Intimate Partner Violence Prevalence and Coping Strategies: An Exploration of American Muslim Survivors’ Experiences

Intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts 41% of women and 26% men in the United States (CDC, 2022). There is growing research examining IPV within American Muslim communities. In a 2011 study, Peaceful Families Project & Project Sakinah survey found that 31% American Muslims had experienced IPV, and 66% of American Muslims knew someone who had been physically abused. Additional research examining the prevalence of IPV in American Muslim communities is needed, as well as research that investigates how Muslim survivors cope with IPV. Survivors of IPV seek support from informal sources like friends and family, as well as formal avenues such as law enforcement, medical professionals, counselors, shelters, and legal aid. Researchers use tools like the Intimate Partner Violence Strategies Index (IPVSI) (Goodman et al., 2003) to understand survivors' coping strategies and their effectiveness in addressing IPV. Studies using IPVSI have uncovered disparities in the perceived effectiveness of various coping methods, offering valuable insights into survivors' active roles in managing violence (Renner & Hartley, 2021). While researchers have explored the impact of religion on the coping behaviors of IPV survivors, few have examined experiences of American Muslims (Chaudhry & Cattaneo, 2023).

Methods: Data was collected through an online survey that was administered from 2021-2023. The sample size is 366. Eligibility criteria included: 1) identifying as Muslim, 2) living in the US, and 3) being age 18 or older. Participants were asked if they had experienced IPV, if they knew someone who had experienced IPV, and if they had experienced violence from a family member other than an intimate partner. Participants who indicated having experienced IPV completed the AMIPV captures IPV coping strategies using the Intimate Partner Violence Strategies Index (IPVSI; Goodman et al., 2003). We further asked participants if they experienced any negative consequences to each of these coping strategies.

Results: Findings reveal that 35.6% of the sample reported having experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Three-quarters of the sample (76.7%) reported knowing someone who has experienced IPV. Forty percent of women and 10% of men reported experiencing IPV. There were no statistically significant differences in IPV prevalence based on race, immigration status, socioeconomic status, or education. Resistance strategies had high helpfulness but high consequences, while religious practice strategies had high helpfulness and low consequences. American Muslims also sought help through informal and formal support through which helpfulness and consequences varied widely. Demographic differences in strategy utilization, helpfulness, and consequence will be discussed.

Implications: These findings will provide insight into areas where evidence-informed programming that improve outreach, intervention, prevention, and support are needed. Further, our examination of within-group diversity challenges the view of American Muslims as a monolith, and our findings have the potential to inform culturally competent service delivery.