization and violence.
Conclusions: Recent work has called on researchers to make war a topic of study in criminology. The necessity of such work is especially warranted given the current events taking place in Ukraine. With our findings, we seek to advance our understanding of the causal mechanisms that link exposure to war and future violent behavior. Doing so can help inform policy related to interventions and services to reduce violence among individuals exposed to the violent and traumatic events of war.

Presenters: Matthew R. Kafafian, Ekaterina Botchkovar, Olena Antonaccio, Lorine Hughes, Robert J. Johnson

Domestic violence is a major concern of the COVID-19 pandemic with empirical work reporting a growth in domestic violence across the globe during the pandemic. However, prior to the pandemic, conflict and post-conflict communities consistently experience high rates of domestic violence. Yet no work considers how living in a conflict or even post-conflict society may be exacerbating domestic violence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this work does not consider whether individuals experiencing domestic violence in conflict and post conflict societies are more or less likely to report domestic violence to the police. This is important as often police forces are involved with perpetrating violence or have a history of perpetrating violence during conflicts. Accordingly, this paper compares three countries: The United States (no conflict), Guatemala (post conflict), and Ukraine (ongoing conflict) and discusses variations in self-reported domestic violence during the pandemic. It also considers whether there are variations in whether individuals were more or less likely to report such crimes to police.

Presenters: Laura Iesue, Anastasiia Timmer, Olga Lozovska

Little is known about the role of social capital and strains in the production of crime in social contexts engulfed in violent conflict. Using survey data collected from random samples of civilians in two large Ukrainian cities impacted by the Donbas war, which has been ongoing in Ukraine since 2014, this research addresses knowledge gaps in the literature by examining the direct and interrelated effects of various types of social capital and war-related trauma on individual involvement in crime. Findings reveal that social capital and war-related traumas interact in complex ways to influence criminal behaviors. This pattern of results highlights the importance of these predictors and suggests the need for further examination of their relationships with crime among vulnerable populations living through the violent horrors of war.

Presenters: Olena Antonaccio, Ekaterina Botchkovar, Anastasiia Timmer, Lorine Hughes, Robert Johnson

Invited Talk at California State University-Northridge (CSUN) Educational Component University Student Union & Counseling Services