Examining the Associations between Intimate Partner Violence, Housing Instability, and the Protective Nature of Informal Social Support

Background and Purpose: One of the most common needs for survivors leaving abusive relationships is access to safe and stable housing; however, there is limited funding and long wait lists for formal interventions so many survivors rely on informal support to help with housing instability. The power and control dynamic inherent to intimate partner violence (IPV) often negatively impacts survivors’ relationships with social support. Most research to date on intimate partner violence survivors’ risk of housing instability has primarily focused on the detrimental impacts or the efficacy of formal housing interventions, with little research on other factors that may be protective for survivors struggling to maintain housing stability. This study has two aims: to examine the differences in social connection between those reporting IPV and those who do not report IPV, and to investigate whether the protective effect of social support moderates the relation between intimate partner violence and housing instability.

Methods: Electronic health record data from 10,673 patients at a large healthcare system in the United States was used to examine the associations of patient-entered social determinants of health. Intimate partner violence was measured by the HARK questionnaire, inclusive of physical, sexual, emotional abuse and fear of partner. Patients reported levels of social connectedness to family and friends, church or religious organizations, and social clubs or organizations, which were combined into a multidimensional index of social support. Three indicators of housing instability were used: difficulty paying rent and mortgage, homelessness, and frequent moves in the past 12 months. The first aim was examined with between-group differences on social connections for those reporting IPV and those who did not. Three logistic regression models were used to examine the second aim focused on the association of IPV and social connections while controlling for key covariates.

Results: Survivors of IPV had significantly lower rates of all forms of social connection, including the social index. Reported IPV and other aspects of the survivor’s identity contributed to increased odds of housing instability. A multidimensional social network index lowered odds of housing instability for two indicators, but did not moderate the relation of IPV and housing instability.

Conclusions and Implications: Practitioners should consider methods of building survivor’s support systems through strengths-based safety planning and organizations should offer a continuum of interventions for survivors reporting housing instability including flexible funding programs could assist with rent and mortgage challenges, helping individuals remain in safe homes through measures like security improvements or rent assistance.