Intimate Partner Violence and Patterns of Safety Strategy Use Among Women Seeking Temporary Protective Orders

This study examined use of safety strategies, experience of violence, and perception of danger from intimate partner violence (IPV) among 197 women seeking temporary protective orders against their abusive partners/ex-partners. Latent class analysis was used to group women into classes based on their use of safety strategies. Five classes of strategy use were identified: two high-activity classes, two moderately active classes, and one low-activity class. More severe abuse, increased perception of danger, and unemployment were associated with being in the higher activity classes. More effective interventions and outreach tools are needed to help women in IPV situations.