Tech-Based Domestic and Family Violence

Dear Colleagues,

With increasing numbers of individuals across the globe having regular access to an internet connection and/or owning smartphones, digital communication has become an inevitable part of daily life for adults and adolescents (Perrin and Anderson, 2019). While communicating and relationship building via digital media is a widespread phenomenon, there also is an ongoing risk of violence and sexual assault being perpetrated through mobile and web-based technology, social media, and other forms of information communication technology (Perrin and Anderson, 2019). Examples of technologically mediated violence include digital dating abuse, sextortion, revenge porn, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, online sexual harassment, online grooming for sexual assault, and the utilization of social media, tracking apps, or other forms of technology to engage in among other things control, coercion, or abuse  (Borrajo 2020; Vale et al., 2020).

Online and offline violence and abuse are often interrelated, as they can share characteristics such as control, humiliation, isolating the other person from their close environment, and threats (Caridade et al. 2019; Gámez-Guadix et al. 2018; Hébert et al. 2019). Additionally, there is scope for the co-occurrence of both types of violence and abuse, both concurrently and over time (Caridade et al. 2019; Gámez-Guadix et al. 2018; Hébert et al. 2019).

Currently, more research is needed to understand the role that technological mediation plays in the facilitation of acts of violence including intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Additionally, the interaction between online and offline violence and abuse also needs to be investigated in research in order to enable prevention measures and create safer and more accessible support services for the victims. In view of the international recognition of intimate partner violence as an important public health concern, and the complexity presented by the rapid digitalization of communication and interaction, the current research topic focuses on digitally mediated violence perpetration and victimization, an understanding of which is vital to improve violence mitigation programs and support services.

References:

Borrajo, Erika. 2020. Cyber dating abuse and relational variables. In Adolescent dating violence: Outcomes, challenges and digital tools. Edited by Sónia Caridade & Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Caridade, Sónia, Teresa Braga, and Erika Borrajo. 2019. Cyber dating abuse (CDA): Evidence from a systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 48: 152–68.

Gámez-Guadix, Manuel, Erika Borrajo, and Esther Calvete. 2018. Partner abuse, control and violence through internet and smartphones: Characteristics, evaluation and prevention. Papeles Del Psicólogo, 39: 218–30.

Hébert, Martine, Marie-Ève Daspe, Andréanne Lapierre, Natacha Godbout, Martin Blais, Mylène Fernet, and Francine Lavoie. 2019. A meta- analysis of risk and protective factors for dating violence victimization: The role of family and peer interpersonal context. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 20: 574-90.

Perrin, Andrew, and Monica Anderson. 2019. Share of U.S. adults using social media, including Facebook, is mostly unchanged since 2018. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/04/10/share-of-u-s-adults-using-social-media-including-facebook-is-mostly-unchanged-since-2018/ (accessed on 21 February 2025)

Vale, Maria, Filipa Pereira and Marlene Matos. 2020. Adolescents’ digital dating abuse and cyberbullying. In Adolescent dating violence: Outcomes, challenges and digital tools. Edited by Sónia Caridade & Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis. New York: Nova Science Publishers

Dr. Satarupa Dasgupta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• technologically mediated violence
• intimate partner violence
• sexual assault
• digital dating abuse
• coercion
• sexting
• revenge porn
• digital surveillance
• online victimization