Project 466891

The COVID-19 stay-at-home orders (SHOs) created unique circumstances which placed victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in precarious situations. COVID-19 SHOs forced many survivors to isolate with their abusers, created barriers to leaving situations of IPV, and aggravated risk factors associated with IPV, including unemployment, substance use, and mental health issues. Consequently, a rise in rates of IPV were reported in Canada. A demographic of particular concern is the LGBTQ+ population, considering the disproportionately high rates of IPV among LGBTQ+ individuals, the association between minority stress and victimization, and the additional help-seeking barriers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. This will be the first Canadian study to date to explore the impact of COVID-19 on IPV in both the LGBTQ+ and general population. Employing mixed methodsboth questionnaires and semi-structured interviewsthe present study aims to explore: 1) protective and risk factors which moderate the relation between stay-at-home orders and IPV, 2) barriers to seeking help or leaving situations of IPV duringCOVID-19, and 3) psychological responses associated with IPV during COVID-19 with an emphasis on analyzing pertinent differences and similarities between the LGBTQ+ and general population. The present study addresses the urgent need to investigate the rising levels of IPVilluminating the circumstances under which IPV during COVID-19 occurs, the barriers that victims face when accessing support, and the psychosocial responses associated with victimization. Ultimately, this research could inform public policy, support the improvement of IPV victim service provision, and highlight possible risk and protective factors for IPV to be targeted during future SHOs.