"Clandestine and Isolating" - A UK-Based Cross-Cultural Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence Attitudes, Victimisation, Perpetration and Help-Seeking

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prominent and multi-faceted issue, experienced by approximately two million adults in the UK each year (ONS, 2023). IPV theories and classifications are often cited as applicable cross-culturally, however little research confirms this. Studies, in fact, systematically demonstrate that people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds have different experiences and challenges with, and are disproportionately affected by, IPV (Lacey et al., 2012; Maldonado et al., 2020). Despite this, to our knowledge there is a lack of examination of cultural risk factors, subsequently contributing to a dearth in awareness of their impact on IPV. This programme of research seeks to address this gap by investigating correlates, proxies and risk factors for IPV attitudes, victimisation and perpetration across ethnic and gender groups in a cross-cultural (White British, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Caribbean & African), UK-based sample. This was done through a secondary data analysis investigating ethnic group differences in correlates of IPV alongside a proxy measure of relationship conflict, and two primary studies investigating differences across ethnic and gender groups in, and relationships between, risk factors for IPV attitudes and prevalence (victimisation and perpetration). Moreover, this thesis also investigates perceptions and experiences of IPV-related help-seeking through thematic analysis of written-answer responses. The discussion presents a summary of ethnic and gender group differences found in the programme of research, and contextualises the findings in line with two multi-factor theories of IPV. Results have implications for support services (predominantly healthcare and policing) through victim-centred approaches, governance and risk assessments, and present avenues for future research such as addressing response to IPV within these support services, and analysis of ethnic group differences across a wider range of ethnic groups and through qualitative data.