By Emalyn Gooding, Clinical Psychologist
Domestic and family violence remains a critical yet frequently overshadowed problem within Australian society, tragically impacting many vulnerable people, including those who are neurodiverse. This article explores the current situation of domestic and family violence, examines the impact on minority and neurodiverse groups, and offers actionable steps to address the crisis.
Understanding Domestic and Family Violence Trends
Lately, the issue of increasing domestic and family violence has become a significant topic of concern in Australia. Unfortunately, the data paints a bleak picture: on average, intimate partner or former partner violence claims the life of one woman each week in Australia, a statistic that has remained stable for several years. Between the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 fiscal years, there was a 28% rise in Domestic and Family Violence incidents, sparking widespread indignation and demands for immediate intervention (Miles & Bricknell, 2024). Despite various measures like advertising campaigns and community and school education programs, the rates of such violence continue to climb, underscoring an urgent need for profound reform.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that these statistics primarily focus on femicide rates and overlook the myriad women enduring ongoing threats and abuse. Minority groups, including Indigenous, LGBTIQA+, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, face even higher risks and significant barriers to accessing support. For example, shelters for individuals with mobility impairments are scarce, and language barriers complicate access to national helplines.
Understanding Neurodiversity’s Intersection with Domestic Abuse
Remarkably, neurodiverse people also confront similar hurdles. Despite strides in understanding, research on intimate partner violence and sexual assault among autistic individuals remains notably scarce. Recent studies, however, indicate a higher likelihood of interpersonal victimisation among autistic individuals compared to their non-autistic counterparts. Addressing these gaps, I had the privilege of contributing to research examining the heightened vulnerability of neurodiverse individuals to interpersonal and domestic violence and the barriers impeding their access to support services. Existing research shows that autistic individuals are more likely to experience interpersonal victimisation compared to their neurotypical peers.
Domestic Abuse: Risk Factors based on emerging research for Neurodiverse Individuals
- Predictors of Vulnerability: Lower educational attainment, unemployment, and a history of emotional or verbal victimization during childhood are significant predictors for Neurodivergent individuals.
- Adverse Experiences Among Autistic Individuals: Autistic individuals commonly experience adverse life events such as bullying, social exclusion, unemployment, and homelessness.
- Social Competence and Communication Deficits: Neurodiverse individuals may struggle with understanding social cues and effectively communicating their needs, making it harder to recognise or respond to signs of abuse.
- Emotion Regulation: Challenges in regulating emotions can impair their ability to perceive danger accurately or respond effectively to risky situations, increasing vulnerability to ongoing abuse.
- Invalidation of Experiences: Neurodiverse individuals often face invalidation of their experiences, leading to self-doubt and delayed recognition of abuse. This can deter them from seeking help or support, perpetuating cycles of doubt and vulnerability.
Enhancing Support for Neurodiverse Communities
It’s essential to improve support for neurodiverse populations by promoting awareness and understanding among support systems. There are individuals who have felt isolated in their support journeys, having received assistance for domestic and family violence without proper regard for neurodiversity or vice versa. Providing customized support measures, such as programs designed by autistic people themselves, and enhancing professionals’ cultural proficiency concerning neurodiverse needs, are key actions to bolster existing support mechanisms. Ultimately, giving a platform to the voices of those with neurodiversity and valuing their perspectives in research and policy-making can bring about effective and lasting progress in dealing with interpersonal violence in these underserved groups.
What Can You Do to Help Make Change?
1. In emergencies, call 000 if someone is in immediate danger.
2. Talking openly about domestic violence reduces stigma and supports victims.
3. Validate and affirm people’s experiences of violence and challenges.
4. Provide support by listening without judgment and being there for those in need.
5. Respect individuals’ autonomy by supporting their choices without pressure.
6. Recognize that domestic violence can take physical, emotional, or psychological forms.
7. Offer practical help with transport, money, appointments, or providing a safe space.
8. Encourage victims to seek professional support when they are ready (see list of options below).
9. Accompany individuals to legal, police, or support service appointments as a trusted ally.
10. Advocate for better data through comprehensive research to improve prevention, intervention, and recovery efforts. This can be achieved via participation in ongoing research studies (insert link of the research you participated in? – But may not be appropriate. Is there an organisation like 1800 Respect that does this? Helping researchers to gather information?)
Conclusion
Domestic and family violence continues to be a profound issue within Australian society, especially affecting minority and neurodiverse communities who are among the most susceptible. By increasing awareness, validating experiences, and providing practical support, we can all help to make a difference. Should you require additional information or assistance, please feel free to reach out to the support services listed below. For professional support, you have the option to schedule a session with a psychologist at Minds and Hearts.
Support Services:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
- 13 YARN: 13 92 76
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
- Mensline: 1300 789 978
- Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
- The Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline: 1800 497 212
Taking action now can help create a safer and more inclusive society for everyone.
Reference List:
- Pearson, A., Rose, K., & Rees, J. (2023). ‘I felt like I deserved it because I was autistic’: Understanding the impact of interpersonal victimisation in the lives of autistic people. Autism, 27(2), 500-511. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221104546
- Masking can be a barrier to accessing supports.
- Siloed supports are often a barrier, DFV services are often not trained in understanding issues in neurodiversity and vice versa.
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4068-617X
- https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aut.2023.0100
- They told us that violence was commonplace in their own lives and in the lives of other autistic people that they know, so much so that they had even come to expect it to happen. They also talked about the negative effect these experiences had on their mental health, the way they felt about themselves and their ability to trust people. This was made worse if people did not believe them when they disclosed what had happened to them. They told us that certain autistic characteristics might make them more vulnerable like being too trusting or going along with people just to please them. They thought that some of these characteristics had been shaped by their experiences, especially being told that that their thoughts, feelings or behaviours were wrong and being pressured to change the way they behaved to ‘fit in’. These findings are important in helping us to understand how to improve the personal safety of autistic people (Gibbs, Pellicano, E. (2023).
- Gibbs, V., & Pellicano, E. (2023). ‘Maybe we just seem like easy targets’: A qualitative analysis of autistic adults’ experiences of interpersonal violence. Autism, 27(7), 2021-2034. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221150375
- Kassandrah Cooke, Kathryn Ridgway, Elizabeth Westrupp et al. The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Autistic Experiences of Interpersonal Violence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, 23 November 2022, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2286120/v1]
- Fox, J. (2024). The Impact of Intersectional Disadvantage on Autistic Women’s Experiences of Interpersonal Violence: A Narrative Review. Autism in Adulthood, doi: 10.1089/aut.2023.0100.
- Pearson, A., Dr, Rose, K., Mitchell, A., Joseph, W., Douglas, S., Sedgewick, F., & Botha, M. (2024, April 10). “It’s a long process, and it’s a long journey”: Autistic adult’s experiences of support and recovery after experiencing intimate violence and abuse. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/u5w7a
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